Author: Dr. Murat

Dr. Murat, a skilled hair transplant surgeon with over 8 years of experience, is dedicated to enhancing your beauty and confidence. With deep knowledge in hair restoration and therapies, he combines expertise and passion to deliver exceptional results. Dr. Murat also shares insights as a trusted hair transplant blog writer.

In the present era, stem cells play a vital role in growth and regeneration. The cells can create identical cells compared to the other ones. As the potential of the cells is transforming the field of medicine, professionals are still conducting research. They think that the use of stem cells is suitable for treating health conditions. So, read through to delve into stem cells. 

What are stem cells and their role?

Usually, stem cells give rise to different cells. While these serve as a repair system, they replenish the tissues. Mostly, embryonic and adult cells fall under stem cells. Even when adult stem cells are more limited, they can still renew the tissues. On the other hand, medical professionals use stem cells during regeneration and the healing process. They may perhaps use these for stem cell therapy

Why do clinics prefer using stem cells?

There are many reasons why doctors show interest in stem cells. Let’s check the reasons ahead.

Potential to treat diverse medical conditions
During a treatment, the stem cells have the potential to treat the condition. As such cells regenerate damaged tissues, doctors can come up with therapies. Apart from offering a possibility of healing, the stem cells can reverse the effects of many illnesses. 

Regenerative Medicine

Stem cells are quite useful in regenerative medicine. This field of medicine focuses on regenerating damaged tissues and organs. For instance, medical specialists can use stem cell therapy to grow new tissues for transplantation. This reduces the need for donor organs and the risk of organ rejection. 

Disease Research & Drug Testing
Stem cells are also valuable for studying diverse diseases. This benefit can further help doctors to develop new treatments. Researchers also use the stem cells to show how diseases develop at a cellular level. Additionally, stem cells are used for drug testing. Once the doctor prepares a drug, he can predict how the new drug will affect the human cells. This expedites the development of safer medications.

Helps to understand human development
Stem cells also play a role in comprehending human development. By studying how stem cells lead to the formation of specialized cells, scientists can know more about the growth stages. They will also know how different tissues are formed. This can eventually help address birth detects and developmental disorders.  

What are the sources of stem cells?

Many sources are known for obtaining stem cells. Let’s check these ahead. 

Embryonic Stem Cells
Embryonic stem cells are the ones that hail from early-stage embryos. Being pluripotent, these cells can become any other type. But, even when these have a potential for medical research, people have ethical concerns. This is because the embryos get ruined during the extraction process. 

Adult Stem Cells

Adult stem cells are the ones found in several tissues. Adult stem cells are multipotent, unlike embryonic ones.  This implies that they can only develop into specific cell types related to the tissue. For instance, bone marrow stem cells transform into blood cells. But, researchers can induce these cells just as embryonic stem cells. They then have to alter the genes of the adult cells. 

Perinatal Stem Cells

Tissues like the placenta contain perinatal stem cells. Additionally, cells are observed in umbilical chord blood. These stem cells are capable of developing into multiple cell types. Hence, they are effective. But, medical professionals are still conducting research to explore the potential to treat different health conditions. 

Fetal Stem Cells
Fetal stem cells are the ones from the tissues of a fetus. Just like embryonic stem cells, these cells have the potential to be any cell type. However, the use is limited and a lot of research has not been conducted. 

Why is there a dispute regarding embryonic stem cells?

The use of embryonic stem cells is controversial. This is because of some ethical concerns. 

Before the stem cells are obtained, the embryos can get ruined. Moreover, some individuals believe that life commences at conception. Thus, destruction of embryos is considered to be morally wrong. But, the National Institutes of Health have come up with certain guidelines.  

As the guidelines were laid, they define the stem cells and how they can be used in research.  Besides, the guidelines also state the use of the stem cells. 

Where do the embryos come from?

The embryos that are used in stem cell research are obtained from fertilized eggs. After the fertilization takes place at the clinic, these are not placed in a woman’s uterus. Instead, the stem cells are then obtained from the donor and left for growing in petri dishes.  

Why can’t researchers use adult stem cells?

In today’s world, many individuals are conducting research due to cell reprogramming. However, such an approach is ineffective. In that case, iPSCs are used to avoid ethical issues. Adult stem cells may not survive even after that. They can also not be used for treating different diseases as it’s hard to manipulate them. Moreover, adult stem cells can perhaps contain irregularities due to hazards. Many toxins can affect the adult stem cells to some extent. But, as per the findings, the adult stem cells are more adaptable. 

What are stem cell lines, and its role?

A stem cell line is usually a group of cells that hail from a single cell. While these are grown at the laboratory, they don’t turn into specialized cells. But, groups of cells can be taken from the stem cell line and stored for later use. 

What is stem cell therapy for restoring hair?

As stem cells are used for hair restoration, they stimulate hair growth for those with hair loss. Initially, the medical specialist will consider three pieces of skim. These must contain the hair follicles and be 2.5 mm in diameter. Usually, the medical specialist considers the pieces of skin from behind the ear. Later, the pieces of skin are broken down into particles less than 50 microns. Once converted into a solution, the hair root cells are injected at different regions. The medical professional will then inject the solution where the scalp is shedding. With time, the stem cells will stimulate the weak follicles to grow and produce thick hair. The individual can then observe the results within a time span of 4 to 6 months. 

In comparison with conventional methods, this hair restoration technique is minimally invasive. But, the results may vary from person to person. Having said that, many individuals are conducting research to understand the long-term effectiveness. 

Has stem cell therapy been used for disease treatments?

Stem cells are certainly used for treating certain diseases. For instance, if an individual is suffering from lymphoma or leukemia, then the stem cells from bone marrow help to treat the condition. The patient’s blood cells are eventually replenished after chemotherapy. Additionally, many medical professionals are exploring stem cells for treating other conditions. While such treatments show promise, more research is required. This research will then gauge the therapy’s viability. 

What are the problems of using embryonic stem cells?

When clinics use embryonic stem cells, many challenges arise. Ethically, the process involves the destruction of embryos. Even during stem cell therapy, this has sparked concerns. They are about the embryo’s moral status. Technically, there are also some risks. These include immune rejection, and formation of a tumor. Besides, there will be difficulty in controlling the deterioration of stem cells. However, there’s a controversy regarding the safe use of embryonic cells. 

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Since its establishment, Grace Touch Clinic has offered personalized health care services. Once you approach us, our medical professionals will enhance your overall appearance. By leveraging the latest medical advancements, we assure you to accomplish the best possible outcomes. Apart from hair transplant, we perform obesity surgery, face lifts, Rhinoplasty surgeries, and more for an eye-pleasing personality.

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