Regenerative Therapy
Omar Saeed
Nicholas Justus
Date Due: April 7th, 2013

Stem Cells are specific biological cells found in organisms that contain the ability to divide, differentiate and regenerate to create further stem cells. Stem cells divide through mitosis and differentiate by a specific process, which allows the cell to become a more specific cell type. Stem cells therapy as a whole is a very debated and controversial topic as it brings about ethical and moral dilemmas involving the conception, treatment and fatality of human embryos included in the research of stem cells. This therapy introduces new stem cells into damaged tissues as the cells have the ability to self-renew and in most situations alleviate any disease or damage in the body. Since this subject matter brings about such debate and discussion it is necessary that this topic is addressed and handled. Stem cells relate very intimately with class material as it involves the cells ability to divide and differentiate, both crucial and significant topics in the class because it deals with mitosis, specialization and cell function. With the diverse range of functions stem cell research encompasses, it is only a matter of time before stem cell use, research and therapy can no longer be ignored but used to treat and alleviate distressed patients around the world.
The New York Times article “Sickle Cell Transplants Could See Wider Use” expressed how sickle cell disease, a debilitating genetic disorder, could be alleviated through a specific type of bone marrow transplant. Dr. Brodsky at John Hopkins University developed a unique type of bone marrow transplant trial that uses half-match donors as opposed to a perfect match. This trial replaced defective stem cells that produced sickle-shaped cells with normal stem cells that generate healthy blood cells. Furthermore, in a half-match transplant only 50 % of appropriate genes have to match up (donor to receiver) which is approximately 8-10 H.L.A. genes. However, there were risks involved, any discrepancies in the donor and receiver systems could lead to the new immune system attacking the patient because of the immune cells inability to recognize the patient as anything but foreign. To counter this deadly scenario patients are required to take cyclophosphamide, a chemotherapeutic drug, which wipes out all the donor’s lymphocytes (that could potentially harm the receiver) and leave behind the stem cells of the donor. These stem cells are then produced into new lymphocytes. (Tarkan, 2012) The article relates to how stem cell therapy because in the article an individual, Ms. Felix Ukwu was diagnosed with Sickle Cell disease however, due to the half-match transplant employed by Dr. Brodsky and chemotherapeutic treatment she was able to completely rid her body of the disease. With the use of stem cell therapy individuals with potential life threatening diseases can be aided and possibly cured of any illness. Additionally, Dr. Peter Rubin, a plastic surgeon at Pittsburgh Medical Center was the leader of an 80 patient trial to grow limb muscle by using animal scaffolding to spur the muscle growth. The extracellular matrix is the natural scaffolding that makes up all organs as well as signals the body to grow and repair those organs. With this information Dr. Rubin operated on Sergeant Strang’s a marine whose upper thigh quadriceps had been ripped. When Dr. Rubin stitched the extracellular matrix from a pig urinary bladder on Sergeant Stang’s leg, his body broke down the matrix by using stem cells to degrade the proteins into smaller compounds. The stem cells were transformed to muscle cells when used in breaking down the collagens. Sergeant Strang was able to grow new muscle due to the breaking down of the extracellular matrix from the pig. Overall, extracellular matrix from different animals has been used as supportive layer for damaged and injured muscles. (Fountain, 2012) ("Human Muscle, Regrown on Animal Scaffolding.”) Moreover, an equally interesting story involves Dr. Paolo Macchiarini in Sweden who came up with the idea to make a patient, Mr. Beyene, a new windpipe out of his own cells. The doctor had the objective to control the body’s repair and growth mechanisms so that it could remake a damaged organ by itself. The doctors planned to use mortar like compounds that hold cells in place called scaffolds. These scaffolds play a pertinent role in how cells are recruited for tissue repair. The artificial scaffold was created by using Mr. Beyene’s natural windpipe as a template. Dr. Macchiarini intended to make an exact copy of Mr. Beyene’s windpipe from a fibrous plastic, which was imbedded with stem cells from his (Mr. Beyene’s) own bone marrow. The cancerous windpipe was to be replaced with the artificial scaffolding of the windpipe. Since the stem cells came from Mr. Beyene and no one else the cells were not be rejected by the body’s immune system and Mr. Beyene did not have to consume any type of drug to prevent the destruction of his own immune system. Because of stem cell therapy and research individuals around the world are able to be cured of their various diseases and live a sustained life. (Fountain, 2012) (“A First: Organs Tailor-Made With Body's Own Cells”) These articles both involve scaffolding, the process of holding cells in place and enlisting cells for the regrowth of tissues and organisms. Furthermore, these articles relate to the previous article because of the fact that stem cells were directed to progress and replicate into a specific type of cell which was then used in the aid of a damaged tissue. This process is crucial in stem cell therapy as is allows the stem cells to regenerate and regrow the damaged tissue, which could benefit society ten fold. This could benefit society because anyone with a defective tissue would not have to suffer with the tissue or have to get it removed. Instead, stem cells could be used and programed to recreate that tissue which could then be inserted in place of the defective tissue. With the use of this treatment the tissue can ideally be cured to its natural or near natural state.
Lastly, Dr. John Gurdon of the University of Cambridge and Dr. Shinya Yamanaka of the Kyoto University of Japan each won the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine, respectively. The discoveries of these scientists include the manipulation of living cells through the generation of stem cells. Dr. Gurdon cloned a frog and Dr. Yamanaka ascertained the proteins with which an adult cell can be converted to an egg like state. Dr. Gurdon cloned a frog by extracting the cell nucleus from an intestinal cell of a frog and then injected it into a frog egg whose own nucleus had been already removed. The egg then controlled the nucleus, essentially reprograming it to turn from an intestinal cell to a developing egg. Dr. Yamanaka then discovered how to reverse a cell to its stem cell (primitive) form by the use of transcription factors (proteins made my master genes to control other genes) in the egg. Stem cells made this way could be directed to mature into any type of adult cell in the body. (Wade, 2012) This article is significant because it can lead to a technique that can allow regrown tissues to be produced from the patient’s own cells as opposed to any other type of harmful way. Since the process of finding the primitive form of a cell has been found any cell spawned from the patient can form the defective tissue. This article supports the use of stem cell therapy and research as it portrays the events of two scientists discovering the process of generating a primitive form of any type of cell in the body which can then be directed into producing any cell of a tissue, particularly a damaged one. This also relates to the other topics because it involves a stem cell to mass produce and aid in the defectiveness of a specific tissue.

