30 May Advantages of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Regenerative Medicine
Once an ankle is sprained, it may get worse if proper healing time is not been given to allow the ligament to heal. The ankle should be relaxed without any stress or strain being applied to it while it mends. This can be more difficult than you expect as in many cases, it is hard to determine whether the ankle has healed or not. This is because the ankle can still remain functional even with a tear as the overlying tendons help in maintaining stability and motion.
Incomplete healing or repeated sprains can lead to long term muscle weakness and eventually to a condition called a chronic ankle sprain. Chronic sprains may be the case if the pain continues for over four to six weeks. Other complications that may develop are chronic ankle joint instability or arthritis in the ankle joints.
TOP 5 REASONS MSCS ARE REVOLUTIONARY FOR REGENERATIVE MEDICINE THERAPIES
- No ethical issues
- Immunologically privileged
- Non-tumorigenic
- Paracrine “cell to cell” signaling
- Regulating the immune response
These traits have made MSC’s of intense therapeutic interest and generated thousands of positive clinical research projects over the past decade. The variety of cell types generated from MSC’s are able to potentially treat a wide range of acute and chronic diseases.
There are tens of thousands of papers published on MSC benefits, including orthopedic, urologic, autoimmune, neurological, cardiopulmonary, and kidney diseases.
MSC’s are able to grow easily in culture and form a variety of cell types including fat, bone, cartilage, skin, nerve, muscle, tendons, and ligaments.
By using a bioreactor to culture stem cells in 3 dimensions, MSC’s are easily expanded for large-scale applications globally.
ETHICS
Mesenchymal stem cells from donor tissue do NOT need to be obtained from an embryo. Embryonic stem cells come from an aborted fetus, or an embryo left over after an IVF procedure. As opposed to those sources, MSC’s from donor tissue are actually obtained from birth tissue that is normally discarded.
This may include the umbilical cord, amniotic fluid, or amniotic membrane. Women who are undergoing a scheduled c-section may donate their birth tissue after being consented and rigorously screened to ensure tissue safety.
Through these means, any ethical issues are avoided.
NO REJECTION
One of the main reasons embryonic stem cells aren’t used in ANY clinical setting is that they lead to immediate rejection. Mesenchymal stem cells from birth tissue do not lead to a rejection response. Why not? The reason is that MSC’s from birth tissue do not have what’s called MHC-2 markers. These are the markers that would lead to a rejection response from one’s body. They are not present in MSC’s, so they can be administered without the need for immunosuppression.
NO TUMORS
To date, there has been no significant evidence reported showing MSC’s either cause or exacerbate tumor activity. In fact, there has been plenty of evidence showcasing the opposite. MSC’s may actually be detrimental to tumor formation!
PARACRINE ACTIVITY
When MSC’s from donor tissue are administered, they initiate significant responses from the recipient’s body. The layman’s term for this is “cell to cell” communication. The number of responses initiated in the body is tremendous and may include:
- New blood flow – by accelerating new blood flow, tissue repair is enhanced as it brings in oxygen and nutrients needed.
- Amped up cellular differentiation – when an area is damaged, it needs new cells for repair. MSC’s initiate those new cells to be formed.
- Tissue repair response – the MSC’s and growth factors are able to directly facilitate tissue repair.
- Stopping good cells from dying – this process is known as apoptosis. By stopping good cells from dying off, they can continue to do their job and promote tissue repair.
IMMUNE MODULATION
This is one of the key features of MSC’s. By selectively downregulating harmful immune system processes, patients are able to benefit as autoimmune issues are mitigated. This is very different than using steroids, where the entire immune system is compromised.
MSC’s are able to work on the problems in the immune system as opposed to suppressing it
entirely. This makes them extremely valuable in many immune system abnormalities, such as diabetes, lupus, psoriasis, RA, and more!
Overall, Mesenchymal stem cells have been an incredibly useful biologic for patients suffering from many chronic medical issues. R3 Stem Cell has been using MSC’s for over 10 years successfully and now has over 45 Centers of Excellence in six countries.
Visit R3 Stem Cell for more information, and then call +1(844) GET-STEM to set up your free consultation today!
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