Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 16
Stem Cells in Neurodegenerative Diseases.
Part I: General Consideration
(The Old Idea or A New Therapeutic Concept?)
Mankind is searching for a key to longevity
and there is no doubt that stem cells could be
an important answer to this problem.
- Ratajczak Marius
The pluripotency of stem cells from different sources is the subject of controversies
and criticism, but as one of the most prominent features of these cells is also envi-
sioned as a powerful therapeutic approach. Adult stem cells reside in most mam-
malian tissues, but the extent to which they contribute to normal homeostasis and
repair varies widely.
Types of Stem Cells and Spectrum of Their Application
in Clinical Arena
Types of Stem Cells According to Their Functionality
and Their Importance for Neural Tissue
According to this criterion, stem cells can be divided into two distinct categories:
normal and cancer stem cells.
1 .
Normal stem cells
are immature cells that can replicate, or renew themselves, can
divide indefinitely to produce more copies of themselves, and are able to differ-
entiate or mature into all the cells that an organism or a particular organ system
needs. Each stem cell is unspecialized, but it can produce progeny that mature
into the various cell types of, say, the brain or the immune system. Once this
maturation occurs, the stem cell heirs may divide rapidly but only a limited
number of times (
1-
3
) .
