by Jennifer Febel
If you’ve been paying attention to the news these days you’ve no doubt heard about stem cell therapy and adult stem cells.
When most people think about stem cells they generally think that there are only two types in existence: Embryonic stem cells and Adult stem cells; however, the term “Embryonic” or “Adult” refers more to where the stem cells come from than what they are.
In reality, there are many different kinds of stem cells, each with their own set of capabilities and limitations.
BACK TO THE BASICS
In the beginning, there is a sperm and there is an egg.
Once joined, this fertilized egg, now known as a zygote, begins a two-week period of rapid cell division in which each cell doubles by dividing into two cells in a process known as mitosis.
This two-week stage, known as the germinal period of development, is closely followed by the embryonic phase where the newly divided cells begin to differentiate into three distinct (germ) layers:
And the mesoderm layer will develop into skeletal muscle, bones, connective tissue, the heart, and blood (lymph cells).
It is here, in the mesoderm, where the current stem cell story begins.
WHAT’S POTENCY GOT TO DO WITH IT?
The potency of a cell specifies its potential to differentiate into different cell types
There are three types of cell potency:
The zygote is an example of a totipotent cell.
The problem with these types of stem cells is that they are meant to develop into whole beings and when taken out of this environment they have a tendency to form teratomas, an encapsulated tumor that contains components of all three germ layers.
Pluripotency refers to a stem cell that has the ability to differentiate into any of the three germ layers.
They can develop into any fetal or adult cell type; however, they cannot develop into a fetal or adult animal due to a lack of potential to contribute to extraembryonic tissue such as the placenta.
Multipotent stem cells have the potential to differentiate as well, but only into a limited number of lineages.
For example, a hematopoietic cell is a blood stem cell that can differentiate into several types of blood cells but cannot develop into brain cells or other types of cells.
MESENCHYM-WHO?
Mesenchymal stem cells, also known as MSCs, are multipotent cells that have the ability to differentiate into a variety of cell types including bone and tendon.
It is these types of stem cells that reside in adipose tissue and that are responsible for all the positive press fat has been getting these days.
A mesenchymal stem cell is just a cell that is derived from the mesoderm.
While these stem cells are capable of differentiation, they can only differentiate into cells that the mesoderm is meant to develop into. They cannot develop into tissue such as nerves or internal organs because these tissues originate from a different embryonic germ layer.
It is because of their multipotency that adipose-derived stem cells are perfect for treating diseased muscle, bone, and tendons but cannot be used to generate other tissue types.
While scientists have successfully manipulated stem cells to turn multipotent cells into pluripotent cells, this type of stem cell therapy is still in its infancy and studies on the effects of the manipulated cells are underway.
As you can see, stem cells are a varied group of cells that exhibit a wide range of characteristics and therefore have great potential and application in current veterinary medical therapy.
We are just starting out on this stem cell journey and we have so much to learn but one thing is clear: stem cell therapy offers the medical world a unique way to use the body’s own cells to heal itself.
And that’s a wonderful thing.
Do you have a dog or cat that suffers from a musculoskeletal issue? Would you consider stem cell therapy if your veterinarian offered it?
Related articles:
Stem Cells for Dogs? Oh yeah, baby!
Interview with Dr. Robert J. Harman, D.V.M., M.P.V.M. - CEO and founder of Vet-Stem
Jasmine is Vet-Stem's poster child!
Zeus Gets Stem Cell Treatment
Jasmine Is Headed For Her Next Stem Cell Treatment
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If you’ve been paying attention to the news these days you’ve no doubt heard about stem cell therapy and adult stem cells.
When most people think about stem cells they generally think that there are only two types in existence: Embryonic stem cells and Adult stem cells; however, the term “Embryonic” or “Adult” refers more to where the stem cells come from than what they are.
In reality, there are many different kinds of stem cells, each with their own set of capabilities and limitations.
BACK TO THE BASICS
In the beginning, there is a sperm and there is an egg.
Once joined, this fertilized egg, now known as a zygote, begins a two-week period of rapid cell division in which each cell doubles by dividing into two cells in a process known as mitosis.
This two-week stage, known as the germinal period of development, is closely followed by the embryonic phase where the newly divided cells begin to differentiate into three distinct (germ) layers:
- endoderm
- mesoderm
- ectoderm
And the mesoderm layer will develop into skeletal muscle, bones, connective tissue, the heart, and blood (lymph cells).
It is here, in the mesoderm, where the current stem cell story begins.
WHAT’S POTENCY GOT TO DO WITH IT?
The potency of a cell specifies its potential to differentiate into different cell types
There are three types of cell potency:
- totipotency
- pluripotency
- multipotency.
Totipotency is the ability of a single cell to divide and produce all of the differentiated cells in an organism.
The zygote is an example of a totipotent cell.
The problem with these types of stem cells is that they are meant to develop into whole beings and when taken out of this environment they have a tendency to form teratomas, an encapsulated tumor that contains components of all three germ layers.
Pluripotency refers to a stem cell that has the ability to differentiate into any of the three germ layers.
They can develop into any fetal or adult cell type; however, they cannot develop into a fetal or adult animal due to a lack of potential to contribute to extraembryonic tissue such as the placenta.
Multipotent stem cells have the potential to differentiate as well, but only into a limited number of lineages.
For example, a hematopoietic cell is a blood stem cell that can differentiate into several types of blood cells but cannot develop into brain cells or other types of cells.
MESENCHYM-WHO?
Mesenchymal stem cells, also known as MSCs, are multipotent cells that have the ability to differentiate into a variety of cell types including bone and tendon.
It is these types of stem cells that reside in adipose tissue and that are responsible for all the positive press fat has been getting these days.
A mesenchymal stem cell is just a cell that is derived from the mesoderm.
While these stem cells are capable of differentiation, they can only differentiate into cells that the mesoderm is meant to develop into. They cannot develop into tissue such as nerves or internal organs because these tissues originate from a different embryonic germ layer.
It is because of their multipotency that adipose-derived stem cells are perfect for treating diseased muscle, bone, and tendons but cannot be used to generate other tissue types.
While scientists have successfully manipulated stem cells to turn multipotent cells into pluripotent cells, this type of stem cell therapy is still in its infancy and studies on the effects of the manipulated cells are underway.
As you can see, stem cells are a varied group of cells that exhibit a wide range of characteristics and therefore have great potential and application in current veterinary medical therapy.
We are just starting out on this stem cell journey and we have so much to learn but one thing is clear: stem cell therapy offers the medical world a unique way to use the body’s own cells to heal itself.
And that’s a wonderful thing.
Do you have a dog or cat that suffers from a musculoskeletal issue? Would you consider stem cell therapy if your veterinarian offered it?
Related articles:
Stem Cells for Dogs? Oh yeah, baby!
Interview with Dr. Robert J. Harman, D.V.M., M.P.V.M. - CEO and founder of Vet-Stem
Jasmine is Vet-Stem's poster child!
Zeus Gets Stem Cell Treatment
Jasmine Is Headed For Her Next Stem Cell Treatment
Jasmine's Stem Cells Are In
Running With The Wind: Trago's Elbow Dysplasia Surgery And Stem Cell Treatment
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