How Does Stem Cell Research Work
It was in 1998 when scientists first reproduced human embryonic stem cells in a laboratory. These stem cells were obtained from embryos that had been fertilized in an in vitro fertilization clinic, and not from a woman's womb. Scientists and researchers produce embryos in two ways: reproduction or merging the sperm and egg cells, or by embryo cloning. With reproduction, fertilized embryos are produced in fertilization clinics and they come from couples who are attempting to create a baby. Several fertilized embryos that are not implanted in the woman's womb are then donated for the purposes of scientific research.
On the other hand, therapeutic cloning of embryonic stem cells is done by merging the patient's cell (the person needing the stem cell therapy) with the donor's egg. The nucleus of the egg is removed and is replaced with the nucleus of the patient's cell. The egg is stimulated to divide, either chemically or with the power of electricity, and this results to an embryo that carries the patient's genetic structure. This way, the implantation of the stem cells is going to be easy as they were once part of the patient's body.
How it works
Stem cells are primarily used to repair body cells, tissues, and organs that have been injured or damaged by a disease. Known as cell-based therapy, this procedure is done by injecting embryonic stem cells into the patient's body, say the heart, to repair damaged cells and tissues brought upon by a heart attack. In a laboratory study, researchers stimulated a heart attack in rats so that rodent embryonic stem cells can be injected into the rats' damaged hearts. After some time, the stem cells renewed the rats' damaged muscle tissue and improved the function of their hearts.
Researchers are now trying to study how stem cells can be used to repair damaged brain cells in patients suffering from Parkinson's disease. Since these patients lack dopamine-producing cells, one of which is responsible for sending messages to the brain, their movements become clumsy and uncoordinated, leading to uncontrollable tremors. In another study, the brains of rats with Parkinson's disease were injected with rodent embryonic stem cells. Researchers found out that the stem cells were able to produce dopamine-rich nerve cells and improved the rats' unhealthy condition. Scientists now want to be able to adapt the procedure in human patients.
Scientists also hope to produce an entire organ using stem cell therapy in the laboratory to replace damaged ones. To be able to do this, they would have to make a scaffold out of a biodegradable polymer that is shaped similar to the organs, and then plant it with either adult or embryonic stem cells. As the stem cells develop, specific growth factors would be added to direct successful organ development. Once the scaffold is covered with tissues, it would then be implanted into the patient's body. As more and more tissues grow from the stem cells, the degradation of the scaffold would occur, resulting to a new complete ear, heart, or other body organs.