Why in the news?

  • Union Science and Technology Minister said the ministry is working on stem cell therapy and genetic solutions for diabetes, while expressing concern over the cases in India.

Stem Cells

  • The smallest functional unit of life is called the Cell.
  • Bone marrow, Umbilical cord blood, Adipose tissue, Allografts, Amniotic fluid etc are the source of stem cells.

Stem Cell Therapy

  • Types
    • Regenerative therapy: Using stem cells to regenerate damaged tissues or organs.
    • Transplantation: Replacing damaged or diseased stem cells (e.g., in bone marrow transplants).
    • Autologous stem cell therapy: Using the patient’s own stem cells.
    • Allogeneic stem cell therapy: Using donor stem cells.
  • Applications of Stem Cell Therapy:
    • Blood and immune system disorders: Conditions like leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma can be treated through stem cell transplants.
    • Bone and cartilage repair: Stem cells are used to heal damaged bones or regenerate cartilage, especially in cases of severe injury or arthritis.
    • Neurological conditions: Emerging therapies focus on repairing neurons in conditions like Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and spinal cord injuries.
    • Cardiovascular diseases: Experimental treatments aim to regenerate heart tissue after heart attacks or in chronic heart diseases.
    • Diabetes: Research is ongoing to use stem cells to generate insulin-producing cells for the treatment of Type 1 diabetes.
    • Eye disorders: Stem cell therapy is being studied to restore vision in patients with retinal diseases.
    • Skin regeneration: Burn victims or patients with skin diseases benefit from stem cell-based skin regeneration treatments.
  • Benefits of Stem Cell Therapy:
    • Personalized treatment: Autologous stem cell therapy reduces the risk of immune rejection.
    • Repair and regeneration: Stem cells can aid in the repair of tissues and organs that do not naturally regenerate well.
  • Challenges and Ethical Concerns
    • Ethical concerns: Particularly with the use of embryonic stem cells, as it involves the destruction of embryos.
    • Immune rejection: In allogeneic therapies, the patient’s immune system may reject donor stem cells.
    • Tumor formation: There is a risk that transplanted stem cells might form tumors (teratomas) if not properly controlled.
    • High cost: Stem cell treatments can be expensive and are not always covered by insurance.

 

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