What is Cell Medicine?
What is cell medicine?
Cell medicine is a type of regenerative medicine that uses stem cells to repair
diseased tissues and organs tech.frontalreport. It is a promising treatment for orthopedic,
cardiovascular, neuromuscular and autoimmune disorders.
There are two main types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells.
These types of cells can differentiate into many different types of cells, and
scientists believe that both may someday be used to treat a wide range of medical
conditions.
Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, meaning they can develop into almost any cell
type in the body. These cells are found in a special area of the early stage of a
human embryo called the blastocyst.
They can become blood cells, skin cells and other cell types needed by the body.
Scientists call these cells totipotent, or “all-powerful.”
Another group of stem cells are induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). These cells
are generated by genetically modifying adult cells with a gene called CRISPR-Cas9.
The resulting cells behave and grow in a similar way to embryonic stem cells, so
they could one day be used for a wide range of medical treatments.
Researchers are also developing new ways to use these cells, including by directing
them to differentiate into specific cell types, such as heart-like cells. This can help
regenerate a failing organ or prevent the need for an organ transplant.
Some of these iPSCs are created from the patient’s own skin cells, which can remove
the risk of immune rejection that can occur with a stem cell transplant from an
outside donor. Some are created from other tissue-specific cells, such as bone
marrow or fat.
These types of stem cells are able to give rise to a much wider range of cell types
than both embryonic and adult stem cells. For example, researchers have shown
that hematopoietic stem cells can produce all the blood cells in the body, and
researchers are working to figure out how these cells can be used to treat conditions
such as leukemia and sickle cell anemia.
Induced pluripotent stem cells can also be derived from other tissues, such as fat or
muscle. These are sometimes called mesenchymal stem cells, or MSCs. These types
of stem cells can be used to create bone, cartilage and fat cells, which are necessary
for body function.
The most common use of stem cells is for tissue regeneration, or the growth of new
tissues in place of old ones. For instance, doctors have used stem cells to create new
skin tissues in patients with burns. They have also used stem cells to regenerate lost
or damaged organs such as the kidney and pancreas.
They can also be used to modify the genes of a patient’s cells, so they can more
easily repair damage and repopulate healthy cells in certain situations. The ability to
manipulate these cells has allowed researchers to correct mutations in inherited
diseases, such as cystic fibrosis.
Some regenerative medicines are already on the market for use in treating
conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and spinal cord injuries. Some are still in
development, but they are being tested for safety and effectiveness in clinical trials.
The FDA is responsible for ensuring that these medicines are safe and effective.