Hey Steemians,

I would like to start by thanking everyone for following me and upvoting my posts on what is ONLY my second day on the platform. The whole notion behind this series is to help breakdown some of the heavily convoluted debates in medical literature over the last decade, and hopefully provide some information to better inform those who are interested.

So let’s dive into topic #2: Stem Cells

What are Stem Cells exactly?

Stem cells (at least the publicly debated ones) are cells which are able to self-renew and have not undergone cell determination – meaning that they are undifferentiated and can essentially become almost any cell in the body. They are what gives rise to multicellular organisms, which all begins with fertilisation of a female ovum by a spermatozoa (sperm) that then produces a zygote, which is a fertilised egg travelling towards the uterus along the fallopian tubes. THIS is very first stem cell and ONLY stem cell which is designated the potency of totipotent – meaning that it can essentially form an entire organism. As more developmental processes ensue, the degree of potency for each of the cell types begins to diminish, as it chooses OR is directed down a particular cell lineage (e.g. a skin cell OR a liver cell); allowing its properties and function to become separated from other cells.

Firstly, the cell will become pluripotent, then multipotent, and lastly unipotent. The exact distinctions do not matter, yet understand these are natural progressions in a cells lifecycle and are essential processes whereby a cell ends up in its final role somewhere in the body.

Okay, except isn’t it ethically wrong to purposely disrupt this cycle for experimental purposes?

That is a question I can NOT answer for you, and neither is it my intention. I will intend to simply give you the architecture and framework to make your own informed decision.

The process in which embryonic stem cells (NOTE embryonic) are produced is by taking a fertilised egg and culturing in vitro on a dish outside of its normal intrauterine environment. This then allows researchers to induce states in the stem cells, in an attempt to direct them down particular cell pathway so that they can hopefully form fully functional tissues and organs. These cells are termed pluripotent, as they CANNOT form an entire organism, yet can form almost any cell within the body.

So in answer to the burning question in your mind; yes, culturing embryonic stem cells does disrupt the normal cell cycle and potentially prevent the development of an organism which would otherwise develop. Yet, this is not the full story.

So are stem cells bad, OR?

Absolutely NOT. Stem cell’s have immense potential in regenerative medicine and provide the framework for individuals suffering from debilitating diseases and conditions to improve their life OR even cure them. Just for a long time that there was very little alternative to using embryonic stem cells, as it was believed that once a cell was differentiated and its fate decided – it could not be reversed. That was until 2008, when new stem cell technology was pioneered by Shinya Yamanaka in Japan; where he discovered that in fact you can de-differentiate cells from a fully committed state, and revert them back to the pluripotent cell state.

This has sparked a revolution in stem cell technology – allowing adult cells such as the skin cells on your body to be cultured on a dish along with a number of specific reprogramming factors (more specifically transcription factors), which can help induce a pluripotent state. These cells are termed induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), yet I will refrain from explaining the specific cocktail of factors used to create these cells as it is not of importance to this piece; just know that it essentially one of the most important advances in stem cell technology since the discovery of stem cells themselves.

Why have we not grown organs out of these iPSC cells yet then?

Research and understanding takes time, and it takes even more time to understand how to induce a cell to develop into every particular cell type. Trial and error is the only way to induce a cell to develop into a product which resembles the desired lineage, and can ONLY be achieved by adding and subtracting various factors and measuring their effects. Having said that, there have been major developments in the field in recent years – such as the production of thyroid cells which possess all the markers thyroid cells should have. Albeit In reality that is only the first step, stem cells still have to function inside the body (in vivo) as well as they do outside of the body (in vitro). This stage requires testing using animal models, and many more years before clinical applications can be sort. Nonetheless, if one thing is for sure, it’ll be biggest breakthrough in medical science when it happens.

Concluding remarks

Whilst stem cells in their current state have flaws, they also provide an immense potential to benefit the lives of millions of people. It is a process that won’t happen over night, especially with the difficulties such research faces in certain countries whereby restrictions have been imposed. It is for this reason that we need to promote and endorse research similar to this, as it is bigger than any one of us and the more we learn about it, the better developed it becomes. Stem cell technology is developing rapidly and iPSC cells are a big step, and I for one cannot wait for the day they’re implemented clinically.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments :)

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