We are on the cusp of a stem cell revolution. Understanding and using these unique cells can lead to breakthroughs in life extension and healing methods that will treat any chronic disease and regenerate any organ. In this article, we will discuss what stem cells are, the future of stem cell therapies, and recent success stories.
What are stem cells
Stem cells are undecided cells that can transform into specific cells - heart, neurons, liver, lungs, skin, and so on; they can also divide and produce more stem cells.
In childhood or adolescence, these stem cells are abundant and act as a built-in repair system. They are often recruited to the site of injury or inflammation in order to heal and restore normal function.
But as we age, our stem cell stores begin to decrease by a factor of 100 or even 10,000, depending on tissue and organ. In addition to this, stem cells undergo genetic mutations that reduce their quality and effectiveness in rebuilding and repairing the body.
A good analogy so that you can imagine stem cells working is a group of repairmen in a newly built mansion. As long as the mansion is new and the workers are young, they can do everything perfectly. But as they grow old and there are fewer of them, the mansion gradually begins to decay and eventually collapses.
But what if we could repair and rejuvenate the stem cell population?
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One option is to extract and accumulate your own autologous adult stem cells at the sites of adipocyte (or adipose) tissue. But these stem cells are smaller, and their “source code” has already undergone various mutations.
Many scientists and doctors now prefer an alternative source, obtaining stem cells from the placenta or umbilical cord left over after birth. These stem cells, available in abundance and in no way affecting the cells of the newborn, can be injected into joints or intravenously to rejuvenate and revitalize tissues and organs.
These stem cells can be thought of as chemical factories that produce vital growth factors that can reduce inflammation, fight autoimmune diseases, increase muscle mass, repair joints, and even revitalize skin and hair.
The future of stem cell therapy
Over the past ten years, the number of annual publications on stem cell research has increased 40-fold. The stem cell market promises to reach $ 170 billion by 2020.
The growth of R&D initiatives to develop treatment solutions for chronic diseases and the growing demand for regenerative therapies are driving this industry the most.
Here are four of the most promising areas to look out for:
1. Fabric engineering. Tissue engineering uses the body's own cells to repair, replace, or improve damaged tissue. Patients with a wide variety of medical conditions can be treated with tissue and organ transplants. However, we are in dire need of donor tissues and organs, and this situation is getting worse every year due to the aging of the population. Tissue engineering scientists apply the principles of cell grafting, materials science and bioengineering to create biological substitutes that will repair and maintain normal function of damaged and diseased tissues. The stem cell field is rapidly evolving, opening up new possibilities for cell therapy and tissue engineering. The use of postpartum stem cells has the potential to dramatically change the perspective of tissue engineering.
2. Stem cell bank. “The moment you are born, you are probably at the point of biological perfection,” says Dr. Bob Hariri. "Your system has not yet been exposed to all these harmful stimuli like electromagnetic radiation, chemicals, your biological code has not yet been corrupted." The stem cell bank allows us to take stem cells from the original, intact DNA at birth, multiply them in large numbers for future doses, and then freeze those doses. Hariri discovered that in addition to cord blood (the blood that is present in the newborn's umbilical cord), the newborn's placenta is an extremely rich organ in stem cells. Instead of throwing away the tissue left over from birth, the placenta, it can be preserved and thus provide the key to a long and healthy life. Hariri has set up a business called LifebankUSA, which provides a separate cell that stores the stem cells of children. Lifebank isolates, processes and cryopreserves cells (by immersing them in a deep-frozen state at -180 degrees Celsius), keeping them frozen just in case.
3. Clinical application of MSCs. Mesenchymal stem cells, the main stem cells for cell therapy, have been used in clinics for 10 years. Currently, 344 registered clinical trials are underway around the world at various stages, which should assess the potential of MSC-based therapy. From animal models to clinical trials, MSCs hold the promise of treating a wide variety of diseases, perhaps even cancer.
4. Parabiosis. The protocol is simple: Healthy people aged 35 and older receive plasma transfusions from donors younger than 25, and scientists are monitoring their blood over the next two years, tracking health and aging indicators. The study, which is taking place in San Francisco, is patient-paid and costs $ 8,000 to participate. Ambrosia founder Jesse Karmazin became interested in starting a company on the topic of parabiosis after receiving interesting data from studies involving animals: in one study, subjects experienced significant rejuvenation of all major organ systems. “The effects last almost forever,” he says. "It's like a complete renewal of gene expression."
As humans, we are constantly confronted with the bitter fact: we have to die. But the key to health and longevity can be found in our own source code. Over the next twenty years, stem cells will change medicine forever, extend life, and possibly save your life.
We live in a very interesting time. You may not have to die at all.
ILYA KHEL