Stem Cell Therapy - Myths and Misconceptions - Eye Stem Cell Center

Stem cell therapy is one of medicine’s most lauded breakthroughs, with the ability to treat a wide range of chronic and difficult diseases such as traumatic brain injury, diabetes, and cancer. Despite the promising results seen in pre-clinical and clinical trials, a cloud of myths and misconceptions surrounds this issue, preventing the public from accepting them as a viable choice for disease treatment. Here, we’ll dispel some common misconceptions about stem cells in order to show how important they are for the future of medicine:

Myth# 1: All stem cells are the same 

People usually think of Embryonic Stem Cells when they hear the word “Stem Cells.” Many people are unaware that stem cells can come from a variety of places. Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, meaning they can transform into any cell type in the body. They come from embryos. Adult stem cells are derived from postnatal human body reservoirs such as bone marrow and adipose tissue, umbilical cord tissue, teeth or dental pulp, etc.

Depending on their source, age, and other factors, these have varying abilities to become various types of cells in the body. Adult, completely differentiated cells, such as white blood cells and skin cells, are manipulated to become Embryonic-Like Stem Cells with very high pluripotency capabilities, which are then induced to reprogram back to become Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. Adult or induced Pluripotent Stem Cells are used in the majority of experimental therapies and translational studies these days.

Myth#2: The use of Stem cell is unethical 

We tend not to take sides in public discussions on these kinds of ethical issues, but this is also a myth. Since they are derived from human embryos, Embryonic Stem Cells have sparked a great deal of ethical debate. However, in recent years, the medical research community has shifted its focus away from this contentious area and toward the use of adult and induced pluripotent stem cells in the treatment of diseases. Indeed, all of these initiatives made it through clinical trials with flying colours in terms of protection and efficacy. Adult stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells are overwhelmingly preferred in current experimental therapies and studies, as we discussed in the previous article. Adult stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells, it turns out, are not only ethically clear (because they’re made from donated material from a consenting adult, typically the person receiving treatment), but they also seem to be more successful and have no side effects.

Myth #3: Stem Cell therapy carries the risk of rejection.

This is misleading. The chance of rejection is almost non-existent because the medical community is focused on the use of autologous (from one’s own) Adult and induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for therapy. And allogenic (derived from non-self, exogenous) stem cells used in clinical trials have been shown to induce no immune response, as these MSCs have HLA-DR negligibe that means no chance to get any rejection or side effect. The most significant hindrance to these treatments reaching the general population is the very remote chance that these cells will become cancerous. Recent advances in stem cell science, on the other hand, demonstrate an exceptional level of control in the generation of these cells, which helps to ensure cancer-free stem cell therapy.

It is our duty to enlighten you with the verified data. Stem cell therapy appears like a miracle to the 21st century.  Keep reading us and get all the details related to stem cell and stem cell therapy.