Rawan Fathy

EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS

Embryonic stem cells (ES cells) are pluripotent stem cells
derived from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst, an early-stage preimplantation embryo. Human embryos reach the blastocyst stage
45 days post fertilization, at which time they consist of 50150
cells. Isolating the embryo blast or inner cell mass (ICM).

Biopsy of a human blastomere

Photo courtesy of Advanced )
(Cell Technology

Human embryonic stem (ES) cells could be differentiated into

immature beta cells for transplantation into a diabetes patient,
where it is hoped the cells would mature and produce insulin.
Researchers have shown that this is possible in mice. The
transplanted immature cells, sometimes called beta cell precursors,
differentiate further once in the mouse and are then able to sense
sugar levels in the blood and respond by releasing insulin. However,
precursor cells have the potential to form tumors so their safety
must be established before this approach can be used in humans.
An alternative would be to make fully differentiated and functioning
beta cells for transplantation, but much more research is needed to
understand how to make and purify these cells.
Type1 Diabetes:
The induced beta cells have roughly the same genetic
expression, structure and function as naturally produced human
beta cells. And ongoing animal testing suggests that when
transplanted into mice they don't just control diabetes, they cure it.
A transformation of embryonic stem cells into pancreatic beta cells,
the same sugar-regulating cells that are destroyed by the immune
system of people with type 1 diabetes. The new cells can read the
levels of sugars that enter the body after, say, a meal, and secrete
the perfect dose of insulin to balance sugar levels. Melton, codirector of the Stem Cell Institute at Harvard, his method produces
millions of the insulin-secreting cells, which were then fed through a
catheter to the kidney capsules of 37 diabetic mice. When the mice

Rawan Fathy

were later given glucose injections, 73 percent showed increased

levels of human insulin in their bloodstream, indicating that the beta
cells were doing their job.

Type 2 Diabetes:
This accounts for 90%-95% of the now approaching 400 million
cases of diabetes worldwide, is currently treated by oral medication,
insulin injections, or both to control blood glucose levels. However,
insulin delivery is imprecise, onerous, and often promotes weight
gain, while drugs do not work in some patients and may cause
gastrointestinal problems or low blood glucose levels, highlighting
the strong need for better treatment options.
To address this need, senior study author Timothy Kieffer of the
University of British Columbia collaborated with BetaLogics, a
division of Janssen Research & Development, LLC, and tested a
promising stem cell transplantation approach.
First, they fed mice a high-fat diet to induce obesity, low
responsiveness to insulin, and high blood glucose levels--the
hallmarks of type 2 diabetes. The mice then, received transplants of
encapsulated pancreatic progenitor cells derived from human
embryonic stem cells. These transplanted cells matured into insulinsecreting beta cells, resulting in improvements in insulin sensitivity
and glucose metabolism. Moreover, stem cell transplantation

Rawan Fathy

combined with currently available anti-diabetic drugs resulted in

rapid weight loss in the mice and more significant improvements in
glucose metabolism compared with either treatment alone. Moving
forward, the researchers will use their mouse model of type 2
diabetes to test the effectiveness of transplanting more mature
insulin-producing cells that could potentially reverse symptoms of
diabetes faster and at a lower dose compared to pancreatic
progenitor cells.
A similar stem cell-based transplantation approach recently
obtained clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration and
Health Canada to be tested in patients with type 1 diabetes in
phase1/2 clinical trials sponsored by a regenerative medicine
company called ViaCyte.
Complications of Embryonic Stem cells:
Uncertainty:
This research may discover new technology and treatments.
However, these may not be an effective solution to all ailments or
diseases.
Negative Interference:
Just like other types of research, stem cell research may pose
unpleasant effects and negative interference with nature and other
elements.
Inheriting diseases:
Stem cell research revealed that stem cell treatments are ideal for
patients with heart disease however; other studies have found out
that this can make arteries narrower.
Among other disadvantages, embryonic stem cells are highly
unstable. They have not yet been through Mother Natures test,
which is to create a human being. It is well established fact that 50
to 75% of all human embryos fail to develop into a human being and
spontaneously abort, due either to inborn errors such as a genetic
mutation or to problems implanting. If embryonic stem cells happen
to come from the 50% of embryos that would have proven to be
nonviable (if allowed to develop normally), then those same inborn
errors will be transferred to the patient receiving the stem cells.
Clearly, this could cause more harm than good.

Rawan Fathy

Further Risks:
Additionally, pluripotent embryonic stem cells often form Teratomas
(a tumor-like, cancerous mass, resembling a self-fertilized cell,
differentiated but not fertilized).
Teratomas have been shown to form when embryonic stem cells are
injected into animals. If cells were unable to form Teratomas, they
were identified as being something other than pluripotent stem
cells. Indeed, this ability of pluripotent stem cells to form Teratomas
is still part of the formal definition of a Teratoma.
Teratoma: A tumor composed of tissues from the three embryonic
germ layers. Usually found in ovaries and testes.

Rawan Fathy

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embryonic_stem_cell
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/03/150319124004.htm

http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/news/20141009/stem-cell-successraises-hopes-of-type-1-diabetes-cure?page=2#
http://www.onlinewellnesscommunity.com/disadvantages-of-embryonic-stem-cells/
http://occupytheory.org/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-stem-cell-research/