Stem Cell - Research Paper Example

? Stem Cell Research Stem cells are the cells with immense potential to generate and develop into diverse cell types required for the research studies or for organogenesis. The capability of stem cells to turn into any cell type that the body requires highlights their chief potential in treating diseases and repair the damaged organ or tissues. The ability of the stem cells to generate the desired organ is exploited to produce new skin, heart, muscle or liver tissue. These newly formed organs could be transplanted into the person devoid of any complications associated with transplantation rejection. The stem cell research is therefore emerging as a promise that has revolutionized the medical science to ensure treatments to may dreaded disease conditions including the neurological conditions, dementia and Alzheimer's disease. The present article highlights the potential of stem cells in repairing the body tissues and emergence of stem cells as a novel therapeutic measure. Introduction Cells with the ability to divide constantly as well as distinguish and extend into numerous cells and tissues of various kinds are known as stem cells. They are ‘blank’ cells as they do not display any precise physiological predisposition. With the onset of appropriate conditions, in vitro or in vivo, stem cells develop into focused tissues and organs as they are self-sufficient and replicate by the process of cell division, indicating that stem cells are biological entities prevalent in multicellular organisms (Where do stem cells come from?; Tuch, 2006). As stem cells possess distinctive eminence and research embraces an immense assurance for the management and cure of critical and unbearable ailments like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cancer, diabetes and neurological as well as metabolic disorders, diseases related to hear, stroke, bone condition, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, as well as conditions like multiple sclerosis. Stem cells could also be grown to become new tissue for use in transplant medicine. Research is being carried out across the world to decipher the underlying genetic and biochemical facts triggering stem cell delineation to new cells capable of repairing distorted tissues and organs. Stem cells pave the way towards understanding of various diseases and syndromes. Stem cells are promising resources to test the drugs and agents (Stem cells: What they are and what they do?; Tuch, 2006). Stem cells are pluripotent, i.e. capable of replicating into similar kind of cells or they are capable of specializing into any other specific tissue. There are various categories of stem cells: Embryonic stem cells- They are procured from the interior cells of the blastocyst. Fetal stem cells- They are procured from the germ line tissues of aborted fetus. Umbilical cord stem cells- Blood of the umbilical cord encompasses stem cells similar to the cells present in the bone marrow. Placenta derivative stem cells- Source of enormous stem cells. Adult stem cells- Numerous adult tissues also possess stem cells. These stem cells are harvested to rectify ailments or cloning tissues, organs, animals or humans or they may be harvested for gene-line engineering. The gene-line engineering aims to function towards disease resistance and functional improvement. Induced pluripotent cells- Through nuclear programming scientists have transformed adult cells into stem cells. Nuclear programming alters the genes to behave like embryonic stem cells and thereby avert immune rejection, although adverse effects could not be documented so far. Amniotic fluid stem cells- Researchers have documented the presence of stem cells in amniotic fluid (Where do stem cells come from?; Stem cells: What they are and what they do?). Scientists are using stem cell lines derived from the single stem cell. They are devoid of genetic defects and could be stored as well as used for various research purposes to get regenerative medicines for damaged or degenerated tissues through gene manipulation technique which aids in generating the desired tissue or the organ. Stem cell therapy is also introduced by the researchers to combat the ailments due to their ability to regenerate tissues and organs and hence can be used to test the efficacy of drugs and impact of chemicals on the tissues or organs with wide range of future implications. Implications of Stem Cells Studies carried out across the globe to estimate the health care cost indicate that every year trillions of dollars are spent to relieve sufferings either due to prolonged illness or organ transplants. Observation reveals that thousands of individuals are liable to die because of non-availability of organs for transplantation. Moreover, those who receive organ transplantation suffer with rejection creating further complications. Apart from organ transplantation, diabetes and cancer patients also require to pay enormously as their health care costs; Endurance of individuals above 85 years may lead to the development of Alzheimer's disease. Sedentary lifestyle and overeating, results in morbid obesity leading to heart diseases, hypertension etc. Elderly population also witness spinal or orthopedic injuries, some of the chronic conditions like multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, AIDS also put burden on the financial condition of the nation. Such situations impose huge hopes from the stem cell research. Stem cells have potential of replacing parts of the worn out tissues, a few injections with multipotent stem cells