Stem Cells Research

If you or any of your relative is suffering from deadly diseases such as Parkinson?s, cancer, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer?s or any other, then these small cells-could be a matter of life and death for you! It has been shown that the stem cells are capable of differentiating into specialized cells or organs of the body as well renewing or repairing any damage which has occurred in the tissues or organs of the body! Hence, you can see for yourself that these stem cells have a life-saving potential.

Stem cells are of two types and both of them have enormous potential in their own. These are embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. The embryonic stem cells are derived from the blastocyst or the inner mass of the embryos, after fertilization has occurred whereas the adult stem cells are already present within the specialized tissues/organs, and multiply by mitotic division for replenishing dying cells and regenerating damaged tissues. Adult stem cells have been found to have a much longer track record in treatments, in comparison to the embryonic stem cells and are not controversial as they do not result in the destruction of embryos.

Stem cells are derived from blastocyst and can give rise to specialized cells in the body- for example, a blank cell can become a specialized cell if it attaches to the blood stream or if you have an injury in your spinal cord, then it can become a nerve, cartilage or motor cell. So, a stem cell can take any shape or form, depending on the requirements of the body. Hence, they are of immense importance in carrying organ transplants or treating deadly diseases such as cancer, Parkinson?s or Alzheimer?s.

Generally, if an organ transplant is required for a person, then it is very difficult to obtain a fresh piece of organ. But if the stem cells are controlled and manipulated properly, then they will grow into a specialized organ and will serve as a potential supply for organ transplant. Moreover, as these cells are able to renew or repair the damaged tissues, so can be used for replacing the cells lost in injuries or accidents. For example in Parkinson?s disease, the brain cells are lost or damaged, and hence a person is not able to co-ordinate his/her muscle movements and looses memory. But if you can add new cells in place of the dead ones, then the person will be able to live normally. So, think of the potential that this small cell has!

Hence, stem cell research can really affect everybody?s life. If you support this research, then you may be able to save your friend or relative from having an untimely death!

Before going further into the article, let me give you some information about stem cells. Stem cells are found in all multi-cellular organisms and are categorized as undifferentiated cells-meaning that they have the potential to develop into various specialized cells in the body during early development of an organism. Stem cells have the capacity to differentiate into specialized cells/organs such as kidney, liver, lungs, heart etc- and hence are of primary importance to human beings.

Stem cells have two special properties- firstly; they are unspecialized cells, having the ability to renew themselves through cell division and secondly, under certain experimental conditions they can be induced to become tissue or organ specific cells with specialized functions. Stem cells are basically of two types- embryonic stem cells or adult stem cells. The embryonic stem cells are derived from the early morula stage embryos or the inner cell mass of the blastocyst. On the other hand, the adult stem cells are undifferentiated stem cells that are found among differentiated tissues/organs and multiply be cell division to repair/renew the tissues in which they are
present.

Adult Stem cells are found in various organs such as brain, bone marrow, peripheral blood, blood vessels, heart, gut, skin, teeth, skeletal muscle, liver etc. The research on adult stem cells has aggravated lots of excitement and debate amongst the scientists all over the world. Scientists have found out that lots of adult stem cells are present in structured tissues and organs- which is an indication of the fact that these cells can be used for transplants or can be induced to grow into specialized cells. However, one of the major drawbacks in using adult stem cells is that they are often restricted to certain types of lineages-meaning that the adult stem cell of a particular lineage will not be able to divide into different type of lineage!

In spite of the above drawback, the adult stem cells have been used for several years for successfully treating leukemia and related bone/blood cancers. The use of adult stem cells has not been considered controversial so far because unlike the embryonic stem cells (which are derived from the embryo), they are derived form the adult organs-and it does not require the destruction of the embryo.

The first successful example of using adult stem cells for transplant was carried by Paolo Macchiarini, at the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, on a Columbian adult female whose trachea had been distorted due to tuberculosis. The entire procedure of carrying out the transplant occurred normally and the tissue exhibited no signs of rejection, even after months of transplant.

Adult stem cells are very valuable and a lot of research is still going on to find out the other applications or uses of these cells. Adult stem cells have numerous potential and if the information is decoded wisely, then soon we will have a world free of diseases!

Beta cells are a type of the cell which is present in the pancreas in the areas called the islets of the langerhans. They make 65 to 80 % of the cells in the islets. The beta cells make and release insulin which is a hormone which regulates the level of the glucose in the blood. There is a baseline level of the glucose in the blood which is maintained by the liver. It can really respond quickly to spikes in the blood glucose. The response time is purely quick taking only 10 minutes.

If we leave the insulin apart, beta cells also release C-peptide, a byproduct of insulin production, into the bloodstream in equimolar quantities. You must know that the C-peptide helps to prevent neuropathy, and also other symptoms of diabetes related to vascular deterioration. Measuring the levels of C-peptide can give a practitioner an idea of the viable beta cell mass. Hence the C-Peptide is really very important.

The beta cells also produce the amyline which is also known as the IAPP islet amyloid polypeptide. Amyline acts as the part of the endocrine pancreas and contributes to the glycemic controls. Amyline metabolic function is really now some what characterize as the inhibiter of the appearance of the nutrients in the plasma. You can also say that it functions as the syenergic partner of the insulin. The insulin regulates the food intake for the long time and the amyline decrease the food intake for the short time.

Research
Much research has been done in the field of the beta cell physiology and the pathology. One of the major topics of concern is the effect of the beta cell on the diabetes. Many research scholars are really trying to find the way to cure or even control the diabetes with the help of the beta cells.
One of the other major topics is the replication of the adult beta cell and also its application in diabetes. The Larry L. Hillblom Islet Research Center at UCLA is one of the leading research centers in the field, within the Diabetes and Endocrinology Research Center, directed by Dr. Peter Butler.

Pathology
The diabetes mellitus type I is really caused by the destruction of the insulin producing beta cell by the cells of the immune systems.

In the diabetes mellitus type II is caused by decline of the beta cells over the time and the insulin resistance really plays a large role in the disease.

I would really say one thing and that is the research are really on and it could be very soon that we will find the permanent cure of the diabetes. This will really be a major break through in the field of medical science.