Journal of Stem Cell Research and Tissue Engineering

DEVELOPMENT OF STEM CELL-BASED CANCER THERAPY STRATEGIES

2024-12-28T18:24:42+07:00

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with various treatment options available depending on the type and stage of the disease. Traditional therapies, such as surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, have shown varying degrees of success, but each has its limitations. Recently, stem cell therapies have emerged as a promising alternative, offering more targeted treatments with fewer side effects. Stem cells, including mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and cancer stem cells (CSCs), have demonstrated potential in cancer therapy through mechanisms like tumor site targeting, paracrine signaling, and gene delivery. MSCs, in particular, are of interest due to their ability to migrate to tumor sites and release exosomes that can influence tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Modified MSCs have been engineered to deliver anticancer agents or "suicide" genes, providing a more focused approach to tumor treatment. Moreover, MSCs have shown promise in addressing challenges like drug resistance and recurrence in cancer. However, their effectiveness depends on factors such as exosome composition and the tumor microenvironment. Despite the challenges, stem cell-based therapies, including MSC-derived exosomes, represent a novel strategy to enhance the specificity and efficacy of cancer treatments. This review explores current advances in stem cell-based cancer therapies, highlighting their potential, ongoing research, and the need for further studies to optimize these approaches for clinical application.

THE POTENTIAL OF PLURIPOTENT STEM CELL-BASED THERAPY AND EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES IN PROMOTING TISSUE REGENERATION

2024-12-28T18:44:50+07:00

Stem cell research has paved the way for revolutionary regenerative therapies targeting damaged and diseased tissues. Beyond traditional cell transplantation, current evidence suggests that therapeutic benefits are primarily mediated through paracrine effects. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), which can traverse biological barriers and deliver bioactive molecules, represent a promising avenue for cell-free therapy. Tissue engineering, as the second-generation regenerative innovation, integrates biodegradable 3D scaffolds with cells to mimic natural extracellular matrices, enhancing therapeutic outcomes. This study examines the potential of EVs across diverse applications. In ocular regeneration, neural progenitor-derived EVs preserve photoreceptor cells and mitigate retinal inflammation in retinitis pigmentosa. For skin repair, EVs derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) support key phases of wound healing by modulating macrophage polarization and activating molecular pathways like RAC-alpha and Notch signaling. In cardiovascular therapy, EVs contribute to heart tissue recovery, reduce myocardial apoptosis, and combat fibrosis through targeted gene modulation. Skeletal muscle regeneration benefits from EVs enhancing myogenic differentiation, decreasing fibrosis, and addressing excessive extracellular matrix accumulation common in disorders like muscular dystrophy. The ability of EVs to emulate paracrine signaling processes expands the horizons of regenerative medicine, offering a scalable and efficient alternative to cell-based therapies. Literature highlights the critical role of high-quality, large-scale production under stringent standards to ensure therapeutic consistency. These findings underscore EVs as potent, cell-free agents capable of driving tissue repair and regeneration. Further investigations are encouraged to optimize production, application, and integration with advanced biomaterials for clinical efficacy.

