What are these stem cells? (Stem Cells) Let's find out exactly!

Have you ever wondered how our bodies are made, and how these cells renew themselves as we grow up? Our bodies are truly an amazing creation. A very important part of this creation are the stem cells that we are going to talk about today, or as you may have heard, ``Stem Cells``.

So what are these stem cells?

Simply put, if your body is a big building, these stem cells are like the foundation of that building. These stem cells are the only type of cell in our body, and they can make other types of cells that do specific jobs. Just think, we have trillions of cells in our body, and these stem cells can make more than 200 types of specialized cells. For example, things like blood cells, bone cells. One type of stem cell first builds our entire body. Then, another type of stem cell, like a maintenance team, makes repairs to different parts of our body.

How do these stem cells work?

There are two things that stem cells do that no other cell can do.

• The first thing is that they can keep dividing and making exact replicas of themselves. Normal cells also divide, but they have a limited lifespan. But stem cells don't, they can keep renewing themselves.
• The second thing is that only they can make specialized (differentiated) cells. That is, if a tissue is damaged, they can make new cells to replace it. This is a very important ability. Here are a few examples:
• The type called ``Hematopoietic stem cells'' (pronounced like 'he-ma-to-poy-ee-tik'') helps make our blood cells (red cells, white cells) and cells of the immune system.
• Basal stem cells help our skin cells , they are needed for skin renewal and wound healing.
• Mesenchymal stem cells (pronounced 'me-sen-ky-mal') help build things like bone, cartilage, muscle, and fat cells.

Why are these stem cells so important?

Stem cells are not only important for building and maintaining our bodies. What's more, they are essential for medical research. Researchers study stem cells for several very important reasons:

• Understand how diseases develop: Researchers are growing stem cells from different tissues and organs. By watching how these cells change as they grow, they can gain a deeper understanding of how diseases like diabetes , heart disease , and neurological disorders begin and develop at the cellular level.
• Finding out if stem cells can be used to replace damaged or unhealthy cells: This is one of the greatest hopes for stem cells. Researchers are exploring how stem cells can be used to differentiate into different types of cells and treat damage or disease in a specific part of the body. Imagine, one day, stem cells could be used to replace skin damaged by severe burns, partially repair a spinal cord injury, or treat conditions like Parkinson's disease .
• Test new drugs and treatments: Researchers use stem cells to find drugs that may be more effective for certain diseases. Using specially modified stem cells (for example, cells that have been genetically modified to have a specific disease), they can find out if the drug works, is safe, and has side effects before giving it to people in clinical trials. This can also reduce the time and cost of finding new drugs.

What are the main types of stem cells?

Doctors classify stem cells based on their source or their function. But most people have probably heard of the classification based on source. Let's take a look at the main types:

• Embryonic (pluripotent) stem cells: These cells have the amazing power to become any type of cell. That means skin cells, heart cells, brain cells, anything! 'Pluri' means 'many'. 'Potent' comes from a Latin word meaning 'ability'. Medical researchers obtain these embryonic stem cells from donated cord blood or from embryos donated for research purposes through in vitro fertilization.

Important: There are various opinions and ethical issues discussed around the world regarding the collection and use of these embryonic stem cells. Therefore, they are used with great caution and only in accordance with strict regulations.

• Tissue-specific (multipotent or unipotent) stem cells: These cells can also make new stem cells, but only cells specific to the tissue they live in. That is, they are a little more specialized. For example, the blood-forming stem cells in your bone marrow can make new blood cells and platelets. But they cannot make new stem cells in the lungs or liver. Researchers get these cells from tissue donated by adults (after birth).
• Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells or iPSCs):These are some of the most amazing discoveries in modern science. These are stem cells that are made in the lab. They take normal adult cells (such as skin cells) and genetically modify them to make them behave like embryonic stem cells, capable of becoming any type of cell. These ``(iPS)`` cells have helped to avoid many of the ethical issues that have arisen with the use of embryonic stem cells. Medical researchers use these cells to study how tissues develop, how diseases affect tissues, and to test new drugs and treatments.

How do researchers work with these stem cells?

This process usually starts with donated adult stem cells. Or, like the induced pluripotent stem cells we talked about earlier, with normal cells. Then, researchers grow millions of these cells in a special nutrient medium in the lab. Their goal is to make these initial cells into the specialized cells they want (e.g., heart muscle cells, nerve cells). They use various chemical signals and growth factors to do this.

