Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
mesenchymal stem cells describes results from the early 2000s that
show how these cell types could prove useful in the treatment of
cardiovascular damage, lung disease, spinal cord injury and bone
and cartilage repair (Barry and Murphy, 2004). This article cites
studies that have demonstrated improved recovery rates in patients
after heart attacks and those with coronary heart disease when
treated with mesenchymal stem cells (Barry and Murphy, 2004).
They also refer to studies conducted in mice that highlight the
potential for clinical applications of mesenchymal stem cells to
improve lung function and muscle damage (Barry and Murphy,
2004). Further studies they mention include some animal studies on
the production of neuronal tissue, indicating possible future treatments
for stroke, Parkinson's and brain damage (Barry and Murphy, 2004).
A number of studies that have shown that mesenchymal stem cells
have the capacity to be used in spinal treatment, bone defects and
cartilage repair are also cited (Barry and Murphy, 2004). Since this
survey was published in 2004, a number of the possibilities canvassed
have subsequently moved into human clinical trials.
Another type of adult stem cell that has become the focus of
clinical applications is the epithelial stem cell. Epithelial stem cells
are found in the skin and internal membranes of the body. They are
responsible for the continual regeneration of these tissues throughout
an individual's lifetime, both as a function of ongoing tissue
maintenance and in response to injury (Blanplan et al., 2007).
Different tissues have different rates of renewal, with the lining of
the gut being renewed approximately every five days and the lining
of the lung up to six months (Blanplan et al., 2007). As with
mesenchymal stem cells, the exact identity and functioning of
epithelial stem cells is still quite uncertain (Blanplan et al., 2007). Yet
it is suggested that at least part of this ambivalence has to do with
the diversity of function of epithelial cells found in different tissues
(Blanplan et al., 2007). Attempts to harness the clinical potential of
epithelial stem cells have been underway since the mid-1970s, with
early experiments focusing on the creation of keratinocytes, cells
that produce keratin, a main component in skin, hair and nails
(Blanplan et al., 2007). By the early 1980s, keratinocytes had been
successfully used to treat burns victims (Blanplan et al., 2007). More