generates new tissues, serving as a patchwork medicine. Stem Cell in Cancer Research Cancers initially progress from the normal cells and gradually gain the potential to multiply unusually and ultimately become malignant. These malignant cells proliferate clonally and form tumors which in due course impend to turn metastatic. Numerous research studies have been performed to elucidate the occurrence of cancer stem cells with influential capability for relapsing tumors. The characteristic features of normal stem cells is shared by CSCs encompassing cell differentiation characteristic and self-regeneration ability (Lobo, 2007). Numerous evidence are available to establish the role of cancer stem cells in generating tumors and therefore understanding molecular machinery of the cancer stem cells is becoming an issue of paramount significance. It is instituted that genes are involved in eliciting signal transduction to alter the cellular pathways resulting in oncogenesis. A comparative study between normal stem cells and cancer stem cells states that signal transduction namely Bmi1 and Wnt are shared by the normal as well as cancer stem cells for cellular proliferation. Perception and thorough understanding for cancer stem cells will certainly aid in recognition of the drug targets and cancer therapeutics (Lobo, 2007). (http://www.nature.com/bjc/journal/v103/n4/fig_tab/6605821f1.html#figure-title) Oncogenic induction leads to the generation of tumor, conventional therapies are capable of eliminating the cancer but not the CSCs which results in the cancer relapse. Origin of Cancer Stem Cells Normal stem cells characteristically slow in performing cellular cycling course for generating clone cells and follow normal mitotic cell division cycle, moreover the daughter cells produced are similar to the parent cells. Any mutation may result in abnormal proliferation and anomalous mitosis. Although mutations are generally insignificant and mutant cells are eradicated but accretion of mutation may occur in dividing cells resulting in cancer. Cancer causing mutation directly influence the cellular machinery including the genetic damage as well as signalling pathways and hence the entire cell division process is affected. As stem cells are pluripotent, long-lived as compared to their short lived descendant cells, they are vulnerable to the genotoxic elements causing oncogenic mutations (Pardal et al, 2003; Reya, et al.,2001). Stem Cells: Cancer Therapeutics Present cancer therapeutics encompasses tumor regression, these therapeutic measures may aim to eliminate distinguished tumor cells but are ineffective to eradicate cancer stem cells, unless CSCs are eliminated cancer proliferation and incidence of cancer relapse could not be controlled. This concept has brought a new paradigm in the cancer therapy and has created a research awareness to investigate further understanding of signalling pathways responsible for regenerative feature of cancer cells (Korkaya, 2007). Stem Cells in Dentistry Tooth problem is emerging as one of the major issues in the present epoch. Almost every second individual is suffering from the toothache or dental cavities. Stem cells have been serving as a boon for the regeneration of the tooth. The stem cells are isolated from the pulp tissue of both deciduous as well as the permanent teeth and also from the periodontal ligament. The pulp stem cells display the ability to form a dental pulp-like complex. The experiment could gain success in mice where a heterogeneous mixture of dental enamel epithelium, pulp mesenchymal cells and scaffolds were generated. Success in this field will prove to be beneficial for the replacement of lost tooth/ teeth and also to treat tooth tissue loss, consequently replacing the entire tooth (Nedel, 2009). Stem Cells in Other Disease In Alzheimer's disease, nerve cells die but stem cells facilitate generation of nerve cells, enable the individual to have sound memory, personality and behavior pattern thereby relieving the patient from sufferings. Stem cells are also used to produce insulin in diabetic patients and thereby patient no longer has to depend on the external source for insulin. Stem cells are paving way for the wide range of therapeutics and holds a promise for the future may it be organogenesis or hormone production or insulin production or a promising cure for the dreaded cancer, stem cells are being exploited to bring remedial revolution. References Korkaya., H., Wicha., M. S. (2007). Selective targeting of cancer stem cells: a new concept in cancer therapeuics. BioDrugs. 21(5), 299-310. Lobo., N. A., Shimono., Y., Qian., D., Clarke., M. F. (2007). The Biology of Cancer Stem Cells. Annu. Rev. Cell Dev. Biol. 23, 675-99. Nedel, F., Andre Dde, A., de Oliveira, I. O., Cordeiro, M. M., Casagrande, L., Tarquinio, S. B., Nor, J. E., Demarco, F. F. (2009). Stem Cells: therapeutic potential in dentistry. J Contemp Dent Pract. 10(4), 90-6. Pardal., R., Clarke., M. F., Morrison., S. J. (2003). Applying the principles of stem-cell biology to cancer. Nat. Rev. Cancer, 3, 895–902. Reya., T., Morrison., S.J., Clarke., M. F. Weissman., I. L. (2001). Stem cells, cancer, and cancer stem cells. Nature, 414, 105–11. Stem cells: What they are and what they do. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stem-cells/CA00081. Tuch, B. E. (2006). Stem cells- a clinical update”. Australian Family Physician 35 (9): 719–21. Where do stem cells come from? (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.allaboutpopularissues.org/where-do-stem-cells-come-from-faq.htm. Read More