Clinical application of stem celltransplantation

Stem cells are well known to be capable of differentiating into specialized cells and providing effective reparative processes in diseased organs. A stem cell transplantation-based technology represents a new feasible approach to treating a number of diseases which are considered as incurable by conventional measures. Actually, stem cells can migrate into affected tissues and differentiate there into those cells which provide effective tissue reparation. As a matter of fact, cell-based technologies enable to replace the complicated surgery on organ transplantation by the cell grafting, an ambulatory procedure with an equivalent potential.

клеточные технологии в медицине

Fetal tissues are well known to be a source of the unique immature cells having a high growth and differentiation potential. The allogeneic stem cells have been convincingly documented to be able to survive in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)- incompatible environment for long period of time. This implies the possibility of applying the fetal cell-based technologies without using a immunosuppressor therapy. There is also ample evidence from various experimental studies indicating abilities of the fetal-derived cells to proliferate and elaborate cell growth factors in tissue lesions and to markedly intensify, thereby, tissue reparation processes [Sukhikh G.T., 1998]. Also of great value for medicine is the ability of fetal-derived cells to impede and even to reverse scar connective tissue growth in the sites of tissue lesions. Such ability of the grafted cells gives additional opportunities to compensate for the cell loss by generating new functionally active cells (Favcett J.W., 1998; Moiseev et al., 1998).

When grafted into the adult body, the low-differentiated cells are able to promote the restoration of blood flow in the ischemic organs and tissues. The precursors of endothelial cells can be responsible for this effect [Murohara et al, 2000; Fuch et al, 2001].

The anticancer action of the low-differentiated, hemopoietic cells may have an important clinical implication. The ability of such cells to directly suppress the tumor growth has been shown experimentally [Seledtsov et al, 1995; 1997, 2005].

There are data indicating the anti-atherosclerotic activity of the low-differentiated cells. One of the manifestations of this activity is a decrease in a level of atherogenic lipoproteins in the sera of the fetal cell-grafted persons [Runovich et al., 2000].

Tthe transplantation of donor-derived, immature cells may result in a substantial increase in the regenerative and adaptive abilities of the adult organism [Sukhikh G.T., 1998]. This suggest that these cells may be capable of restraining chronic degenerative processes leading to body aging. Hence, cell-based technologies may be clinically effective in treating a diversity of diseases owing to body senescence.

Of special attention now are the technologies based on transplanting patient’s own stem cells. An main advantages of these technologies are due to availability of non-nimmunogenic cellular material (acceptable source is an autological bone marrow). There are convincing experimental data suggesting potential efficacy of administering autological stem cells in treating severe neurological and cardiovascular disorders [Li et al, 2001; Nakano et al 2001; Hamano et al, 2002; Edelberg et al, 2002].

In conclusion, it should be emphasized that cell-based technologies enable to improve cardinally cure for a diversity of diseases which are considered in terms of conventional medicine as incurable.

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