You may have heard the term ‘stem cells’ as they are used in regenerative medicine.
Still, most of you probably do not know their specific functions.
In this article, we will take an in-depth look at the functions and types of stem cells.
Stem cells are cells that can differentiate into various tissue and organs such as blood, nerves, and epidermis.
Many cells making up our body are repeatedly undergoing birth and death to keep us alive.
For this mechanism, stem cells play a role in regenerating and replenishing cells that are lost.
If lost cells were to be never replaced, it would be difficult for us to stay healthy every day. This is why stem cells are important and can even be regarded as ‘a fundamental component of the human body.’
Furthermore, ‘stem cell therapy’ is garnering much attention today for its potential to accelerate tissue repair throughout the body to restore natural youthfulness, etc.
Stem cell therapy uses ‘tissue stem cells’ that exist in human bone marrow and fat.
To learn more about tissue stem cells, please see the outline provided in the latter part of this article.
Stem cells support our health, but unfortunately, they tend to decrease in quantity as we get older. In particular, tissue stem cells in bone marrow are known to be reduced to about 1/200 for people in their 80s compared to when they were newborns. This decrease in stem cells is considered one of the important factors contributing to aging. *1
It has been pointed out that a decrease in the quantity of stem cells may lower repair capacity in various parts of the body, thereby increasing the risk of health problems. For this reason, aging has been linked to frequent skin problems and susceptibility to diseases. To tackle these issues, the development of a novel treatment utilizing stem cells has been underway, and it holds promise for slowing down aging and improving the quality of life in the future.
*1 Source: Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine
Regenerative medicine has the potential to repair the functions of damaged tissue and organs by injecting culture-expanded stem cells into the body.
What is particularly noteworthy is that the effectiveness of regenerative medicine is being demonstrated in diseases that have been difficult to treat with conventional treatments.
The therapeutic potential of regenerative medicine can also be expected for injuries and diseases such as knee osteoarthritis, diabetes mellitus, heart failure, Parkinson’s disease, hepatic dysfunction, and chronic pain.
The quantity of stem cells decreases with age, but there are currently no methods to naturally increase them.
Therefore, the latest regenerative medicine to replenish dead cells offers various possibilities.
Stem cells are garnering much attention in the fields of medical care, health promotion, and regenerative aesthetics, but what kind of abilities do they have?
In this section, we will explain the two functions of stem cells.
Stem cells have the ability to undergo division and produce more cells like themselves.
This is called ‘self-renewal capacity.’
In other words, it is the ability of stem cells to divide into more stem cells. *2
Stem cells have self-renewal capacity, by which they divide and proliferate to maintain a steady quantity.
*2 Source: Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine
Stem cells can transform into various other cell types.
This is called ‘differentiation capacity.’
Having the differentiation capacity allows stem cells to differentiate into different cell types such as blood, nerves, bones, and muscles.
This ability is considered promising for promoting regeneration of the tissue and organs targeted by treatment and helping repair damaged tissue and reduce pain.
Stem cells are divided into two types according to their role: tissue stem cells and pluripotent stem cells.
From here, we will take a look at their respective roles and specific examples of stem cells.
‘Tissue stem cells’ continuously replace dead cells in specific tissue and organs.
In other words, they are the stem cells naturally existing and working in our body.
For example, bone marrow contains hematopoietic stem cells, which produce blood cells such as red and white blood cells (pluripotency). Tissue stem cells have also been found in the skin, liver and various other sites. When a fracture heals, or hair regrows after it has been cut or fallen out, it is all thanks to the action of tissue stem cells at the respective sites (self-renewal). *3
These tissue stem cells are further divided into subtypes according to where they are located in the body.
As examples, we will explain the following three subtypes:
Cells that are precursors to red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are called ‘hematopoietic stem cells.’
Hematopoietic stem cells actively divide inside bone marrow, a tissue filling the center of bones, which leads to the production of these blood cells.
Hematopoietic stem cells have the properties of both growing into blood cells and increasing more cells like themselves through cell division to maintain a steady quantity. The process in which hematopoietic stem cells develop into the blood cells is called ‘differentiation’ and the ability to increase cells identical to themselves by cell division is called ‘self-renewal.’ *4
*4 Source: Cancer Information Service (operated by the National Cancer Center Japan)
Neural stem cells (NSCs) differentiate into neurons comprising nerves, but they also differentiate into glial cells, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes, which are not classified as neurons. In other words, NSCs are the stem cells that can differentiate into various types of cells making up the nervous system. *5
As with other subtypes of stem cells, NSCs also have the ability to self-renew and differentiate. Transplantation of NSCs has already been performed in the treatments of neurological diseases such as cerebral ischemia, spinal cord injury, and Parkinson’s disease, and its effectiveness has been reported. As NSCs allow autologous transplantation, they are valued in regenerative medicine. *6
*5, *6 Source: The International Organization of Stem Cells Research and Awareness
Another type of stem cells, ‘pluripotent stem cells’ can differentiate into various cells in the body.
