Understanding adult stem cells
Adult stem cells are dynamic cells that are capable of restoration as well as forming all specialized cell forms of tissue and organs. The main job of these cells is to preserve and reconstruct the damaged tissues in which they are located. These differ from embryonic stem cells (found within embryos) which are separated by their origins.
Recent excitement has surrounded research in the possible application of adult stem cells. These amazing cells have been discovered in numerous tissues that had once been thought impossible to even harbor them. This has opened the playbook for researchers who now are considering the possibility of much wider magnitude of usages such as transplants. With new evidence of stem cells being present in the brain and heart, with proper control within labs, they could play a vital role in transplant-based therapies.
50 years ago the first research on adult stem cells was being conducted as researchers found that bone marrow is comprised of two separate types of stem cells. The first type is known as hematopoietic stem cells which are responsible for all the types of blood inside the body. The second type is mesenchymal (bone marrow) stem cells which make up a tiny portion of non-hematopoietic stem cells that are capable of restoring bone, cartilage, fat and other connective tissues.
Where are they found and what do they do?
Adult stem cells have been found in numerous organs and tissues ranging from the brain to blood and are believed to rest in very specific locations of each particular tissue called a stem cell niche. Generally, there is a relatively limited supply of stem cells within each tissue and as a result of removing from the body their productivity in dividing is restrained making it hard to create significant quantities. It has become scientist’s primary goal in stem cell research to discover improved ways of growing more sizable amounts of adult stem cells within cultures and begin controlling them to create desired cell types for use in battling disease and injury. There are many potential procedures that could possibly be derived from this research such as bone regeneration, generating insulin-producing cells to counter type one diabetes or even reconstructing injured heart tissues resulting from a heart attack.
