What Is Another Name for Somatic Stem Cells and What Do …

Somatic stem cells are also referred to as adult stem cells. Unlike embryonic stem cells, somatic stem cells come from a fully developed human being. Somatic stem cells are somewhat specialized to produce certain kinds of cells. However, scientists are currently working on ways to increase their range of use in cutting-edge therapies.

Adult stem cells have been found in a wide range of organs and tissues, including bone marrow, blood vessel, brain, epithelium, heart, intestine, liver, ovary, skeletal muscle, skin, teeth, and testis.

While these cells are programmed to become a certain type of cell, they are still capable of differentiation. For example, bone marrow stem cells can differentiate into either red or white blood cells. While brain stem cells could form neurons or supporting brain cells, they would typically not become cell types found in other organs.

Somatic stem cells typically divide to form mature cell types that have the characteristics necessary to become a functional part of tissues or organs, a process called normal differentiation.

Certain types of somatic stem cells have been found to have the capacity to give rise to cell types for organs or tissues not in their lineage. For example, brain stem cells that differentiate into cardiac muscle cells. This phenomenon is called transdifferentiation.

Doctors performed the first bone marrow transplant in 1968. The procedure also marked the first medical use of somatic stem cells, as bone marrow cells can differentiate into red blood cells or white blood cells. Today bone marrow transplants are used to treat a range of ailments, from blood cancers to immune disorders.

In 2010, a biotech company called Neuralstem began conducting clinical trials for the use of spinal cord stem cells to treat Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrigs Disease. The second phase of these trials was conducted in September 2013.

With embryonic stem cells, which are stem cells derived from fertilized human eggs, sparking an intense political and ethical debate, many researchers are turning to somatic stem cells as a less divisive alternative.

The problems is that embryonic stem cells can become any type of cell in the body -- while somatic cells are more restricted to a specific lineage. Embryonic stem cells are also more easily grown in culture, according to the National Institutes of Health.

However, because a patient's own cells can be used in a somatic stem cell treatment regimen -- they are thought to be less likely to cause a rejection after transplantation. The lack of a rejection response by the body's immune system would eliminate the need for immunosuppressive drugs, which often cause undesirable side effects.

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What Is Another Name for Somatic Stem Cells and What Do ...

Pros And Cons Of Stem Cell Research – Popular Issues

Pros and Cons of Stem Cell Research - What are Stem Cells? There has been much controversy in the press recently about the pros and cons of stem cell research. What is the controversy all about? "Stem" cells can be contrasted with "differentiated" cells. They offer much hope for medical advancement because of their ability to grow into almost any kind of cell. For instance, neural cells in the brain and spinal cord that have been damaged can be replaced by stem cells. In the treatment of cancer, cells destroyed by radiation or chemotherapy can be replaced with new healthy stem cells that adapt to the affected area, whether it be part of the brain, heart, liver, lungs, or wherever. Dead cells of almost any kind, no matter the type of injury or disease, can be replaced with new healthy cells thanks to the amazing flexibility of stem cells. As a result, billions of dollars are being poured into this new field.

Pros and Cons of Stem Cell Research - Where Do They Come From? To understand the pros and cons of stem cell research, one must first understand where stem cells come from. There are three main sources for obtaining stem cells - adult cells, cord cells, and embryonic cells. Adult stem cells can be extracted either from bone marrow or from the peripheral system. Bone marrow is a rich source of stem cells. However, some painful destruction of the bone marrow results from this procedure. Peripheral stem cells can be extracted without damage to bones, but the process takes more time. And with health issues, time is often of the essence. Although difficult to extract, since they are taken from the patient's own body, adult stem cells are superior to both umbilical cord and embryonic stem cells. They are plentiful. There is always an exact DNA match so the body's immune system never rejects them. And as we might expect, results have been both profound and promising.

Stem cells taken from the umbilical cord are a second very rich source of stem cells. Umbilical cells can also offer a perfect match where a family has planned ahead. Cord cells are extracted during pregnancy and stored in cryogenic cell banks as a type of insurance policy for future use on behalf of the newborn. Cord cells can also be used by the mother, the father or others. The more distant the relationship, the more likely it is that the cells will be rejected by the immune system's antibodies. However, there are a number of common cell types just as there are common blood types so matching is always possible especially where there are numerous donors. The donation and storage process is similar to blood banking. Donation of umbilical cells is highly encouraged. Compared to adult cells and embryonic cells, the umbilical cord is by far the richest source of stem cells, and cells can be stored up in advance so they are available when needed. Further, even where there is not an exact DNA match between donor and recipient, scientists have developed methods to increase transferability and reduce risk.

