STEM CELLS: LIFE’S BUILDING BLOCKS

The human body consists of more than 200 mature cell types; each has a distinct and specialised function. Whether it’s the heart muscle cells that beat rhythmically or red blood cells that deliver oxygen to every part of our body, all specialised, “working cells” have their role to play.

Stem cells are different to our mature working cells: they have an amazing ability to not only make more of themselves, but also to create new tissues when they divide and develop. This is how we make all the functioning cells of the body.

The discovery of stem cells was one of the greatest achievements of modern medicine. With this ability, stem cells play an essential role during the development of the human body after fertilisation.

However, stem cells do not all disappear after the body is fully developed. Some remain in our body as a “reserve”, and are crucial in the recovery of damaged or older tissues. Their ability to produce different kinds of specialized cells makes them so unique and powerful for medical therapy.

STEM CELLS DEVELOP WITH AGE

Stem cells are categorized depending on their origin and on the kind of working cells they can produce:

Embryonic Stem Cells are used in the laboratory as a research tool to understand cell development, but are not available for therapy. These can give rise to most cells of a human body; however, embryos must be destroyed when they are collected. This raises important ethical issues.

Cryo-Save has never been, and does not intend to become, involved in the storage or expansion of embryonic stem cells.

Adult Stem Cells, as the name suggests, are found in adults but also in children. Adult stem cells are also called “committed stem cells”, since they have a more limited range of specialized cells that they can produce. Over time they also lose their vitality.

UMBILICAL CORD DERIVED STEM CELLS

Umbilical cord stem cells are “neonatal stem cells” and considered to be earlier than “adult stem cells”. They are less mature (less committed) than stem cells found in the bone marrow or organs of adults or children.

Although, the majority of stem cells are haematopoietic stem cells, cord blood also contains early mesenchymal and other early stem cells in smaller amounts.

Uniquely, umbilical cord derived stem cells are known to have a wider ability than adult stem cells to produce different human tissues.

This amazing discovery is now being applied to develop treatments for serious human diseases. This is why we at Cryo-Save are so excited about using umbilical cord derived stem cells in therapy.