AUTOLOGOUS STEM CELL-BASED GENE THERAPY OFFERS AN INNOVATIVE SOLUTION FOR TREATING INHERITED BLOOD CELLS DISORDERS

2024-12-28T18:31:48+07:00

Recent advancements in medical treatments, particularly gene therapy using hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), have significantly impacted the treatment of inherited blood disorders. HSCs can self-renew and differentiate into blood cells, making them essential for treating conditions like sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, and severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). This study conducted a literature review on autologous stem cell therapy for genetic blood disorders, analyzing studies from databases such as PubMed and Scopus. Gene therapy corrects genetic defects in HSCs, offering an alternative to allogeneic transplantation by avoiding immune rejection. The therapy involves modifying stem cells in the lab, often through viral vectors or gene-editing tools, and reinfusing them into the patient to produce healthy blood cells long-term. Lentiviral vectors, considered safer than retroviruses, have been particularly effective in treating various conditions, including immunodeficiencies and hemoglobinopathies. The ex vivo gene transfer approach, commonly used for genetic disorders, has shown promise for one-time curative treatments, especially for pediatric diseases. However, early gene therapy efforts, such as the use of gamma-retroviral vectors for SCID, faced complications like leukemia, leading to a shift towards safer lentiviral vectors. Despite its complexity, the procedure has a low failure rate and provides a less risky alternative to traditional allogeneic stem cell transplants. Ultimately, HSC gene therapy holds significant potential for curing genetic blood disorders by permanently altering the stem cells, ensuring long-term benefits and improved treatment outcomes, with ongoing advancements in safety and efficacy.

UTILIZATION OF STEM CELL THERAPY AS A NEW APPROACH TO OVERCOME REPRODUCTIVE DISEASES IN WOMEN

2024-12-28T17:54:54+07:00

The human body contains approximately 37.2 trillion cells, each specialized to perform specific functions within tissues and organs. Stem cells, particularly mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), have emerged as a promising therapeutic option for various medical conditions due to their regenerative and differentiation capabilities. Female infertility, which significantly impacts quality of life, often results from reproductive disorders such as premature ovarian failure (POF), polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, Asherman syndrome, and preeclampsia. Conventional treatments like hormone therapy are limited by long-term risks, including heart disease and cancer, while assisted reproductive technologies are hindered by ethical, safety, and financial concerns. This review explores MSC-based therapies as innovative alternatives for addressing female reproductive disorders. MSCs demonstrate potential in regenerating ovarian cells, restoring hormonal balance, and repairing uterine tissue. For POF, MSC therapy replenishes ovarian cells, improves hormone levels, and restores function. In PCOS, MSCs reduce inflammation and fibrosis while enhancing ovarian function. Endometriosis management benefits from MSCs' ability to repair endometrial damage and improve uterine receptivity. MSCs also show efficacy in reducing fibrosis and increasing vascularization in Asherman syndrome and repairing placental damage in preeclampsia by mitigating oxidative stress and inflammation. This review synthesizes findings from recent studies to highlight MSCs' role in advancing gynecological medicine, presenting them as a safe, effective, and sustainable therapeutic approach for treating infertility and enhancing reproductive health.

UTILIZATION OF STEM CELL RESEARCH IN MICROGRAVITY FOR INNOVATION IN CELLULAR THERAPY ON EARTH

2024-12-28T18:37:59+07:00

Recent advancements in stem cell biology, coupled with developments in space exploration, have opened new avenues for regenerative medicine. Microgravity environments in space induce significant physiological changes in the human body, such as muscle atrophy, decreased bone density, and immune system impairments, mimicking accelerated aging and chronic disease progression. These conditions offer a unique opportunity to study stem cell behavior, proliferation, and differentiation, which occur at a faster pace in space compared to Earth. The three-dimensional (3D) microgravity environment provides a more accurate representation of the human body’s natural state than traditional two-dimensional culture systems, fostering enhanced stem cell development. Among the various stem cells studied in space, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown promise for therapeutic applications, including the treatment of stroke, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. Research aboard the International Space Station (ISS) has demonstrated that MSCs maintain their properties, proliferate, and differentiate under microgravity conditions, offering potential for future therapies. Additionally, MSCs exhibit resistance to space radiation, protecting astronauts from its harmful effects by promoting tissue repair and releasing regenerative factors. This radiation resistance, coupled with cryopreservation techniques, enables MSCs to be used in long-duration space missions. The ongoing research on MSCs in space not only supports astronaut health but also holds the potential to revolutionize regenerative medicine on Earth. By understanding how microgravity influences stem cell behavior, scientists are uncovering critical insights into tissue repair and cell function, paving the way for innovative treatments for aging-related diseases and other medical conditions. These findings highlight the broader implications of space-based stem cell research for advancing human health both in space and on Earth.