Adult Stem Cell
The adult stem cell category refers to undifferentiated cells that are present in all the body parts and tissues, for the only purpose of renewal and transformation into differentiated cells with a specialized role in the body functions. While an embryonic stem cell grows in the blastocyst, the initial cellular organization out of which the embryo evolves, scientists still don’t know anything about the origin of an adult stem cell as part of mature tissues. The moment when scientists realized that we all carry stem cells throughout our entire lives, was revolutionary in the medical history.
In fact the adult stem cell has the potential of evolving into a large number of differentiated cells. Presently, it is a generally recognized fact that adult stem cells are present in the heart as well as in the brain, which was previously unbelievable. The beginning of all studies goes fifty years back when the first bone marrow researchers were ready to understand the presence of two types of stem cells in the spinal cord. A first group generates the blood in its complexity, while a second one includes cells that allow the formation of fat, bone, cartilage and connective tissues.
The laboratory generation of adult stem cell categories is pretty difficult despite the amazing discoveries and progress made by medical research. Although stem cells are present in a small number in all tissues, their capacity to proliferate is limited, which leads to the difficulty to create large quantities in the laboratory. An adult stem cell will stay inactive in tissues, and it only activates when necessary because of some physical trauma or body failure. The major challenge at present is how to start cell culture and manipulate cells to treat diseases.
Should adult stem cell research repute more victories, maybe solutions will become available to replace the insulin generating cells of diabetes patients or the dopamine-producing ones of Parkinson’s disease patients. The same goes true for the prevention of heart attacks by the regeneration of the cardiac muscle tissues. Various genetic experiments are further develop to identify and separate adult stem cell groups as a means of creating more powerful and effective disease treatment.
