Cell Development and Stem Cell Therapies

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Questions and Answers

What occurs to ESC cells as the early embryo develops?

They fully differentiate into highly specialized cells

They become redundant and die

They differentiate into more specialized cell types and organize into structures (correct)

They remain in a semi-differentiated state

What is a characteristic of adult stem cells?

They are oligopotent or unipotent (correct)

They do not regenerate tissues

They are multipotent

They are pluripotent

What is the role of adult stem cells in the body?

To proliferate indefinitely

To regenerate entire organs

To enable continuous regeneration and self-renewal of tissues (correct)

To replace embryonic stem cells

What is the classification of stem cells based on their origin?

Based on their origin into five categories Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of a stem cell?

A cell that can divide indefinitely and produce differentiated cells Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between embryonic and adult stem cells?

Their differentiation potential Signup and view all the answers

What is a challenge in working with adult stem cells?

Their limited proliferation in vitro Signup and view all the answers

What is a question being researched in the field of adult stem cells?

How to stimulate proliferation of adult stem cells Signup and view all the answers

What is the goal of regenerative medicine?

To improve the health quality of life Signup and view all the answers

What is a major limitation of organ transplantation?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What is the potential of embryonic stem (ESC) cells?

To become any of the different cell types found in adults Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT an approach of regenerative medicine?

Gene Editing Signup and view all the answers

What happens to tissues like bone and muscle when they are injured?

They can regenerate but not across a large gap Signup and view all the answers

What is a challenge in engineering and manufacturing artificial tissues and organs?

Replacing the strength, form, function, and biocompatibility of natural tissues Signup and view all the answers

How many cell types are derived from a single fertilized egg?

Around 200 Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of injury to tissues like spinal cord, heart muscle, and pancreas?

Scar tissue forms Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the stem cell niche?

To control genes and properties of stemness Signup and view all the answers

What is the mesenchyme?

A mass of tissue that develops mainly from the mesoderm of the embryo Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of MSCs?

They are capable of differentiating into several connective tissue cell types Signup and view all the answers

What is a component of the stem cell niche?

Signaling molecules Signup and view all the answers

What is a function of MSCs?

To repair damaged tissues Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of stem cell niches?

They are highly innervated and densely vascularized Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the stem cell niche in stem cell development?

To control genes and properties of stemness Signup and view all the answers

What is a type of cell that can be generated by MSCs?

Osteoblasts Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Embryonic Development

ESC cells differentiate into specialized cell types and organize into structures that become tissues and organs.
Most cells fully differentiate into highly specialized cells, while some remain in a “semi-differentiated” state as adult stem (AS) cells.

Stem Cells

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can self-renew and differentiate into specific cell types.
They have the ability to repair damaged cells in the living organism.
Stem cells can be classified based on their differentiation potential and origin.

Stem Cell Classification

Based on differentiation potential:
- Pluripotent (can produce all cell types)
- Multipotent (can produce several cell types)
- Oligopotent (can produce a limited number of cell types)
- Unipotent (can produce only one cell type)
Based on origin:
- Embryonic (pluripotent)
- Fetal (multipotent)
- Perinatal (multipotent)
- Adult (tissue-specific) (oligopotent or unipotent)
- iPS (pluripotent)

Adult Stem Cells

Adult stem cells (ASC) reside within organs/tissues of an adult and play a crucial role in tissue regeneration and self-renewal.
They are oligopotent in the best case or unipotent in most cases.
Continuous regeneration of the body is enabled through proliferation and differentiation of resident stem cells.

Adult Stem Cell Sources

Three easy-to-access sources of adult stem cells:
- Bone marrow
- Fat
- Menstrual or peripheral blood
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells that can generate the mesenchyme and differentiate into several connective tissue cell types.

Stem Cell Niche

The stem cell niche is the microenvironment that consists of signaling molecules, inter-cellular contact, and interaction between stem cells and their neighboring extracellular matrix (ECM).
The niche controls genes and properties of “stemness”, i.e. self-renewal and development to committed cells.

Clinical Applications

Stem cells are used in the treatment of various diseases and conditions, including:
- Wounds
- Orthopedics
- Hematological pathology
- Impairments of the brain
- Diabetes
- Lung diseases
- Allergy and asthma
- Immunodeficiency
- Metabolic disorders
- Cancer
- Autoimmune diseases

Regenerative Medicine

Regenerative medicine aims to improve the health quality of life by growing cells and tissues that can replace and/or repair defective tissues and organs.
Approaches of regenerative medicine:
- Cell therapies
- Tissue engineering
- Implantation of bioartificial tissues
- Gene therapy