Stem cell research is a medical industry that seeks to find alternative ways to resolve physiological disorders. Some practitioners use stem cells to cultivate healthy cells and replace damaged tissue. Here are some of the things to know about stem cell therapy:
What Are Stem Cells?
Stem cells are cell tissues that can self-renew and change into specialized cells, like blood cells or muscle tissue. The potency of the self-renewal cells determines how physicians use them in patients’ therapies. Stem cell therapy uses these cells to study possible solutions for diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and arthritis. Some researchers also delve into how diseases affect specific tissue at a cellular level using stem cells.
How Do Research Companies Make Stem Cells?
The two common ways that researchers extract and cultivate stem cells are through induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and embryonic stem cells. Laboratories create iPSCs by reprogramming adult cells into embryotic-like cells. They introduce growth factors and specific genes to these cells and cultivate them once they become pluripotent. A stem cell is pluripotent if it can become almost any other cell type in the body.
Embryonic stem cells originate from blastocyst cells during embryo development. Medical facilities extract the cells from an embryo developed through in vitro fertilization and then cultivate them further. Some labs replace the cell’s nucleus via somatic cell nuclear transfer by introducing an adult’s cells.
What Are the Common Types of Stem Cell Therapies?
Stem cell therapies depend on the purpose, methodology, and origin of the stem cells. Some labs culture cells to aid in the management of neurological diseases. Others focus on recovery for patients with physiological issues like musculoskeletal conditions. Some of the common stem cell therapies include:
Amniotic Fluid Therapy
Amniotic fluid therapy uses amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus during mid-stage pregnancy. These stem cells contain mesenchymal stem cells that contribute to regeneration and inflammation reduction. This solution suits people who need a reprieve from musculoskeletal injuries.
Umbilical Cord Therapy
Research institutions extract cells from the placenta and umbilical cord after birth for this therapy. Umbilical cord tissue produces hematopoietic cells similar to those in the bone marrow. This therapy helps with hematological (blood-related) conditions.
Exosome Cell Therapy
Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles that enable communication with other cells. These cells contain proteins, lipids, ribonucleic acid (RNA), and growth factors that control immune responses. Exosome cell therapy assists with inflammation management and promotes cell regeneration in damaged tissues.
How Do Stem Cells Assist Recovery?
Stem cell solutions promote faster recovery by reducing inflammation, increasing cell proliferation, and encouraging stable cell formation. Stem cells regulate inflammation by producing cytokines that reduce the body’s immune responses after an injury. Differentiating cells produce paracrine effects that stimulate tissue generation near injured areas to increase recovery speeds, especially in joint tissue. Other stem cells improve fibroblast proliferation and activity in the injured area to enhance the structural integrity of the newly produced cells.
Book a Stem Cell Therapy Appointment
Stem cell therapy poses numerous advantages, like pain management, accelerated healing, and reduced pharmacological dependence. Find a clinic that offers different therapies to get a specific procedure that suits your needs. Contact the clinic today to discuss how they might help you with your musculoskeletal and neurological conditions.