They can differentiate into a wide variety of cell types without being limited to specific tissue or organs where stem cells exist. *7 This is the primary difference from tissue stem cells. Pluripotent stem cells include naturally existing embryonic stem cells (ES cells) and artificially created induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells). *8
*7 Source: Regenerative medicine portal (a website operated by the Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine)
*8 Source: Regenerative Medicine Portal (a website operated by the Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine)
Stem cells are broadly classified into three types, human, plant, and animal, and they each have different characteristics.
In this section, we will talk about human stem cells.
As indicated by the term, human stem cells refer to cells collected from humans.
Human stems cells are obtained in two ways: either from patients themselves or donors.
Use of patients’ own stem cells is considered relatively safe in general as it causes fewer side effects such as allergic reactions.
On the other hand, use of stem cells collected from donors is associated with a relatively high likelihood of side effects.
The ‘human stem cells’ described here means patients’ own stem cells.
Human stem cells are collected at different sites depending on the purpose of use.
For example, it is common to collect hematopoiesis stem cells from the hip bone for bone marrow transplantation in a leukemia patient and stem cells from subcutaneous fat in the abdomen or thigh for skin treatment. *14
*10 Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Definition of human stem cells)
The therapeutic effects of stem cell therapy vary depending on the systemic symptoms and diseases.
However, stem cells injected into the body are not simply absorbed, but they get into action to promote repair and regeneration of damaged tissue.
They work on treating cells, the fundamental components of the body.
However, how long the therapeutic effects of stem cells can last depends on the type of stem cells used, treatment method, characteristics of the disease, and biological traits of the patient; therefore, not all cases yield a certain result.
If you are interested in regenerative medicine using stem cells, please contact the Regenerative Medicine Division at Korokai Medical Corporation for a consultation.
We carefully select evidence-based treatment and provide regenerative medicine tailored to each patient’s needs according to a comprehensive new treatment strategy. To achieve the best possible outcomes, we use stem cell therapy in combination with oral therapy such as bioidentical hormone replacement therapy and peptide therapy.
As explained so far, we know stem cells decrease with age, but we all wish to keep them healthy as long as possible.
However, there are currently no established methods to maintain stem cells in their healthy state.
Even so, staying conscious of how we spend each day may consequently help keep our stem cells healthy.
The following are the tips you might want to try:
Lifestyle habits for maintaining healthy stem cells
Start trying these today if you want to stay healthy and youthful for many more years to come.
In this issue, we take an in-depth look at the functions and types of stem cells.
Stem cells can differentiate into all kinds of tissue and organs in the body.
Unlike other somatic cells, stem cells are characterized by the abilities to self-renew and differentiate.
Stem cell therapy is considered safe in general, but there is a small chance that the large number of infused stem cells may cause a blockage in a blood vessel. Therefore, it is important to always choose a trustworthy clinic to receive stem cell therapy.
The Regenerative Medicine Division at Korokai Medical Corporation provides stem cell-based regenerative medicine as a medical institution approved by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. *15
If you are interested in stem cell therapy, please contact us for a consultation.
In the Regenerative Medicine Division at Korokai Medical Corporation, we carefully select evidence-based treatment and provide regenerative medicine tailored to each patient’s needs according to a comprehensive new treatment strategy. To achieve the best possible outcomes, we use stem cell therapy in combination with oral therapy such as bioidentical hormone replacement therapy and peptide therapy.
*15 Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
1) Treatment method
Stem cells present in your own adipose tissue are collected and cultured before being administered via intravenous drip or local injection to an affected area.
2) Risk for adverse reactions
During and after fat harvesting: Some people may experience internal bleeding, swelling, postprocedural infection, postprocedural scar appearance, or injection site pain.
During and after stem cell administration: Some people may experience injection site pain, allergic reaction, or pulmonary embolism.
3) Contact information
Regenerative Medicine Division, Korokai Medical Corporation
5th floor, Precious 18, 4-14-6 Minami-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo
4) Cost
This treatment is considered as self-funded medical care not covered by health insurance.
Approximately 1,650,000 JPY including tax (may vary depending on diagnosis)
For more information, please contact us.
5) Procurement route
Stem cells are cultured at a CPC affiliated with our hospital.
6) Devices/drugs with the same efficacy that are approved in Japan
No drugs with the same efficacy have been approved in Japan.
7) Safety information from other countries
Safety reports from other countries are not available.
*There is a possibility that this treatment may present a significant unidentified risk.
8) Unapproved status
This treatment uses a drug that has not been approved under the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act.
9) Unapproved drugs/devices
Public relief systems (The Relief System for Sufferers from Adverse Drug Reactions and the Relief System for Sufferers from Diseases Infected from Biological Products) do not apply to unapproved drugs and devices.
