Adult Stem CellsBy: Emily Bateman

What Are They?Adult stem cells

(ASC) are undifferentiated cells that are in the body after development.

The Two Main Properties Of ASC

Self-renewal-the ability to go through the cycle of cell division many times while still keeping its undifferentiated state

Multipotency (Multidifferentiative Potential)-the ability to make offspring of many different cell types.

Where Are They Found?Any where in the

body but are mostly extracted from the blood and bone marrow.

Their Uses In Medicine

Degenerative and Debilitating Conditions Therapy:

ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)

Alzheimer's DiseaseAutismCerebral PalsyDegenerative Disc

DiseaseErectile DysfunctionGlaucomaHearing LossHeart DiseaseHuntington's Disease

Kidney FailureLiver DiseaseMacular DegenerationMuscular DystrophyOptic Nerve InjuriesParkinson’s DiseasePulmonary Fibrosis,

Emphysema, COPDRetinitis PigmentosaSpinal Cord InjuriesStroke

Autoimmune Conditions Therapy:DiabetesLupusMultiple SclerosisRheumatoid Arthritis

Musculoskeletal Injuries Therapy:Knee injuries OsteoarthritisTorn Ligaments Sports Injuries

Cosmetic and Dermatologic Therapy:Brazilian Buttock Lifts and Coetaneous

Radiation TreatmentBreast AugmentationFaceliftHair Loss

The Steps To A Blood (Adult Stem Cell) Transplant For A leukemia Patient

What Is A Transplant?

In a bone marrow, or blood transplant for leukemia you are getting rid of all the unusual leukocytes in a patient and are replacing them with the new ones

History Of ASC TransplantsIn 1968 the first successful bone marrow

transplant took place. Bone marrow is transplanted everyday to

treat a variety of blood and bone marrow diseases such as blood cancers and immune disorders.

What Is Leukemia?

Leukemia is a cancer that affects white blood cells (leukocytes).

White blood cells are made by adult stem cells and are released into the blood stream to fight infections.

When you have leukemia your white blood cells don’t grow nor function correctly.

These cells can no longer fight infections and conflict with functions of other organs.

Step 1: Find A DonorAutologous-the donor is also infected personSynegenic-the donor is a twin sibling of the

infected personAllogeneic-the donor is no related/not closely

related to the infected personCordbold-the donor is an umbilical cord

Step 2: Extract the Adult Stem Cells (They’re In the Blood) From The DonorThe donor is put on a

medication for four to five days before the transplant that stimulates the production of adult stem cells in to the blood stream.

Next, the donor must be administered anesthesia while the healthy blood cells are collected.

Step 3:If It Is An Autologous Donation

The patient’s blood is put in a freezer (apheresis).

After it is cold, it is taken in a machine that confines and kills the leukemia affected cells.

Step 3: If It Is Any Other Donation

The Blood is frozen until needed.

Step 4: “Cleaning The Infected Patient”

Before the patient receives the unaffected blood he/she goes through en enduring dose of radiation or chemotherapy to clear their body of any affected cells.

Also to make sure every last affected cell is killed, doctors will put an additional drug in their blood stream to get the few cells chemo or radiation might have missed.

This process is called purging. If the affected cells are not perfectly removed from

the patient the chances are very high that they will have a relapse.

Step 5: Healing The Infected Patient

After the patient is “clean”, the new blood is given to them.

Here Is A Video On How Stem Cells Are Used In Burn

Therapy

Works Cited  "Adult Stem Cell." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 18 May 2012.

Web. 23 May 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adult_stem_cell  "Frequently Asked Questions." What Are Adult Stem Cells? [Stem Cell

Information]. Web. 23 May 2012. http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/basics4.asp  "STEM CELLS IN USE." Stem Cells In Use. Web. 23 May 2012. http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/stemcells/sctoday/

"Stem Cell Transplant Procedure." Stem Cell Transplant Procedure. Web. 23 May 2012.

http://stem-cell-transplant.info/