Stem CellsStem Cells

Research, Development Research, Development and Success Storiesand Success Stories

By Laurie Holmes and Jeff Freshour

What is a Stem Cell?What is a Stem Cell? Unspecialized cells capable of renewing Unspecialized cells capable of renewing

themselves through division.themselves through division.

Upon division, each new cell has Upon division, each new cell has potential to remain a stem cell or potential to remain a stem cell or become a cell with a more specialized become a cell with a more specialized function.function.

Can be manipulated to become tissue or Can be manipulated to become tissue or organ specific cells with special functionsorgan specific cells with special functions

Why Are Stem Cells Why Are Stem Cells Important?Important?

Their regenerative properties have been Their regenerative properties have been found by some researchers to offer new found by some researchers to offer new potentials for treating diseases such as:potentials for treating diseases such as:

DiabetesDiabetes Heart DiseaseHeart Disease Parkinson’sParkinson’s Multiple SclerosisMultiple Sclerosis CancersCancers ArthritisArthritis

Types of Stem CellsTypes of Stem Cells Adult Stem Cells – Adult stem cells can be Adult Stem Cells – Adult stem cells can be

isolated from a tissue sample obtained from isolated from a tissue sample obtained from an adult an adult

Embryonic Stem Cells – are stem cells Embryonic Stem Cells – are stem cells derived from the inner cell mass of an early derived from the inner cell mass of an early stage embryo known as a blastocyst. stage embryo known as a blastocyst.

Unlike embryonic stem cells, the use of Unlike embryonic stem cells, the use of adult stem cells in research and therapy is adult stem cells in research and therapy is not controversial because the production of not controversial because the production of adult stem cells does not require the adult stem cells does not require the destruction of an embryo destruction of an embryo

Potential Uses for Human Potential Uses for Human Stem CellsStem Cells

The uses of stem cells, either embryonic or The uses of stem cells, either embryonic or adult, have many applications for research:adult, have many applications for research:

Cellular level human developmentCellular level human development New medication development such as anti-tumor New medication development such as anti-tumor

drugsdrugs

Perhaps the most important potential Perhaps the most important potential application of human stem cells is the application of human stem cells is the generation of cells and tissues that could be generation of cells and tissues that could be used for cell-based therapies.used for cell-based therapies.

Actual Uses of Stem Cell Actual Uses of Stem Cell TherapyTherapy

A recent article by Malcolm Ritter cited a A recent article by Malcolm Ritter cited a case where researchers reported they case where researchers reported they had restored vision to people whose eyes had restored vision to people whose eyes were damaged from caustic chemicals. were damaged from caustic chemicals. Stem cells from each patients Stem cells from each patients healthy healthy eyeeye were grown and multiplied in the lab were grown and multiplied in the lab and transplanted into the damaged eye, and transplanted into the damaged eye, where they grew into healthy corneal where they grew into healthy corneal tissue.tissue.

Rodney SchoenhardtRodney Schoenhardt Another success story is Another success story is

Rodney Schoenhardt of Rodney Schoenhardt of Louisiana. He had Louisiana. He had already had surgery on already had surgery on both legs for critical limb both legs for critical limb eschemia and as he was eschemia and as he was facing amputation of his facing amputation of his left leg he became left leg he became wheelchair bound. wheelchair bound. Doctors injected 40 shots Doctors injected 40 shots of stem cells into his left of stem cells into his left calf and soon his leg was calf and soon his leg was pain free. Remarkably pain free. Remarkably the 58 year old now the 58 year old now mows his lawn.mows his lawn.

Other Success Other Success StoriesStories

Celebrity EndorsementCelebrity Endorsement

stem cell stem cell DVD.htmDVD.htm

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