Throughout numerous articles, including those cited here, it is evident that stem cell therapy benefits individuals with various deleterious illnesses throughout the world. Moreover it is apparent that scientists, with the proper guidance and aid can delve into the world of stem cells and ascertain novel ideas and proposals. It is clear that scientists already have found ways to use stem cells through bone marrow transplant, regeneration of the patient’s own stem cells and animal scaffolding. With future research anything is possible with regards to human aid and refurbishing previous ideas to an all reward and no risk process. Overall, my own take on the articles are that stem cell therapy is a topic whose surface has just been tapped, with the proper research and acceptance (by those who view it has controversial) stem cell therapy can lead to a cure to diseases that were thought to be incurable.

Citations/Reference List:

1) Tarkan, Laurie. "Sickle Cell Transplants Could See Wider Use." The New York Times 13 Nov. 2012: n. pag. The New York Times. 12 Nov. 2012. Web. 5 Apr. 2013. 2) Fountain, Henry. "Human Muscle, Regrown on Animal Scaffolding." The New York Times 12 Sept. 2012: n. pag. The New York Times. 12 Sept. 2012. Web. 5 Apr. 2013. 3) Fountain, Henry. "A First: Organs Tailor-Made With Body's Own Cells." The New York Times 15 Sept. 2012: n. pag. The New York Times. The New York Times, 16 Sept. 2012. Web. 06 Apr. 2013. 4) Wade, Nicholas. "Cloning and Stem Cell Work Earns Nobel." The New York Times 9 Oct. 2012: n. pag. The New York Times. The New York Times, 09 Oct. 2012. Web. 06 Apr. 2013. 5) American Institute of Physics (AIP). "Sorting stem cells: Scientists propose a new way to isolate early stage embryonic stem cells." ScienceDaily, 3 Jan. 2013. Web. 7 Apr. 2013.