Pros and Cons of Stem Cell Research - Embryonic Cells The pros and cons of stem cell research come to the surface when we examine the third source of stem cells - embryonic cells. Embryonic stem cells are extracted directly from an embryo before the embryo's cells begin to differentiate. At this stage the embryo is referred to as a "blastocyst." There are about 100 cells in a blastocyst, a very large percentage of which are stem cells, which can be kept alive indefinitely, grown in cultures, where the stem cells continue to double in number every 2-3 days. A replicating set of stem cells from a single blastocyst is called a "stem cell line" because the genetic material all comes from the same fertilized human egg that started it. President Bush authorized federal funding for research on the 15 stem cell lines available in August 2001. Other stem cell lines are also available for research but without the coveted assistance of federal funding.

So what is the controversy all about? Those who value human life from the point of conception, oppose embryonic stem cell research because the extraction of stem cells from this type of an embryo requires its destruction. In other words, it requires that a human life be killed. Some believe this to be the same as murder. Against this, embryonic research advocates argue that the tiny blastocyst has no human features. Further, new stem cell lines already exist due to the common practice of in vitro fertilization. Research advocates conclude that many fertilized human cells have already been banked, but are not being made available for research. Advocates of embryonic stem cell research claim new human lives will not be created for the sole purpose of experimentation.

Others argue against such research on medical grounds. Mice treated for Parkinson's with embryonic stem cells have died from brain tumors in as much as 20% of cases.1 Embryonic stem cells stored over time have been shown to create the type of chromosomal anomalies that create cancer cells.2 Looking at it from a more pragmatic standpoint, funds devoted to embryonic stem cell research are funds being taken away from the other two more promising and less controversial types of stem cell research mentioned above.

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Pros And Cons Of Stem Cell Research - Popular Issues

Stem Cell Basics II. | stemcells.nih.gov

Stem cells differ from other kinds of cells in the body. All stem cellsregardless of their sourcehave three general properties: they are capable of dividing and renewing themselves for long periods; they are unspecialized; and they can give rise to specialized cell types.

Stem cells are capable of dividing and renewing themselves for long periods. Unlike muscle cells, blood cells, or nerve cellswhich do not normally replicate themselvesstem cells may replicate many times, or proliferate. A starting population of stem cells that proliferates for many months in the laboratory can yield millions of cells. If the resulting cells continue to be unspecialized, like the parent stem cells, the cells are said to be capable of long-term self-renewal.

Scientists are trying to understand two fundamental properties of stem cells that relate to their long-term self-renewal:

Discovering the answers to these questions may make it possible to understand how cell proliferation is regulated during normal embryonic development or during the abnormal cell division that leads to cancer. Such information would also enable scientists to grow embryonic and non-embryonic stem cells more efficiently in the laboratory.

The specific factors and conditions that allow stem cells to remain unspecialized are of great interest to scientists. It has taken scientists many years of trial and error to learn to derive and maintain stem cells in the laboratory without them spontaneously differentiating into specific cell types. For example, it took two decades to learn how to grow human embryonic stem cells in the laboratory following the development of conditions for growing mouse stem cells. Likewise, scientists must first understand the signals thatenable a non-embryonic (adult)stem cell population to proliferate and remain unspecialized before they will be able to grow large numbers of unspecialized adult stem cells in the laboratory.

Stem cells are unspecialized. One of the fundamental properties of a stem cell is that it does not have any tissue-specific structures that allow it to perform specialized functions. For example, a stem cell cannot work with its neighbors to pump blood through the body (like a heart muscle cell), and it cannot carry oxygen molecules through the bloodstream (like a red blood cell). However, unspecialized stem cells can give rise to specialized cells, including heart muscle cells, blood cells, or nerve cells.

Stem cells can give rise to specialized cells. When unspecialized stem cells give rise to specialized cells, the process is called differentiation. While differentiating, the cell usually goes through several stages, becoming more specialized at each step. Scientists are just beginning to understand the signals inside and outside cells that trigger each step of the differentiation process. The internal signals are controlled by a cell's genes, which are interspersed across long strands of DNA and carry coded instructions for all cellular structures and functions. The external signals for cell differentiation include chemicals secreted by other cells, physical contact with neighboring cells, and certain molecules in the microenvironment. The interaction of signals during differentiation causes the cell's DNA to acquire epigenetic marks that restrict DNA expression in the cell and can be passed on through cell division.

