STEM CELLS

Dr. J. REVATHI
DEPARTMENT OF BIOMDEDICAL ENGINEERING
Stem cells

• Stem cells are those cells that have the capability of self-renewal
and differentiation.
• Self-renewal is the ability of cells to proliferate.
• A stem cell is a blank cell/ precursor cell that can give rise to
multiple tissue types such as a skin, muscle, or nerve cell.
• A stem cell is essentially the building block of the human body.
Stem cells
Features of Stem Cells

• Stem Cells are very unique cells.

• Stem Cells have the amazing ability to develop into several distinct cell
types in the body.
• Stem Cells can be used as a repair system for the body.
• Stem Cells can theoretically divide without limit in a living organism in
order to replenish various types of cells.
• When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential to either remain
a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialized function
(i.e. a muscle cell, a red blood cell, a brain cell, etc.).
General properties of Stem Cells

• Stem cells are unspecialized cells

• Stem cells can divide and renew themselves for long
periods of time
• Stem cells can divide and become specific specialized
cell types of the body
• Stem cells can replace dying, old or damaged cells
Three unique properties of stem cells

• Stem cells are capable of dividing and renewing

themselves for long periods.
• They are “unspecialized” and they can give rise to
specialized cell types.
• Stem cell is "uncommitted," until it receives a signal to
develop into a specialized cell.
 Distinguishing Features of Progenitor/Precursor Cells and Stem Cells

• A stem cell is an unspecialized cell that develops into a variety of specialized

cell types.
• A stem cell divides and gives rise to one additional stem cell and a specialized
cell.
• Example: a hematopoietic stem cell produce a second generation stem cell and
a neuron.
• A progenitor cell (a precursor cell) is unspecialized that is capable of undergoing
cell division and yielding two specialized cells.
• Example: a myeloid progenitor/precursor cell undergoing cell division to yield
two specialized cells (a neutrophil and a red blood cell).
Classifications of stem cells
Potency of a stem cell

The potency of a stem cell is defined by the types of more differentiated cells that the

stem cell can make stem cells can be either:

• Totipotent

• Pluripotent

• Multipotent or

• Unipotent.
Types of Stem Cells

• Totipotent stem cells - Can become all types of cells

• Pluripotent stem cells - Can become many, but not all,
types of cells
• Multipotent stem cells - Can only become some types of
cells
Types of Stem Cells

• Totipotent cells is defined as the ability of single cells to divide and

produce all cell types of the developing organism
• Examples zygote, is a cell that is created by the fertilization of an egg with a sperm
and can differentiate into any of the three germ layers.
• Pluripotent cells differentiate into cells from any of the three germ layers.
• Therefore, they can make any cell of the body.
• Examples Embryonic stem cells
Types of Stem Cells

• Multipotent cells can only make cells within a given germ layer.
• For example, multipotent stem cells from a mesodermal tissue like the blood can
make all the cells of the blood, but cannot make cells of a different germ layer
such as neural cells (ectoderm) or liver cells (endoderm).

• Unipotent cells make cells of a single cell type.

• An example is a germ cell stem cell that makes the cells that mature to become
egg or sperm, but not other cell types.
• Oligopotent cells differentiated into limited cell types
•Examples lymphoid cell specifically, can give rise to various blood cells such as B
and T cells, however, not to a different blood cell type like a red blood cell.
Source of Stem cells

Stem cells may be derived from

• autologus(from same individual).
• allogeneic(Taken from different individuals of the same
species).
• xenogenic(derived from an individual of a different
species) sources.
Embryonic type stem cells

• Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are pluripotent stem cells derived from the
inner cell mass of human embryos in the blastocysts stage of development.
• Isolating the embryoblast or inner cell mass results in the destruction of
the blastocyst
• Human ES cells measure approximately 14 µm.
Contd..
Sources of embryonic stem cells

• Fetuses - Embryonic germ cell, can be obtained

from either miscarriages or aborted fetuses.
• Excess embryos from fertility clinic.
• Embryos created through invitro fertilization.
 Potential sources of stem cells are:

• fetal tissue that becomes available after an abortion.

