Physical Health?
Stem cells are special cells that can change into specialized cells to repair or
regenerate tissues cgsmc, organs and even the entire body. Regenerative medicine uses
stem cell therapy or their derivatives to stimulate the body’s healing processes,
reducing inflammation and restoring function to damaged tissue and even organs.
Whether it is repairing damaged cartilage or ligaments, or helping a degenerated
patellar tendon to heal, research has shown that stem cell treatment can be
effective in the treatment of many orthopedic and sports injuries. Stem cell therapy
may also help to treat inflammatory and autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid
arthritis, osteoarthritis, and chronic back pain.
Scientists are working to develop methods of generating and delivering cell
therapies that can halt disease progression, reverse damage, and cure a range of
life-threatening diseases. This work is supported by major advancements in cell
biology, gene editing, and protein engineering.
A key challenge is developing a way to make the transplanted cells immune-
privileged, so that they are not rejected by the patient’s body. This would allow the
cells to be used in large-scale clinical trials and ultimately be available “off-the-
shelf” for use by patients.
Currently, the most common stem cell-based therapy is bone marrow
transplantation. Blood-forming stem cells from the bone marrow are harvested from
the patient, genetically modified to eliminate mutations that could cause leukemia,
and then transplanted into the bloodstream. This type of transplant has seen
substantial success in treating blood cancers and blood disorders, such as
myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
Other types of stem cells are being studied for their ability to replace damaged or
diseased cells. For example, CAR-T cell therapy is a new approach to cancer
treatment that involves removing cells from the patient’s body and then genetically
modifying them to recognize cancer cells so that they can be destroyed by
chemotherapy or other treatments. Then the modified cells are put back into the
patient’s body to fight the cancer.
Researchers have also been able to take normal connective tissue cells and
reprogram them to become specialized heart cells, leading to improved heart
function in animals that received the reprogrammed cells. Another example is
turning pancreatic exocrine cells into functional insulin-producing beta cells in
people with diabetes.