Many questions about stem cell differentiation remain. For example, are the internal and external signals for cell differentiation similar for all kinds of stem cells? Can specific sets of signals be identified that promote differentiation into specific cell types? Addressing these questions may lead scientists to find new ways to control stem cell differentiation in the laboratory, thereby growing cells or tissues that can be used for specific purposes such as cell-based therapies or drug screening.

Adult stem cells typically generate the cell types of the tissue in which they reside. For example, a blood-forming adult stem cell in the bone marrow normally gives rise to the many types of blood cells. It is generally accepted that a blood-forming cell in the bone marrowwhich is called a hematopoietic stem cellcannot give rise to the cells of a very different tissue, such as nerve cells in the brain. Experiments over the last several years have purported to show that stem cells from one tissue may give rise to cell types of a completely different tissue. This remains an area of great debate within the research community. This controversy demonstrates the challenges of studying adult stem cells and suggests that additional research using adult stem cells is necessary to understand their full potential as future therapies.

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Stem Cell Basics II. | stemcells.nih.gov

Embryonic Stem Cell Research Pros and Cons | HRFnd

There may not be a greater debate in the medical community right now than that of embryonic stem cell research. Initially banned by the Federal government, these stem cells often originate from human embryos that were created for couples with reproductive issues and would be discarded. These stem cells are thought to be the key that will unlock the cure to many diseases, from Alzheimers to rare immune and even genetic disorders. On the other side of the issue, some see the destruction of an embryo as the murder of an unborn child.

The primary benefit of this research is the enormous amount of potential that it holds. Embryonic stem cells have the ability to create new organs, tissues, and systems within the human body. With a little guidance from scientists, these stem cells have shown that they can become new organs, new blood vessels, and even new ligaments for those with ACL tears. By culturing stem cells and them implanting them, recovery times could be halved for many serious injuries, illnesses, and diseases.

Because nearly one-third of the population could benefit from treatments and therapies that could originate from embryonic stem cell research, many scientists believe that this field could alleviate as much human suffering as the development of antibiotics was able to do. Because funding was restricted on embryonic stem cell lines for several years, however, the chances of any therapies being viable in the near future are slim.

The primary argument against this research is a moral one. Some people see the creation of an embryo as the creation of life, so to terminate that life would equate to murder. This primarily originates from a point of view where life as we define it begins at conception, which would mean that any medical advancement from this research would be at best unethical.

Those against this research argue that since the creation of this research field in the early 1980s, there have been no advancements in it whatsoever. Because of this lack of advancement, it could mean decades of additional research, thousands of embryos destroyed to further that research, and that is morally unacceptable for some.

The debate about embryonic stem cell research isnt in the potential benefits that this field of study could produce. It is in the ethics and morality of how embryonic stem cells are created. There often is no in-between view in this area: you either define life at some part of the physical development of the human body during the pregnancy or you define it at conception. This view then tends to lead each person to one side of this debate. Where do you stand?

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Embryonic Stem Cell Research Pros and Cons | HRFnd

Denver Stem Cell | Area’s Leading Stem Cell Doctors

Colorado Pain Care LLC 2696 S. Colorado Blvd Suite 110 Denver, CO 80222 Office Hours: Mon - Fri 8AM-5PM

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Dr. Jason Krutsch and the Denver Stem Cell team are thrilled to offer you the best in Regenerative Therapies for your painful orthopedic condition. Your care is provided by Medical Doctor Anesthesiologists, a 5280 Magazine Top doctor and the finest procedural team in Denvers Front Range!

It all starts with an accurate diagnosis. In your FREE 1 hour initial consultation, Dr. Krutsch will utilize patient history, focused physical exam and advanced imaging to determine what type of candidate you are for Regenerative Medicine and which therapy is best for you.

You will learn about the incredible benefits of Stem Cell and Platelet Rich Plasma and how it can help reverse painful conditions like osteoarthritis and muscle/tendon tears. A customized rehab program is part of every patients treatment. With the Denver Stem Cell team you could be on your way to rebuilding cartilage, rejuvenating your body and reclaiming your life!