• excess embryos from assisted reproductive technologies such as commonly used in
fertility clinics
• embryos created through in vitro fertilization specifically for research purpose.
• embryos created asexually as a result of the transfer of a human somatic cell
nucleus to an egg with its own nucleus removed.
• Other sources of stem cells are those from umbilical cord blood, and bone marrow.
• In addition, neural stem cells, haematopoctic stem cells and mesenchymal stem
cells can be harvested from fetal blood and fetal tissue.
Embryonic Stem Cells(ESC)

• Embryonic Stem Cells are derived from embryos that develop

from eggs that have been fertilized in vitro.
• Embryonic Stem Cells are never derived from eggs fertilized
inside of a woman's body.
• The removal of embryonic stem cells results in the destruction
of the embryo.
• Human Embryonic Stem Cells are derived are typically four or
five days old embryos.
Special Features of Embryonic Stem Cells

• Embryonic stem cells are easier to identify,

isolate and harvest.
• They grow more quickly and easily in the lab than
adult stem cells.
• They can be more easily manipulated (they are
more plastic)
Advantages of Embryonic Stem Cell

Flexible - appear to have the potential to make any cell.

Immortal - one embryonic stem cell line can potentially provide an endless
supply of cells with defined characteristics.

Availability - embryos from in vitro fertilization clinics.

Disadvantages of Embryonic Stem Cell

• Difficult to differentiate uniformly and homogeneously into a

target tissue.
• Immunogenic - embryonic stem cells from a random embryo donor
are likely to be rejected after transplantation
• Tumorigenic- capable of forming tumors or promoting tumor
formation.
• Destruction of developing human life.
Adult stem cells

• An adult stem cell is thought to be an undifferentiated cell, that is found in a

differentiated cells in a tissue or organ.
• The adult stem cell can renew itself and can differentiate to yield all of the
major specialized cell types of the tissue or organ.
• The primary roles of adult stem cells in a living organism are to maintain and
repair the tissue in which they are found.
• Scientists also use the term somatic stem cell instead of adult stem cell,
where somatic refers to cells of the body (not the germ cells, sperm or eggs).
Adult Stem Cells

• Adult stem cells are undifferentiated cells.

• They are found in small numbers in most adult tissues.
• They can also be extracted from umbilical cord blood.
• They are also called somatic stem cells
• They are multipotent in nature.
• E.g. hematopoietic stem cells, which form all the
various cells in the blood.
Plasticity of Adult Stem Cells

• Stem cells from one tissue may be able to give rise to

cell types of a completely different tissue, a
phenomenon known as plasticity.
• Examples of such plasticity include blood cells becoming
neurons, liver cells that can be made to produce insulin,
and hematopoietic stem cells that can develop into heart
muscle.
 Differentiation pathways of adult stem cells

• Neural stem cells in the brain give rise to its three major cell types: nerve
cells (neurons) and two categories of non—neuronal cells — astrocytes and
oligodendrocytes.
• Epithelial stem cells in the lining of the digestive tract occur in deep crypts
and give rise to several cell types: absorptive cells, goblet cells, Paneth cells,
and enteroendocrine cells.
• The epidermal stem cells give rise to keratinocytes, which migrate to the
surface of the skin and form a protective layer.
• The follicular stem cells can give rise to both the hair follicle and to the
epidermis
 Adult Stem
Cells or
Somatic Stem
Cells
Sources of adult stem cells

• Adult stem cells can be derived from

• Umbilical Cords stem cells
• Placentas stem cells
• Amniotic Fluid.
• Adult stem cells are present within the bone marrow, liver,
epidermis, retina, skeletal muscle, intestine, brain, dental pulp
and elsewhere.
Umbilical cord stem cells

• Blood from the placenta and umbilical cord

that are left over after birth is a rich source of
hematopoietic stem cells.
• These so-called umbilical cord stem cells have
been shown to be able to differentiate into
bone cells and neurons, as well as the cells
lining the inside of blood vessels.
Contd…

• Umbilical Cord blood stem cells can grow into blood

forming cells, immune system cells or other types of
cells.

