All About Stem Cells, Their Usage and Potential Effectiveness in the Treatment of Different Diseases  

Stem cells are also known as blank cells, which means they can develop into cells that perform a variety of functions in our body. Most of the cells present in our body can perform only a specific purpose, for example, the white blood cells serve as fighters against infection while red blood cells carry oxygen through the blood. In the case of stem cells, they have not been differentiated to perform a specific function and can make indefinite copies of themselves, replicating into either a muscle cell or a white blood cell.

Usage of Stem Cells

Let us look at the uses of stem cells and how it is expanding in scope every day.

Understanding of disease development

One of the benefits of stem cells is that it provides scientists with a way to understand how diseases develop. Recent studies have provided scientists the chance to use stem cells and learn all about disease formation. Using this information, they can develop new drugs in the hope to cure defects at birth.

Similarly, the hope is that scientists can understand what causes the growth of cells during cancer and how to prevent and stop such behaviour, thereby preventing the disease.

Must read: Stem Cell Banking: Meaning, Purpose & Benefits

Treatment of multiple diseases

Stem cells have the potential to treat the following diseases:

• Alzheimer’s
• Parkison’s
• Injury to the spinal cord
• Diabetes
• Arthritis
• Loss of vision and hearing
• Heart disease

Cells can be used to treat various diseases. For example, the usage of pluripotent cells to create any cell within the human body results in the creation of a regenerative form of medicine.

Testing of new drugs

An advantage of using stem cells is the ability to test the efficacy of new medicines on human cells. In this way, scientists can test the safety of new drugs without having to harm any animals or test patients.

Also read: Sources and types of stem cells

Future usage of stem cells

As stem cell uses are diversifying, these cells have laid the foundation for a range of cell-based products and therapies, which can be introduced in the future for the effective treatment of diseases. It provides hope to all those with diseases that are ‘incurable’ in the present scenario.

References

1. Zakrzewski, W., Dobrzyński, M., Szymonowicz, M. et al. (2019). Stem cells: past, present, and future.
2. Leventhal, A., Chen, G., et al (2011). The benefits and risks of stem cell technology.
3. Mahla, R.S. (2016). Stem Cells Applications in Regenerative Medicine and Disease Therapeutics.