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Knee osteoarthritis and meniscal tears

Shoulder rotator cuff tears, impingement and arthritis

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Denver Stem Cell is all about using your own cells to repair damaged tissue from arthritis or injury. The most researched and clinically proven areas to treat with stem cells and PRP are joints, muscles and tendons. Treating conditions like diabetes and autoimmune diseases with stem cell therapy is still considered experimental. Here is a list of the most common areas treated by Denver Stem cell:

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Colorado Pain Practice, LLC (Colorado Pain Care) cannot guarantee any results of stem cell or regenerative therapy. Colorado Pain Care is not offering stem cell therapy or any other regenerative therapies as a cure for any condition, disease, or injury. No statements or implied treatments made in these materials or otherwise discussed with respect to stem cell or regenerative therapy have been approved or disapproved by the FDA. Colorado Pain Care does not claim that any applications or potential applications using stem cells or regenerative therapy are approved by the FDA or are even effective. Colorado Pain Care does not claim that these treatments work by an listed or unlisted condition, intended or implied. Colorado Pain Care strongly encourages all potential patients to talk with their doctor and do their own research based on the options presented in order to make a fully informed decision before choosing to move forward with considering stem cell or regenerative therapies. All statements provided in these specific materials are for educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice.

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Difference Between Somatic Cells and Gametes …

Somatic Cells vs Gametes

The most important structures in the cell during division are the chromosomes, which contain DNA. This is because they are responsible for the transmission of the hereditary information from one generation to the next. Cells in the body are of two types depending on the number of chromosomes present in the nucleus. The two types are somatic cells and gametes.

What are Somatic Cells?

A somatic cell is any cell other than a germline cell found in the body of a multicellular organism. These are diploid cells having two sets of chromosomes; one is maternal and the other is paternal. When considering one homologous pair, one chromosome is inherited from the mother, and the other is inherited from the father. For an example, a human somatic cell contains 46 chromosomes arranged in to 23 pairs in which one chromosome of each pair is maternal, and the other is paternal. Stem cells produced by mitosis undergo differentiation and give rise to different types of somatic cells, which intern form almost all the internal and external structures of the body.

What are Gametes?

Unlike the somatic cells, gametes are haploid cells, which carry unpaired chromosomes. A gamete of a particular multicellular organism always carries only half the number of chromosomes carried by a somatic cell of that particular organism. For an example, a human gamete contains only 23 chromosomes where as a human somatic cell contains 46 chromosomes. Germ cells are the cells which give rise to gametes. Meiosis takes place during gametogenesis (process of gamete production) giving rise to haploid cells. Haploid gametes fuse during sexual reproduction giving rise to a diploid zygote.

What is the Difference between Somatic Cells and Gametes?

Somatic cells are diploid cells, whereas the gametes are haploid cells.

Stem cells give rise to somatic cells, and germ cells give rise to gametes.

Meiosis does not take place during the production of somatic cells, whereas meiosis takes place during gametogenesis (production of gametes) giving rise to haploid cells.

Somatic cells contain homologous pairs of chromosomes, whereas gametes contain only unpaired chromosomes.

Somatic cells form internal and external structures of the body, whereas gametes do not.

Somatic cells are found almost everywhere in the body, whereas gametes are restricted to certain parts.

Somatic cells do not fuse during sexual reproduction, whereas gametes fuse during sexual reproduction giving rise to a diploid zygote.

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Stem Cell Research Facts | Charlotte Lozier Institute Project

Learn the answers to questions like ..."Who is benefitting from stem cell research and therapies today?" and "What types of stem cells are working?" In addition, basic questions such as "What is a stem cell?""Why do we need stem cell research?" are answered.

The video patient profiles featured on this site emphasize ADULT stem cell advances with the goal of informing and the hope of inspiring you to take action. These stories represent a small sampling of people and the many diseases and conditions now being treated by adult stem cells naturally found in the human body. Stem Cell Research Facts illustrates how current adult treatments and therapies directly impact the lives of patients and their families today - as opposed to debating the merits of other types of stem cell research.

We invite you to discover, learn and share the incredible possibilities of stem cell research. We welcome your feedback and encourage you to return for the latest developments in the world of stem cell research. Thank you!

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Stem Cell Clinic Palmetto – Stem Cell Therapy Greenwood …

Umbilical cord cells include stem cells, growth factors and a range of other beneficial proteins and compounds. We only use umbilical cord blood which has been purified to get rid of any harmful substances that might cause rejection of the treatment by your body. We inject the treated cord blood into the affected area, where the various active compounds found in cord cells go to work immediately to begin inflammation reduction and the promotion of healthy cell division and renewal. Some of the active compounds at work include VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor), IL-LRA (Interleukin-1, a receptor antagonist, stem cell factors (SCF), FGF-2 (Fibroblast Growth Factor-2) and Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-beta). Each of these compounds has a slightly different effect, but the net result is that the damaged cells in your joints are given the ingredients they need to kick-start healthy renewal and regeneration. The injection creates a healthier environment that encourages positive, healing changes to take place. A better blood and oxygen supply to the area, a reduction in damaging chronic inflammation and stimulation of healthy tissue growth are all typical consequences of the minimally invasive stem cell treatments we provide. By using umbilical cord cells in this way, its possible to transform joint therapy into a holistic healing process that prompts the body to enhance its own regenerative efforts. This results in a natural process of joint health improvement in the weeks or months following the injection.