• Umbilical Cord blood stem cells have been used to

treat 70 different diseases, including leukemia,
lymphoma, and inherited diseases.
Umbilical cord blood banking

• Cord blood banks collect and store the

blood within the umbilical cord and
placenta after the birth of a baby.
• The stem cells are separated from the
rest of the blood and stored frozen in
liquid nitrogen.
• There are 2 types of banks
• public and family cord
• blood banks.
 Placenta stem cells

• Placental stem cells are extracted from the placental tissue

• Placenta is generally discarded after birth as medical waste and

is available in large supplies, makes placental-derived stem cells
(p-SCs) excellent candidates for cell therapy.

• Cells are extracted from connective tissues by Chemical and

Mechanical extraction techniques
Contd..

• The term placenta constitutes a very reliable rich source of fetal mesenchymal
stem cells

• These cells are capable of differentiating into multiple different cell types

• Different sources of placental stem/progenitor cells are derived from different

layers of the placenta, namely amnion, chorion and decidua as well as
umbilical cord which constitutes the Wharton's jelly and cord blood vessels
Amniotic fluid

• Amniotic fluid is the liquid that surrounds the amnion or the sac
that encompasses the fetus.
• Both the amniotic membrane and amniotic fluid are good sources
of embryonic stem cells that can multiply and form any type of
cell.
• Although the amniotic fluid and membrane are usually discarded
after birth, recently they are being cryopreserved or frozen for
future therapeutic use.
Advantages of Adult Stem Cell

• Adult stem cells from bone marrow and umbilical cords appear to be as flexible as
the embryonic type.
• Somewhat specialized - inducement may be simpler.
• Not immunogenic- recipients who receive the products of their own stem cells will
not experience immune rejection.
• Relative ease of procurement- some adult stem cells are easy to harvest (skin,
muscle, marrow, fat)
• Non tumorigenic - tend not to form tumors.
• No harm done to the donor.
Disadvantages of Adult stem cells

• Limited quantity - can sometimes be difficult to obtain in large

numbers.
• Finite - may not live as long as embryonic stem cells in culture.
• Less flexible - may be more difficult to reprogram to form other
tissue types
Stem Cell Therapy

• Numerous diseases and damaged organs could potentially

be treated with cell therapy.
• Treatment of neural diseases such as Parkinson's disease,
Huntington’s disease and Alzheimer's disease.
• Repair or replace damaged neurons.
• Repair of damaged organs such as the liver and pancreas.
• Treatments for AIDS.
 Is Stem cell Research Ethical?

• Embryonic Stem Cells - morally objectionable, because the

human embryo must be destroyed during harvest.
• Embryonic Germ Cells - morally objectionable when utilizing
fetal tissue derived from elective abortions.
• Umbilical Cord Stem Cells - morally acceptable, since the
umbilical cord is no longer required once the delivery has been
completed.
• Placentally-derived Stem Cells - morally acceptable, since the
afterbirth is no longer required after the delivery has been
completed.
• Adult Stem Cells - morally acceptable.
Why are adult stem cells preferable to embryonic stem cells?

• Adult stem cells are naturally exist in our bodies, and they provide a natural
repair mechanism for many tissues.

• They belong in the microenvironment of an adult body, while embryonic

stem cells belong in the microenvironment of the early embryo, where they
tend to cause tumors and immune system reactions.

• Adult stem cells have been used in therapies whereas no therapies were
carried out using embryonic stem cells
 Applications

• Stem cells can be used to study development

• Stem cells may help us understand how a complex organism develops from a fertilised egg.
• In the laboratory, scientists can follow stem cells as they divide and become increasingly specialized, making skin,
bone, brain, and other cell types.
• Identifying the signals and mechanisms that determine whether a stem cell chooses to carry on replicating itself or
differentiate into a specialized cell type, and into which cell type, will help us understand what controls normal
development.
• Some of the most serious medical conditions, such as cancer and birth defects, are due to abnormal cell division
and differentiation.
• A better understanding of the genetic and molecular controls of these processes may yield information about how
such diseases arise and suggest new strategies for therapy. This is an important goal of stem cell research.