by admin | Mar 16, 2018 | Stem Cell Research
With the growing realization that stem cells can help countless patients suffering from various diseases and injuries has come more research into how stem cells can best be used for these purposes. The questions not only involve which patients can benefit and how, but also which types of stem cells are useful and for what purposes, and how each beneficial stem cell type can be best incorporated into different therapeutic approaches. A new publication in Stem Cells and Development covers the specific advantages of stem cells that are derived from human Wharton’s jelly, which comes from the umbilical cord.
Mesenchymal stem cells are often used for clinical purposes, and the gold standard tissue for isolating mesenchymal stem cells has been bone marrow tissue. A distinct advantage of human Wharton’s jelly-derived stem cells over bone marrow-derived stem cells is the ease with which they are isolated. Not only is it technically relatively simple to retrieve stem cells from the umbilical cord, but it is less invasive than doing so from the bone marrow.
In the current study, the researchers characterized the best way to isolate the mesenchymal stem cells from the Wharton’s jelly and also compared the stem cells that come from Wharton’s jelly to those that come from the bone marrow. According to their analysis, some of the critical advantages of mesenchymal stem cells deriving from Wharton’s jelly rather than from bone marrow are the relative abundance of genes associated with immune system functioning, cell adhesion, and proliferation. Each of these functions is important for stem cell therapeutic applications, and so having more genes that support these functions s beneficial.
The researchers also observed specific ways in which Wharton’s jelly mesenchymal stem cells affect the immune system. Based on their observations, they concluded that these stem cells are attractive candidates for therapies that target diseases of the central nervous system, including Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and amyotrophoic lateral sclerosis (also known as ALS). Further research will help to clarify the potential of Wharton’s jelly, and more comparative research like that performed in this study will help us understand the best ways to use different stem cells for different therapeutic functions.
by admin | Mar 14, 2018 | Heart Failure, Stem Cell Research
Heart failure is currently treated using pharmacologic interventions that help to control the symptoms of heart failure and slow the process of deterioration. However, these drugs do not stop problematic processes occurring at the cellular level, and so patients using these drugs continue to decline toward end-stage heart failure. Because the progression of heart failure involves things like cardiac remodeling and fibrosis at the cellular level, researchers have reasoned that cell-based therapies may be a promising way to treat heart failure patients. A recent review published in Stem Cells International outlines the rationale for using mesenchymal stem cells to treat heart failure and presents data from relevant clinical trials.
Mesenchymal stem cells are an attractive type of stem cell for both research clinical applications because of their ease of accessibility. These cells can be retrieved from a number of tissues, including fat tissue, heart tissue, umbilical cord tissue, and bone marrow tissue. A number of properties of mesenchymal stem cells also make them a promising therapeutic option for heart failure and other diseases. For instance, they have been shown to reduce inflammation and the initiation of inflammation and to promote the growth of blood vessels. Indeed, it has been suggested that the central process of heart failure is inflammation.
In cardiology, many of the clinical trials that have been performed with mesenchymal stem cells have focused on ischemic heart failure, though there are data demonstrating the promise of these stem cells in both ischemic and non-ischemic heart failure. While there are not as many data on the impact of mesenchymal stem cells on non-ischemic heart failure patients, the authors of the review argue that these cells could be even more advantageous in this group of patients (versus those with ischemic heart failure) because the damaged part of the heart still has adequate blood supply in the case of non-ischemic heart failure.
Overall, studies have tended to show that mesenchymal stem cells are a safe option, with little risk for significant adverse side effects. Clinical trials have helped to elucidate the specific ways that mesenchymal stem cells can be used to help with heart failure. Cellular scaffolds, for example, can be used to ensure that the stem cells are able to reach the target area of the heart in enough abundance to have an impact. Future studies will help to clarify the contexts in which these cells can be useful – and how their use can be optimized to help patients.
by admin | Feb 16, 2018 | Stem Cell Research
A popular type of stem cell in the research and clinical communities is what is known as the adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cell, which are stem cells that come from fat tissue. A review published last year in Stem Cells International has provided a comprehensive picture of what makes these stem cells beneficial for treating disease and injury.
One characteristic of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells that originally made them popular is the ease with which they are accessed. Gaining access to fat tissue is relatively simple compared to accessing other types, such as those from the bone marrow. Other attractive features have been their abundance and the ability to use them with no ethical concerns.
While all adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells have these advantageous features, there are a number of types of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells, and researchers are still working to determine the relative advantages of each of these types. For instance, there are types that come from white adipose tissue and types that come from brown adipose tissue. Much brown adipose tissue exists in fetuses and newborns and transforms to white adipose tissue with aging. Understanding how these different types of adipose tissue work therapeutically will be important for determining when and how to use these cell types. Overall, though, it seems that adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells from younger patients proliferate at higher rates than those from older patients.
Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells also differ in their properties depending on how they were harvested and the environment in which they are put. The two procedures for harvesting these cells are called resection and lipoaspiration. One study found that when cells were extracted with lipoaspiration, a higher abundance of cells could be obtained, whereas the proliferation of the cells was similar with both harvesting procedures. Environmental factors, including which trophic factors are present, the hydrostatic pressure, and the fluid sheer stress, also impact the ability of the cells to proliferate and differentiate. Other factors, such as the specific growth factors produced and the surface markers that are present, also impact the utility of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells.
by admin | Feb 15, 2018 | Stem Cell Research
Mesenchymal stem cells have proved to be one of the most promising stem cell types for regenerative medicine. A recent review has compiled information from studies looking specifically at how these stem cells can be used for regenerative cell therapies.
According to the authors of this review, as part of the effort to characterize mesenchymal stem cell safety and efficacy, 657 clinical trials have been initiated using this type of stem cell. The promise of these cells has led them to be used in clinical trials that aim to regenerate bone and cartilage and to treat diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, and graft-versus-host-disease.
Their utility in this spectrum of diseases demonstrates the broad potential for mesenchymal stem cells to differentiate into different types of tissue. They have become known for their ability to differentiate into bone cells. However, these cells can also wrap around blood vessels thereby stabilizing the vessels and supporting their structure. They have been shown to integrate into the outer walls of arteries and microvessels in several organs.
In addition to their differentiation potential, mesenchymal stem cells from adults also have a good proliferation rate, which is beneficial for tissue regeneration. However, the specific regenerative potential appears to depend on the specific type of tissue from which the stem cells are derived, making some stem cells more useful than others for regeneration.
Other major features of mesenchymal stem cells that make them a promising option for regenerative medicine are their ability to modulate the immune system and their anti-inflammatory characteristics. These properties allow mesenchymal stem cells to improve the treatment of autoimmune diseases that are often characterized by adverse immune reactions, including inflammation.
A newer line of research involving mesenchymal stem cells involves their potential therapeutic application for diabetes. The hope is that the beta cells that are damaged within the pancreas in diabetes could be repaired with mesenchymal stem cells. Future research will help determine the extent to which mesenchymal stem cells can be used for regenerative medicine and will help to optimize the specific treatments that employ these cells.
by admin | Feb 14, 2018 | Stem Cell Research
Only a fraction of patients who suffer from ischemic stroke benefit from the currently available therapies. Given the promise of stem cells in therapies developed for brain injury, much research has recently focused on how these cells may be used to treat stroke victims. A recent review published in the Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism provides a comprehensive explanation for why mesenchymal stem cells are likely advantageous for stroke recovery. The authors’ rationale includes data demonstrating the utility of mesenchymal stem cells as a therapy for other diseases, as well as preclinical data on the impact of these cells following stroke.
Mesenchymal stem cells have been transplanted into patients since 1995 and gained popularity in research and clinical communities because of their safety profile. In a number of clinical trials, addressing different diseases, the use of these stem cells led to few adverse side effects. Over the past 20 years, evidence on the safety of these cells has continued to accumulate, while new evidence has emerged to show how effective these cells can be in treating different types of injury and disease. One particularly exciting feature of these cells is their modulatory effect on the immune system, which can prevent life-threatening immune reactions to things like bone marrow transplants.
When it comes to treating stroke specifically, this modulation of the immune system may be one way that stem cells help with recovery. Other mechanisms that could help with tissue repair following stroke include these stem cells’ ability to differentiate into a number of different cell types, to generate new brain cells and blood vessels, and to promote the secretion of chemicals that are important for the growth and protection of cells. Additionally, mesenchymal stem cells may be able to be selectively targeted to whatever area of the brain is injured.
For stroke, most of the mesenchymal stem cells that have been used for transplantation have been bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, but stem cells from adipose tissue and the umbilical cord have also been used. According to the authors of this review, there is significant evidence to suggest that mesenchymal stem cells could help stroke patients with their recovery.
by admin | Jan 31, 2018 | Stem Cell Research
There is currently no highly effective treatment option for bone regeneration, so finding a way to regenerate bone has become a major focus in the field of tissue engineering. A recent study aimed to determine which of three different types of mesenchymal stem cells has the most promise for helping to regenerate bone in those who suffer from bone diseases like osteoporosis, caner, and Paget’s disease. The three types of mesenchymal stem cells that were investigated were bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, Wharton’s jelly mesenchymal stem cells, and adipose mesenchymal stem cells.
The researchers found that all mesenchymal cell types regenerated bone. The lamellar bone defect sites they observed were filled in with fully mature bone several weeks after stem cell transplantation. Bone regeneration was time-dependent, with more bone growth observed the more time that went by after transplantation over the 12-week observation period. Transplantation of each cell type was also associated with an increase in inflammatory cells right after transplantation but no more inflammation after 4 weeks.
Overall, the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells appeared to be best for regenerating bone, and the adipose mesenchymal stem cells appeared least promising. This stem cell type led to bone mineralization and to thicker connective tissue than the other two mesenchymal stem cell types. Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells and adipose mesenchymal stem cells led to similar connective tissue thickness.
Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells were better than the other two types of mesenchymal stem cells in one respect – they were better for the formation of new blood vessels. Blood vessel formation is critical during the regeneration of tissue because these vessels enable the transportation of both nutrients and waste.
These results help to clarify the relative advantages of different types of mesenchymal stem cells in bone regeneration. Given that both bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells provided specific and unique benefits, future research may explore how to combine the use of these stem cell types in developing treatments for bone diseases.
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