Stem cells have the ability to become specialized cells and work with tissues and organs. There are two types: embryonic stem cells which come from embryos and can differentiate into any cell type, and adult stem cells which are more limited in what cells they can become. Stem cell therapy involves inserting stem cells into injured areas to produce new cells and has been used to treat conditions such as cerebral palsy, Parkinson's disease, and cancers. For spinal cord injuries, researchers are exploring therapies using bone marrow stem cells, cord blood cells, and other cell types which show promise in repairing damage in clinical trials.

1. 1 StemCells| JenniferLloyd
Stem Cells
The bestway to understandhow stemcell therapyworksistoexplainwhatstemcellsare.
Stemcellsbeginasunspecializedcellsbutare able todivide andrenew themselves. Stemcellshave
the abilitytobecome specializedcells (differentiate) andworkwithtissue andorgans. There are two
basictypesof stemcells: embryoniccellsandadultstemcells. Embryoniccellscome fromembryos
usuallycreatedthroughinvitrofertilizationanddonated, they have the abilitytoregenerate andrepair;
theycan continue tocreate cellsfora yearand sometimesmore. Adult stemcells,alsoknownas
somaticcellsare bodycells, notincludinggametes(eggorsperm);theydonothave the abilityto
proliferate foranyextendedperiod of time and generate cellsof tissuesinwhichtheyare located. Adult
stemcellsare usedto “maintainandrepairthe tissue inwhichtheyare found.” (The National Institute
of Health,2009)
Some otherdifferencesbetweenembryonicandadultstemcellsare as follows: Embryonic
cellscan become anynumberof differentcellswhereasadultstemcellsare generally“limitedto
differentiatingintodifferentcell typesof theirtissueof origin.” (The NationalInstitute of Health,2009)
Anothermajordifference forconsiderationisthe reactionafter transplant. The adultstemcellscome
fromthe patient’sown bodysotheyare lesslikelytobe rejected. “Notherapiesinhumanshave ever
beensuccessfullycarriedoutusingembryonicstemcells.” (StemCellResearchFacts,2013)
StemCell Therapyinvolvesthe insertionof stemcellsintothe affectedareainorderto produce
newcells. The firstsuccessful bone marrow transplantwascompletedin1968. “Bone marrow contains
somaticstemcellsthatcan produce all of the differentcelltypesthatmake upour blood”.
(GeneticScience LearningCenter,2012) Today, StemCell Therapyisusedtotreatdiseasesincluding
Cerebral palsy,Parkinson’sDisease,Leukemia, MultipleSclerosis, andanumberof cancers.

2. 2 StemCells| JenniferLloyd
Spinal cordinjuries (SCI) affectapproximately1.275 millionpeopleinthe UnitedStatesalone.
(Vawda, J., Wilcox,J.,Fehlings, MG., 2012) These injuriesare complex,there are different
levelsof severityand functionsthatare affectedbythe injury. SCIsinclude aprimaryor physical injury
as well asa secondaryinjurywhichinclude the “molecularandcellulareventswhichamplifythe original
injury.”(Vawda,J., Wilcox,J.,Fehlings,MG.,2012) Some of the effectsof the secondary injury include
inflammation,ischemia,lipidperoxidation,productionof free radicals,disruptionof ionchannels,axonal
demyelination,glial scarring,necrosisandprogrammedcelldeath. (Vawda,J., Wilcox,J.,Fehlings,MG.,
(2012)
Since September2003 there have been16 clinical trialsestablished toteststemcell therapyon
SCIs. Four of those trialshave beencompleted,one suspended,one terminated,fourare active andnot
recruitingandsix are recruiting.(U.S.National Institute of Health,2012)
Scientists have researched anumberof differentStemCellTherapiesforSCI,these include:
OlfactoryEnsheathingCells,SchwannCells,Bone marrow stemcells,Adipose-derivedStemand
ProgenitorCells,CordBlood/Placental DerivedCellsandFetal/ESDerivedNeural Progenitors. (Ichimet
al.,2010) Based onthe researchI’ve done acombinationof Bone marrow stemcellsandthe cord
blood/placental derivedcellsseemtoshow the mosthope. Inthis scenario,the bone marrow wouldbe
collectedfrom the patient, aswell as donated humanumbilical cordtissue. Bothwouldbe testedfor
qualityand bacterial contamination. The patientwouldreceive injectionstothe spinal fluidanumber
of timesoveranextended periodof time. The injectionintothe spinalfluidallowsthe cellstoreachthe
injurysite inthe spinal canal inorderto avoidthe brainbarrier. (StemCell Institute,2012) Inclinical
trialsbothcord bloodand bone marrowmigrate to the locationof the injuryanddifferentiateinto
the necessarycell. (Ichimetal.,2010) Inone current SCItherapythe cord tissue-derivedcell isinjected
for the firstthree weeksfollowedbythe bone marrow cellsduringthe final weeks. (StemCell Institute,

3. 3 StemCells| JenniferLloyd
2012)
Clinical trialsare necessaryforusto expandourknowledgeof stemcell therapy. The abilityof
stemcellstorenewandrepairinjuriesandtaintedcellsmaybe the keytoa longerlife spanandless
painfor millionsof people. Aftercompletingmyresearchthere isanew foundhope thatwe will
continue tosee the miraclesof science,andstemcellswillbe the catalyst.
Stem Cell Paper References
The National Institute of Health.(2009).Stemcell basics.RetrievedMarch18, 2013 from
http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/Pages/Default.aspx
GeneticScience LearningCenter(2012, August6) StemCellsInUse. Learn.Genetics.RetrievedMarch18,
2013, fromhttp://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/stemcells/sctoday/
StemCell ResearchFacts.(2013). Why stemcells?.RetrievedMarch18, from
http://www.stemcellresearchfacts.org/why-stem-cells/
Vawda,R.,Wilcox,J.,& Fehlings,M.G(2012). Currentstemcell treatmentsforspinal cord injury. Indian
Journalof Orthopaedics,46(1),10-18. doi:10.4103/0019-5413.91629
U.S. National Instituteof Health.(2012).ClinicalTrails.gov.RetrievedMarch18, 2013 from
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=Cell+Therapy+for+SCI&cond=%22Spinal+Cord+Injuries%
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Ichim,T.E.,Solano,F.,Lara, F., Paris,E., Uglade,F.,Rodriguez,J.P.,…Riordan,N.H.(2010).Feasibilityof
combinationallogeneicstemcell therapyforspinal cordinjury:acase report. InternationalArchivesof
Medicine,(1), 30.