What are Stem cells?
Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body during early life and growth. In addition, in many tissues they serve as a sort of internal repair system, dividing essentially without limit to replenish other cells as long as the person or animal is still alive. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential either to remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a muscle cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell.
Stem cells are distinguished from other cell types by two important characteristics. First, they are unspecialized cells capable of renewing themselves through cell division, sometimes after long periods of inactivity. Second, under certain physiologic or experimental conditions, they can be induced to become tissue or organ specific cells with special functions. In some organs, such as the gut and bone marrow, stem cells regularly divide to repair and replace worn out or damaged tissues. In other organs, however, such as the pancreas and the heart, stem cells only divide under special conditions. Given their unique regenerative abilities, stem cells offer new potentials for treating diseases such as diabetes, and heart disease.
Stem cells are distinguished from other cell types by two important characteristics. First, they are unspecialized cells capable of renewing themselves through cell division, sometimes after long periods of inactivity. Second, under certain physiologic or experimental conditions, they can be induced to become tissue or organ specific cells with special functions. In some organs, such as the gut and bone marrow, stem cells regularly divide to repair and replace worn out or damaged tissues. In other organs, however, such as the pancreas and the heart, stem cells only divide under special conditions. Given their unique regenerative abilities, stem cells offer new potentials for treating diseases such as diabetes, and heart disease.
Why are the Stem Cells Stored?
Cord Blood (CB) and Umbilical Cord Tissue (UCT) like Bone Marrow is a rich source of blood stem cells that have the ability to develop into other types of cells, to regenerate tissues, organs, and blood vessels in treating a host of diseases. Unlike the stem cells in bone marrow, stem cells in CB and UCT are immature and haven't yet learned how to attack foreign substances. As a result, patients who receive stem cells from these sources are less likely to reject the transplantation. Cord blood has been successfully used to treat more than 70 different diseases, including some cancers, blood disorders, and immunodeficiencies. These have included leukemia, sickle cell anemia, aplastic anemia, thalassemia, Hodgkin's disease, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Cord blood transplants are also established as therapy for lesser-known conditions, such as metabolic disorders that would otherwise be fatal for infants (Krabbe disease and Sanfilippo syndrome, for example). And Cord blood transplants are being studied as possible therapy for cerebral palsy, pediatric brain injury, and type 1(juvenile) diabetes.
Promising new research indicates that CB and UCT may eventually be used to treat people with conditions as varied as diabetes, spinal-Cord injuries, heart failure, stroke, and neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis. In India, there are 10 different recognized clinical set ups, wherein this stem cell therapy is offered for various debilitating conditions. Because donated Cord blood is stored and readily available, it is particularly useful for those patients who need a transplant performed quickly. Cord blood is much less likely than bone marrow to be contaminated by viruses such as Epstein-Barr or cytomegalovirus, which can cause pneumonia and a variety of other infections in transplant patients.
Promising new research indicates that CB and UCT may eventually be used to treat people with conditions as varied as diabetes, spinal-Cord injuries, heart failure, stroke, and neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis. In India, there are 10 different recognized clinical set ups, wherein this stem cell therapy is offered for various debilitating conditions. Because donated Cord blood is stored and readily available, it is particularly useful for those patients who need a transplant performed quickly. Cord blood is much less likely than bone marrow to be contaminated by viruses such as Epstein-Barr or cytomegalovirus, which can cause pneumonia and a variety of other infections in transplant patients.
