A Closer Look at Stem Cells |
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Stem cells are primitive and unspecialized cells that able to regenerate and differentiate, and able to proliferate into cells that are identical to each other and can differentiate into other functions. Because of these characteristics, stem cells can be used to repair damaged tissues or organs, and even construct complete organs.
Stem Cells Categorised by Function |
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Hematopoietic Stem Cell (HSC) |
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Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC) |
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Totipotent are the cells of the embryo from the fertilized egg stage to the eight-cell stage; The cells are capable to develop individually, such as embryonic stem cells .
A descendant of pluripotent stem cells and it cannot develop individually. However, it has the capability to develop into a variety of tissues, such as hematopoietic stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells.
The cells have the capacity to divide into specialised cell types present in a specific tissue or organ such as blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
The cell has the capacity to develop into only one type of cell or tissue, also has the capability of self-renewal, such as stem cells in the basal layer of the epithelial tissue, myoblasts in the muscle and so on.
Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are main sources for hematopoiesis immune system. The cells can produce red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and immune cells (such as lymphocytes). Sources can be taken from bone marrow, peripheral blood, and cord blood.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the ability to self-renew, proliferation and differentiate into multiple tissues. MSCs can be driven to repair damaged tissue. The cells obtained from different tissue sources such as bone marrow, umbilical cord, placenta, and fat, and can be differentiated into osteoblasts, chondrocytes, tendons, ardiomyocytes, neurons, and fat cells, etc. MSCs has considerable potential in cell therapy, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications.