Stem Cells

They have the potential to migrate to the damaged or injured area of infection, initiate engraftment with the required tissues and restore the impaired organ. These Stem Cell working fundamentals or function are vital for the repair and restoration of the injured part of the body.

• They can divide and renew themselves at will and can thus replicate and proliferate to form the desired tissue.
• They are generally unspecialized but can give rise to specialized cells when subjected to the ambient conditions viz. suitable internal or external environment to which they are subjected.
• Plasticity function i.e. ability of stem cells from one tissue to generate into cell types of completely different tissues.
• Homing function i.e. the ability of the stem cells to be attracted to site of injury.
• Engraftment function i.e. the ability to unite with the new tissue; so the regenerating tissue seamlessly amalgamates with the parent tissue.

In the case of an acute heart failure because of a gunshot injury, the victim showed tremendous improvement due to active stem cell therapy being provided as a life saving measure.

The most promising stem cell treatment of diabetes involves replacement and engraftment of the beta cells of the pancreas by stem cells derived from humans and cultured to differentiate into insulin positive cells. This regenerating tissue functions as young pancreatic islets, resistant to destruction and should hold great promise in diabetes treatment protocols and research. A conclusive diabetes treatment option may be on the anvil in the near future.

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