Adult stem cell research has advanced in leaps and bounds over the past decade. What was once viewed as inflexible, unable to proliferate and set in its ways has now been found to revert back to its earlier state. New evidence suggests that taking an adult stem cell from bone marrow or the spinal cord can become a blank slate like fetal stem cells, rather than possessing the sole ability to produce more bone marrow or more spinal cord tissue only. As a result of this finding, scientists hope to create more effective treatments for a wide range of degenerative diseases and disabling injuries.
The adult stem cell shares two characteristics with the fetal stem cell. They can both replicate to create identical copies of themselves for extended periods of time, thus are self-renewing.
Additionally, they can morph into other cell types and perform specialized functions. While it was previously believed that adult stem cells were set in their ways and committed to becoming a particular cell type, it's recently been discovered that they are, in fact, much more flexible than was ever imagined.
One of the most exciting adult stem cell discoveries occurred in 2008 when researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California coaxed mouse brain stemcells to differentiate into support cells and function with the surrounding neuronal network. When pampered in a Petri dish, scientists found that they could encourage oligodendrocyte cells to form the fatty myelin sheath that speeds up the transfer of electrical signals along the axons.
They could also stimulate cellular growth in the hippocampus; the brain's center for memories and learning. Scientists hope this research can provide a breakthrough in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's, stroke and epilepsy.
There are a few challenges to working with the adult stem cell. If used outside the body, scientists must take great care to ensure the culture is 100% germ-free and pure. In many studies using mice, the cultures have been only 80% pure.
As an organism ages, there are a number of factors that could jeopardize the purity of the stem cell sample, such as exposure to toxins, disease or DNA errors, for instance. Great care must also be taken to ensure that cells replicate as needed and don't go crazy to form cancerous tumors.
Since the immune system is trained to attack any foreign invaders, any stem cell transplants may be subject to intense scrutiny, even if it is derived from one's own cells. Despite these challenges, there is much to be excited about in the field of adult stem cell research.
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