Types of Stem Cells and its Utility

Stem cells are unique cells that have the incredible ability to turn into any tissue or organ in the body. They can treat over 80 approved life-threatening diseases and disorders thanks to these specific abilities. Although there are many different types of stem cells in the human body, stem cell treatment primarily uses two of them: hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). Stem cells can be harvested from a variety of sources, including embryos, umbilical cords, cord blood, placentas, bone marrow, teeth, and so on. The placenta (chorion and decidua), amniotic sac, and amniotic fluid are the most prolific sources of stem cells.

Types of Stem Cells and it’s Utility

In the human body, there are several types of stem cells. The following three categories may be utilized depending on the disorder that has to be treated:

•    Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSC): These are usually present in the bone marrow, although they can also be found in peripheral blood, cord blood, and other places. By definition, these cells are hematopoietic, or blood-forming cells. As a result, they usually produce blood-forming cells such as red blood cells, white blood cells, and so on.

•    Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC): These are bone marrow populating cells found in the stroma (not to be confused with HSC). They can develop into a variety of cell types, including as osteocytes (bone), adipocytes (fat), chondrocytes (cartilage), myocytes (muscle), cardiomyocytes (cardiac muscle), neurons (nerves), and blood vessels, and so play an important part in their regeneration.

•    Pluripotent stem cells (PSC): These are stem cells that exhibit both hematopoietic and mesenchymal cell properties. As a result, they can differentiate into every sort of tissue in the body.

Your newborn's stem cells may assist the baby, siblings, and family in a variety of ways. The use of stem cells in diseases such as blood cancer, thalassemia, a variety of immunological diseases, storage disorders, and a variety of cancers is well documented. Saving your baby's stem cells could help treat a variety of illnesses, from minor to serious and life-threatening. If your child's cord blood is ever needed for life-saving treatment, his or her stem cells will be a precise match. Siblings have a 50% probability of becoming a perfect match. Cord blood banking may be a good idea if you have a family history of certain cancers or blood problems. Stem cell research is rapidly expanding, with new findings being revealed daily. The number of disorders for which stem cell treatments are accessible is rapidly expanding. The importance of stem cells in "no-hope illnesses" such as spinal cord injuries, stroke, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Muscular Dystrophies, ALS, Multiple Sclerosis, Liver Cirrhosis, and others is particularly remarkable.

The cost of stem cell banking is quite low. In addition, a variety of payment alternatives are available to alleviate any concerns about affordability. The expense is insignificant when compared to the peace of mind that stem cell banking provides.