How do doctors use stem cells to treat diseases?

Doctors are already successfully using stem cells to treat some medical conditions.

• Bone Marrow Transplant : This is the most popular and successful form of stem cell therapy . Doctors can use adult stem cells to replace damaged or abnormal bone marrow stem cells. These are used to treat conditions such as:
• Types of blood cancers: Leukemia, multiple myeloma, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. People with these diseases often need stem cell transplants after receiving high-dose chemotherapy or radiation therapy to kill cancer cells in their bone marrow.
• Blood disorders: Genetic diseases like sickle cell anemia and thalassemia.
• Aplastic Anemia: A condition in which the bone marrow does not produce enough blood cells.
• Bone fractures and cartilage damage: Doctors sometimes use bone grafts, which are made from stem cells taken from donated tissue and other materials, to heal bone fractures. Also, stem cell injections are being investigated for cartilage damage in joints such as the knee.

Will doctors ever use embryonic stem cells?

Yes, sometimes doctors use stem cells from donated cord blood to treat blood disorders, especially in children. Cord blood contains stem cells that are similar to embryonic stem cells, but are more specialized. (Cord blood is the blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta after a baby is born.) This treatment, which is used with donated cord blood, is the only embryonic stem cell therapy approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Where are these stem cells located in our body?

You have stem cells all over your body, but different tissues contain stem cells specific to that tissue. They are mainly found in your bone marrow (this is the largest source), brain, blood vessels, the layer under your skin, muscles, liver, and heart . However, as you age, the number of stem cells and their function can decrease.

What are the common diseases that affect stem cells?

Your bone marrow – the soft, spongy tissue inside some bones – is where the stem cells that become blood cells (red cells, white cells) and platelets are made. Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body. White blood cells fight infection. Platelets control bleeding. So, anything that affects your bone marrow can directly affect these blood-forming stem cells. Some common conditions that affect stem cells include:

• Aplastic Anemia
• Myeloproliferative disorders (these are conditions in which cells in the bone marrow overproduce)
• Lymphoma (a cancer of the lymphatic system, but can also affect the bone marrow)
• Leukemia (a blood cancer that starts directly from the stem cells in the bone marrow)

How do I keep my stem cells healthy?

There is no proven way to create and maintain healthy stem cells, as their function is largely genetic and age-related. However, following good overall health habits can indirectly benefit all of our cells, including stem cells:

• Eat a well-balanced diet: Include lean protein, lots of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Foods rich in antioxidants (blueberries, strawberries, dark green vegetables) can help protect cells from damage.
• Avoid smoking and tobacco use completely: Tobacco is a major enemy that damages cells, increases the risk of cancer, and damages DNA.
• If you drink alcoholic beverages, limit the amount:The American Cancer Society's guidelines state that if you drink alcohol, men should have no more than two drinks per day and women should have no more than one drink per day.
• Protect your skin from ultraviolet light, whether from the sun or tanning beds: Ultraviolet light can also damage skin stem cells and cause cancer.
• Talk to your doctor about vaccines to protect against viruses. Some viral infections (e.g. hepatitis) can cause long-term damage to cells.
• Manage your stress: Prolonged stress is harmful to the body's cells. You can reduce stress through things like exercise, meditation, and relaxation.
• Get enough sleep: It is during sleep that the body's cells repair themselves.

Can I increase my stem cell count naturally?

You may have read that taking certain vitamins (such as vitamin D and B12) or taking certain supplements can improve the health of stem cells or increase the number of stem cells. Researchers are still studying the relationship between certain vitamins and stem cell health. However, it is not yet clear whether taking vitamins alone or eating specific foods can increase the number of stem cells. The best thing to do is to eat a balanced diet and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

So, what is the take-home message for us from this story?

Okay, so from what we've talked about, it's clear how amazing and important stem cells are in our bodies. Just think, there are trillions of cells in our bodies. Among them, stem cells are special because they are the only type of cell that can make copies of themselves indefinitely and create specialized cells that can repair damaged cells.

Doctors already use stem cell therapy to manage and sometimes cure diseases such as blood cancers and blood disorders. Medical researchers believe that these stem cells have the potential to treat and possibly cure many other serious diseases (e.g., heart disease, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, paralysis). So research in this field continues, and at a rapid pace.

So, I hope you have gained a basic understanding of stem cells. Being aware of medical science like this helps us think more about our health, doesn't it? Because, knowledge is the best defense!