Know the Basics of Stem Cells – How are Cord Blood Stem Cells Different?

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Know the Basics of Stem Cells

How are Cord Blood Stem Cells Different?
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Over the years, stem cell transplantation has
been considered promising in treating problems
related to several life-threatening diseases and
disorders. Diseases like cancer, Parkinsons and
other blood and genetic disorders and
immunological deficiencies have seen some hope
since the advent of stem cell therapy.
But, do you know what exactly are these stem
cells and where do they come from? Umbilical
cord blood stem therapy, has also emerged as a
contender against the other stem cell treatments
in treating lethal diseases. But, how are
umbilical cord blood stem cells different?
To find out the answers to all your questions Go
through this article.  
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What Are Stem Cells?
Stem cells are the roots or the master or the
mother cells in the body. They are unique because
they perform the two key functions of
pluripotency and self-renewal in the human body.
As far as the pluripotency of the stem cells are
concerned, the stem cells divide into several
daughter cells and go into the differentiation
process, thus giving rise to various organs in
the body like heart, brain, eyes, liver, etc.
Additionally, they have this unique potential to
regenerate and repair the diseased or damaged
tissues in the body. Everything doesnt end
there.
Researchers continue to go deeper looking for
some more knowledge on stem cells banking. In
fact, their studies have indicated several
sources of stem cells.
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So, What Are the Sources of Stem Cells? So, the
stem cells, which are the earliest types of cells
in the cell lineage is being derived from The
Embryonic Stem Cells Basically, three days after
the fertilisation, a normally developing embryo
will have 6 to 10 cells. But, by the fifth or
sixth day, when the egg gets fertilised, it known
as blastocyst. Blastocyst is an entire ball of
inner stem cells, which eventually takes the
shape of an embryo. The other group of cells,
however, is active in protecting and nourishing
the inner cells.   Due to their pluripotent
nature, the embryonic stem cells are being
studied to be used as clinical therapies, genetic
disorders and cellular or DNA repair.
Additionally, the embryonic pluripotent stem
cells, have shown the promise in treating
wide-ranging conditions, which may not just be
limited to spinal cord injuries, age-related
muscular degeneration, diabetes, AIDs, etc. But
some ethical controversies are arising
surrounding the embryonic stem cell therapy. 
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The Adult Stem Cells These stem cells, also known
as niches, are found in the adipose tissues, bone
marrow, peripheral blood and the umbilical cord
blood. Unlike embryonic stem cells, these are a
few undifferentiated stem cells. In this type of
cellular differentiation, the stem cell either
differentiates into a few cell types or only one
cell type.  For instance, while haemopoietic stem
cells (HSC) can divide into blood cells only,
there are neural cells, which form cells only in
the nervous system. Several bone or blood cancer
has been successfully treated through bone marrow
transplantation. In fact, till date bone marrow
transplantation has been considered as a
preferential treatment option for a very long
time. But, due to the limited lifespan of the
bone marrow stem cells (the phenomenon whereby
normal non-malignant cells stop dividing in
vitro, after approximately fifty divisions, which
has been termed the Hayflick limit), painfully
invasive procedure and with a serious
complication after the transplant, the
effectiveness and safety of its is still being
tested.   The Umbilical Cord Blood Stem
Cells Going by the basics, during pregnancy, the
umbilical cord acts as a String of Life between
the mother and the baby. However, earlier when
babies were delivered, it was prevalent to treat
the umbilical cord (with the cord blood) as a
medical waste. However, with the advent of cord
blood stem cell therapy and regenerative
medicine, the whole scenario has changed.
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How Cord Blood Stem Cells Different?
Research has it that, cord blood is largely
driven by haematopoietic stem cells, which can be
used to regenerate the immune system. Their
regenerative powers can also come in handy when
treating life-threatening diseases. After
conducting intensive research, it has been
concluded that they can be used to successfully
treat leukaemia and other blood disorders, as
Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs), can transform
into various blood cell types.
In fact, due to its younger, purer, more
adaptable and active nature, risks and
complications of graft-versus-host diseases is
not observed after the transplantation. Rather,
it becomes easy to find a match, especially
within family and siblings. Through new-born
cord blood banking, the cord blood stem cells can
be preserved after a painless collection, for 21
to 75 years of a babys life so that, it can be
used for medical use, even after two decades.  
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To Sum Up Unlike embryonic stem cells, umbilical
cord blood stem cells may not be pluripotent, but
it, along with Whartons jelly and cord lining
are being studied in vitro for neurological
defects, immune deficiency and other organ
disorders. Umbilical cord blood banking would
surely allow parents to gain access to
cutting-edge treatments for themselves and their
familys healthy future. In fact, looking at
the benefits of cord blood banking, more and more
parents-to-be are thinking about including  cord
blood banking in their birth plan.
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e-basics-of-stem-cells-how-are-cord-blood-stem-cel
ls-different/