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World Stem Cell Clinic – For a better quality of life | WSCC

World Stem Cell Clinicoffers themostAdvanced stem cell treatmentsalong with cosmetic, dermatology, and pain management,most of our services are standard approved medical procedures but a few maybe done by World Stem Cell Clinic under a self-funding clinic trial program to qualified patients at the medical facility in Chennai. It provides an opportunity for a better quality of life for the patient. The clinic and laboratory were designed, built and are operated under the stringent guidelines as established by USFederal Regulations Title 21, Subpart C, 211-42 through 211-58,and theUSFederal Drug Administrations Good Laboratory Practice (cGLP)regulations for biologics and clinical laboratories. The Clinic is also ISO 9001:2015 Certified. The strict adherence to these established guidelines and policies guarantees the highest quality of clinical care in all the above mentioned medical treatment safety for the patient. We are proud to have a mission to make stem cell operations transparent so that patients can evaluate and determine their best treatment options with optimal providers. We follow, collect and publish data from our patients for two years or more following treatments. World Stem Cell Clinic brings with it over 6 years of research and treatment history with great results thereby changing many patient lives. World Stem Cell Clinics medical staff and clinical physicians will examine you and review all available medical records, radiology films, CT scans and other diagnostic information to assess if the treatmentcan be performed which in turn help the patient to have a increased quality of life pertaining to the specific condition. Then, the medical doctors meet and confer with the research scientists for a pre-treatment plan. This treatment planning conference takes advantage of decades of the staffs clinical experience, your current condition, your available social support system, full review of your medical history as well as an inclusion and consideration of any recently published research literature on stem cell treatments. In other words, you are provided a detailed, systematic and entirely unique treatment care plan for you or your loved ones needs.

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World Stem Cell Clinic - For a better quality of life | WSCC

What is Stem Cell Regenerative Medicine? | Advanced …

STEM CELL TECHNOLOGY

Advanced Regenerative Medicine is using breakthrough technology in order to provide relief from osteoarthritisspecifically in the knee, hip, and shoulder joints. But what is regenerative medicine, and how is it being used to help patients avoid invasive joint replacement surgeries?

Regenerative medicine is changing the game in terms of how the body repairs and heals itself. This is especially beneficial to our senior population, who frequently experience pain from osteoarthritis in the hip, knees, and shoulders.

What is regenerative medicine? This medical treatment method is changing the way that medical professionals get to the root cause of injury, disease, osteoarthritis, and more. It is focused on rejuvenating the bodys ability to heal itself naturallywhich eliminates the need for surgery.

Regeneration delivers specific types of cells to diseased tissues or organs. The end goal is to help the tissue restore itself and return to its original functioning capabilities. This is achieved by using stem cell therapy.

Stem cells are a critical key to regenerative medicine. These cells are able to develop into another type of cell in the body, which helps tissues and organs rebuild and repair themselves. The idea behind regenerative medicine from ARM is to help a patients body heal on its own, while reducing risks and inconveniences associated with traditional joint replacement.

Regenerative medicine can help patients regain full range of motion of hip, knee, and shoulder joints. Furthermore, they will experience substantially reduced levels of pain. This approach is minimally invasive and can be conducted on an outpatient basis.

ARM uses cutting-edge technology to extract adipose-derived stem cells from adipose tissue. This enables ARM to eliminate the use of foreign enzymes and chemicals, which makes the process safer.

If youre unsure if regenerative medicine and stem cell therapy is right for you, our helpful staff can help guide you through the process and make the best decision for your needs. To learn more about stem cell procedures and regenerative medicine, contact Advanced Regenerative Medicine today.

Dr. Mark R. LoDico, a pioneer in the field of pain medicine, believes that no one should have to live with the frustration of chronic pain. Board Certified in both Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, he founded Advanced Pain Medicine in 2001, uniquely committing the practice to finding specific, ongoing solutions to specific pain.

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What is Stem Cell Regenerative Medicine? | Advanced ...