Stem Cell Research

In this post, we are going to explore the world of stem cells, and gain a deeper understanding of the fundamentals of stem cell research. To begin, a few terms are going to be defined. More information and definitions can be found here: http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/pages/glossary.aspx.

Cell-based therapies- Stem cells are induced to differentiate into the specific cell type required to repair damaged or destroyed cells or tissue.

Differentiation- The process whereby an unspecialized embryonic cell acquires the features of a specialized cell such as a heart, liver, or muscle cell.

Embryonic stem cell line- Embryonic stem cells, which have been cultured under in vitro conditions that allow proliferation without differentiation for months to years.

In Vitro- Latin for "in glass;" in a laboratory dish or test tube; an artificial environment.

Plasticity- The adaptability of an organism to changes in its environment or differences between its various habitats.

Pluripotent- The state of a single cell that is capable of differentiating into all tissues of an organism, but not alone capable of sustaining full organismal development.

Proliferation- Expansion of the number of cells by the continuous division of single cells into two identical daughter cells.

Therapeutic cloning- The process of using somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) to produce cells that exactly match a patient.

All stem cells have unique properties, no matter where they originate from. Unlike regular cells, stem cells can proliferate, or replicate themselves numerous times. If the replicated cells remain unspecialized, the cells will be capable of long-term renewal.

The two most common stem cells used in research are adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cells come from living human tissue while embryonic stem cells come from embryos that have been developed in vitro. Adult stem cells are most commonly used for research with orthopedic conditions. Embryonic stem cells are used in research that works to manipulate the cells so that they will differentiate into specific cells, such as muscle, brain, etc. 

By advancing in stem cell research, scientists hope to cure diseases such as Parkinson's Disease, diabetes, heart disease, spinal injury, and other various cell-related diseases. By controlling the differentiation of cells, researchers will be able to replace the damaged cells targeted in each disease with new, healthy ones.

In order for the cells to be used successfully in cell-based therapies, stem cells would need to proliferate and create an abundance of tissues. They also need to differentiate into the targeted cell type in order to create success within the subject's cell therapy. The cells need to be healthy and function able, working with the subject's immune system without being rejected. All of these qualities are vital for the success of cell-therapy involving stem cells.

Stem cell research is a very controversial topic, since the embryonic cells must be gathered from an unborn specimen, or one developed in vitro. Despite the obstacles, stem cell research has been able to gather astounding results and further advance the understanding of how stem cells function.