STEM Cell Therapy

Syllabus: GS3/ Science & Technology

In News

• Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University have developed a new technique to heal spinal fractures using adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs).

About

• Osteoporosis affects 15 million people in Japan and is rising globally with ageing populations.
• Vertebral compression fractures are the most common osteoporosis-related injuries.
• Current treatments (vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty, implants) have limitations: invasive, costly, risk of complications or re-fracture.

Stem cells

• Stem cells are undifferentiated biological cells capable of both self-renewal and differentiation into specialized cell types. They form the foundation of regenerative medicine and hold potential for treating degenerative, genetic, and injury-related diseases.

Types of Stem Cells

• Embryonic Stem Cells (ESCs):
  • Pluripotent in nature; can form all cell types of the body.
  • Derived from early-stage embryos.
  • Pose ethical concerns due to their origin, leading to strict regulatory controls.
• Adult (Somatic) Stem Cells:
  • Multipotent, with limited capacity to differentiate compared to ESCs.
  • Found in bone marrow, skin, adipose tissue, and other organs.
  • Primarily responsible for maintaining and repairing tissue in which they are found.
• Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs): 
  • Created by reprogramming adult cells (like skin cells) to behave like pluripotent stem cells.
  • Have similar properties to ESCs but without ethical issues.
  • Useful in disease modeling, drug testing, and regenerative research.
• Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs):
• A subset of adult stem cells found in bone marrow, adipose tissue, and the umbilical cord.
• Can differentiate into bone, cartilage, and fat cells.
• Widely studied for their role in bone and tissue regeneration.

Adipose-Derived Stem Cells (ADSCs)

• Adipose-derived stem cells are multipotent cells extracted from body fat. They are easy to harvest, even in elderly patients, and present a less invasive alternative to bone marrow stem cells. 
• Because of their high proliferation rate, ADSCs show strong potential for applications in bone, cartilage, and wound healing therapies.

Benefits of ADSC-Based Therapy

• Minimally invasive, as fat extraction is safer than bone marrow procedures.
• Effective even in older individuals with declining tissue quality.
• Promotes natural healing by activating repair-related genes.
• Reduces the need for synthetic implants or metallic hardware.
• Offers potential long-term cost savings by reducing repeat surgical interventions.

Concerns and Challenges

• Most studies are still at the animal-trial stage and human clinical trials are still ongoing.
• Long-term safety, stability, and risk of uncontrolled cell growth remain uncertain.

Source: TH