Stem cells are undifferentiated biological cells that can
differentiate into more specialized cells and divide (through
mitosis) to produce more stem cells (self-renew).
In mammals, there are two broad types of stem cells: embryonic
stem cells, which are isolated from the inner cell mass of blast
cysts, and adult stem cells, which are found in various tissues.
In adult organisms, stem cells and progenitor cells act as a
repair system for the body, replenishing adult tissues.
There are three known accessible sources of autologous adult
stem cells in humans:
Stem cells can also be taken from umbilical cord blood just after birth. Of all stem cell types, autologous harvesting involves the least risk. By definition, autologous cells are obtained from one's own body, just as one may bank his or her own blood for elective surgical procedures. Adult stem cells are frequently used in various medical therapies. Stem cells can now be artificially grown and transformed (differentiated) into specialized cell types with characteristics consistent with cells of various tissues such as muscles or nerves. Embryonic cell lines and autologous embryonic stem cells generated through somatic cell nuclear transfer or dedifferentiation have also been proposed as promising candidates for future therapies.
Stem cells differ from other kinds of cells in the body.
All stem cells—regardless of their source—have three general
properties: they are capable of dividing and renewing themselves
for long periods; they are unspecialized; and they can give rise
to specialized cell types.
One of the fundamental properties of a stem cell is that it does
not have any tissue-specific structures that allow it to perform
specialized functions. A stem cell cannot work with its
neighbors to pump blood through the body (like a heart muscle
cell); it cannot carry molecules of oxygen through the
bloodstream (like a red blood cell); and it cannot fire
electrochemical signals to other cells that allow the body to
move or speak (like a nerve cell). However, unspecialized stem
cells can give rise to specialized cells, including heart muscle
cells, blood cells, or nerve cells.
Stem cells are capable of dividing and renewing
themselves for long periods. Unlike muscle cells, blood cells,
or nerve cells—which do not normally replicate themselves—stem
cells may replicate many times. When cells replicate themselves
many times over it is called proliferation. A starting
population of stem cells that proliferates for many months in
the laboratory can yield millions of cells. If the resulting
cells continue to be unspecialized, like the parent stem cells,
the cells are said to be capable of long-term self-renewal.
In each case, using one's own stem cells can help the body
rebuild, regenerate and repair on its own.
The procedure continues to be successful, with patients
experiencing health benefits even six months after stem cell
treatment.
Adult stem cells, undifferentiated and adaptable, are able to
transform into the cells of countless organs and structures
within the human body. Many therapies use stem cells as they can
restore damaged structures and rejuvenate failing cells very
effectively. Stem cell science has seen considerable
advancements in the last few years with many new developments
and discoveries being made.
We developed the Adult Autologous Stem Cells Therapy program to treat a variety of conditions. During stem cells treatment a patient receives 100 – 200 million stem cells. The quantity of restored cells not only covers daily losses, but exceeds them a thousand times. Thus, the reserve of the stem cells, practically lost for the latest 15 – 20 years, is restored. After such an active cell replenishment, organ gets rejuvenated and renewed, because the new and active cells displace the old and damaged ones.