STEM CELLS

MEDICAL ENGLISH
What are Stem Cells?
Stem cells are a class of
undifferentiated cells that are
able to differentiate into
specialized cell types.
Commonly, stem cells
come from two main
sources:
Embryos formed during the
blastocyst phase
(embryonic stem cells)
Adult tissue (adult
stem cells)
Adult stem cells
Adult or somatic
stem cells exist
throughout the
body after
embryonic
development.
Have been found in
tissues such as the
brain, bone marrow,
blood, blood vessels,
skeletal muscles, skin,
and the liver.
Can divide indefinitely,
enabling them to
generate a range of
cell types from the
originating organ or
even regenerate the
entire original organ.

They remain in a
quiescent state for
years until activated
by disease or tissue
injury.
Embryonic stem cells

Are derived from a four- or five-day-

old human embryo that is in the
blastocyst phase of development.

Inner cell mass Source of embryonic stem

(embryoblast) cells - totipotent cells
Blastocyst
Outer cell mass Becomes part of the
(trophoblast) placenta
When extracting embryonic
stem cells, the blastocyst
stage signals when to isolate
stem cells by placing the
"inner cell mass" of the
blastocyst into a culture dish.

Lacking the necessary

stimulation to differentiate, they
begin to divide and replicate
while maintaining their ability to
become any cell type in the
human body.
Potency Is the ability of a cell to differentiate
itself into other cell types.

The ability to differentiate into

Totipotent all possible cell types.
For example: zygote

The ability to differentiate

Pluripotent into almost all cell types.
Example: embryonic stem
cells
 The ability to differentiate into
a closely related family of cells.
Multipotent Example: hematopoietic
(adult) stem cells.

The ability to only produce cells

Unipotent of their own type, but have the
property of self-renewal.
Example: muscle stem cells.
It is the culture or regeneration of
tissues to repair those that are
damaged or organs that do not
work properly

TREATABLE DISEASES

 Leukemia
 Bone marrow diseases
 Lymphomas
 Immunodeficiencies
 RESEARCH WITH STEM CELLS
Scientists and researchers are interested in
stem cells for several reasons…
Every cell in the body, for example, is derived from first few
STEM CELLS stem cells.

THEREFORE…
Have the capacity to
serve any function after
they are instructed to This property makes
specialize. stem cells powerful
enough to regenerate
damaged tissue.
 ORGAN AND TISSUE REGENERATION
Stem cells could potentially be used to grow a
particular type of tissue or organ if directed to
differentiate in a certain way.
Most important possible
application of stem cell
research
stem cells
Currently, organs must be donated
skin
and transplanted, but the demand
for organs far exceeds supply.

New skin tissue that can be

grafted on to burn victims.
 CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE TREATMENT
Create blood vessels in They lasted for 280 days!
laboratory mice using human
These new blood vessels were as
stem cells. good as the adjacent natural ones.

Could eventually help

treat human patients with
cardiovascular and
vascular diseases.

The scientists extracted vascular They were then implanted

precursor cells derived from onto the surface of the
human-induced pluripotent brains of the mice.
stem cells.
 BRAIN DISEASE TREATMENT
Replacement cells and
tissues
HOW?
Used to treat
brain disease
Bringing back the
specialized brain cells
that keep unneeded
Parkinson Alzheimer
muscles from moving.
 CELL DEFICIENCY THERAPY

Pancreatic cells

Healthy heart cells

To replace the insulin-producing cells

Patients with heart Repopulating that have been lost or destroyed by
disease the heart with
the patient's own immune system.
healthy tissue
 BLOOD DISEASE TREATMENTS
Carry oxygen
to
Fight disease
HOWEVER…

Umbilical cord
LEUKEMIA This has led some
scientists to call for an
Placenta umbilical cord blood
SICKLE CELL ANEMIA bank.
Stem Cell Therapy: A New Therapeutic Option
For Cardiovascular Diseases
AUTHORS:
Goradel N, Hour F, Negahdari B, Malekshahi Z, Hashemzehi M, Masoudifar A [et al] 2018 Jan;119(1):95-104.

Cardiovascular diseases are known as one of major

causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide.

Despite the many advancement in therapies are

associated with cardiovascular diseases.

Heart consists of various cell types including cardiac

fibroblasts, endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and
pacemaker cells which All of them could help to
structural, biochemical, mechanical and electrical
activities of the functional hear
Before transplantation of stem cells, adaptation of
them with host microenvironment is crucial to
prevent cell death.

Alteration of stem cell culture condition, cytokines

and drug pretreatments are some of adaptation
strategies.

Hypoxic conditioned media for cardiac progenitor

cells (CPCs) resulted in secreting of miRNAs which
led to better performance of cardiac and reducing
fibrosis.

Pretreatment of MSCs with atorvastatin improved

cell survival through induction of MSCs autophagy by
activating the AMPK/mTOR and MEK/ERK pathway
 LINKOGRAPHY
https://encompasshealthcare.com/our-services/more-services-we-provide/stem-cell/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3200012/

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323343.php

https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=what-are-stem-cells-160-38

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28543595?fbclid=IwAR3K3i6RrbPbA5FXz5lR97yQ-
6B8DcCFpI4T3fWySpjzLXg6uwRRnsINU9s