Therapeutic effects of stem cells in different body systems, a novel method that is yet to gain trust: A comprehensive review

Abstract

Stem cell therapy has been used to treat several types of diseases, and it is expected that its therapeutic uses shall increase as novel lines of evidence begin to appear. Furthermore, stem cells have the potential to make new tissues and organs. Thus, some scientists propose that organ transplantation will significantly rely on stem cell technology and organogenesis in the future. Stem cells and its robust potential to differentiate into specific types of cells and regenerate tissues and body organs, have been investigated by numerous clinician scientists and researchers for their therapeutic effects. Degenerative diseases in different organs have been the main target of stem cell therapy. Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, musculoskeletal diseases such as osteoarthritis, congenital cardiovascular diseases, and blood cell diseases such as leukemia are among the health conditions that have benefited from stem cell therapy advancements. One of the most challenging parts of the process of incorporating stem cells into clinical practice is controlling their division and differentiation potentials. Sometimes, their potential for uncontrolled growth will make these cells tumorigenic. Another caveat in this process is the ability to control the differentiation process. While stem cells can easily differentiate into a wide variety of cells, a paracrine effect controlled activity, being in an appropriate medium will cause abnormal differentiation leading to treatment failure. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of the therapeutic effects of stem cells in diseases of various organ systems. In order to advance this new treatment to its full potential, researchers should focus on establishing methods to control the differentiation process, while policymakers should take an active role in providing adequate facilities and equipment for these projects. Large population clinical trials are a necessary tool that will help build trust in this method. Moreover, improving social awareness about the advantages and adverse effects of stem cell therapy is required to develop a rational demand in the society, and consequently, healthcare systems should consider established stem cell-based therapeutic methods in their treatment algorithms.

Insight and Recent Advances into the Role of Topography on the Cell Differentiation and Proliferation on Biopolymeric Surfaces

“…Stem cells are a particular type of cells that have two important properties: self-renewal and developing into different specialized functional cells [ 87 , 88 , 89 ]. According to their potential to differentiate, there are three types of stem cells: totipotent (TSCs), pluripotent (PSCs) and multipotent (MPSCs) [ 87 , 90 ].…”

“…Stem cells are a particular type of cells that have two important properties: self-renewal and developing into different specialized functional cells [ 87 , 88 , 89 ]. According to their potential to differentiate, there are three types of stem cells: totipotent (TSCs), pluripotent (PSCs) and multipotent (MPSCs) [ 87 , 90 ]. There are also unipotent cells (USCs), but those have a very low capacity of potency, being able to differentiate only in one type of cells, depending on the tissue where they are found [ 91 ].…”

“…There are also unipotent cells (USCs), but those have a very low capacity of potency, being able to differentiate only in one type of cells, depending on the tissue where they are found [ 91 ]. While TSCs are the cells that result from the fusion of the sperm cell and the oocyte and by division they form the embryonic and extraembryonic cells [ 87 ], PSCs have the ability to form the ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm, which are the three germ layers that lately can differentiate into different categories of functionalized cells [ 92 ], giving rise to system organs [ 87 ]. Therefore, PSCs can be found only in the early stages of embryonic development [ 91 ].…”

“…Furthermore, there are two broad types of stem cells according to their developmental stage: Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and adult stem cells (ASCs) [ 87 ]. While situated in the epiblast tissue and the inner wall of the blastocyst, a structure that forms during the fifth day of human embryo development, ESCs can develop in more than 200 types of adult cells depending on the specific signaling factors [ 87 ]. The most common expanded stem cells in culture are ESCs, ASCs and iPSCs [ 97 ].…”

“…Furthermore, while HSCs can differentiate into all types of blood cells such as lymphoid cells (natural killer cells, B-and T-lymphocytes) and myeloid cells (erythrocytes, platelets, neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, monocytes and macrophages [95], MSCs have the capacity to differentiate into connective tissue cell types [91,96] (oste ocytes, adipocytes, chondrogenic cell lineages) (Figure 3) [91]. Furthermore, there are two broad types of stem cells according to their developmen tal stage: Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and adult stem cells (ASCs) [87]. While situated in the epiblast tissue and the inner wall of the blastocyst, a structure that forms during the fifth day of human embryo development, ESCs can develop in more than 200 types o adult cells depending on the specific signaling factors [87].…”