- May 6, 2024
- Web Editorial Board
- Health Guide, Medical Technologies, Treatment Methods and Operations
Stem Cell Treatment in Musculoskeletal System Diseases
A) OSTEOARTHRITIS: Osteoarthritis is a condition that can occur due to various reasons and can cause cartilage damage, leading to wear and tear in the knee and hip joint, eventually resulting in calcification due to pain. When cartilage cells die, they cannot heal on their own. Stem cells are a method used to reduce the progression of damage in patients who have begun to suffer from cartilage damage but are not yet candidates for surgery or do not want to undergo surgery.
B) MENISCAL TEARS: Stem cell therapy is used to treat partial and complete tears of menisci, which prevent the rubbing of joint surfaces in the knee joint. As a source, either subcutaneous fat or the bone marrow from the tibia anterior surface is used and injected into the meniscus tissue and nearby regions intra-articularly under ultrasound guidance.
HOW TO OBTAIN STEM CELLS?
Stem cells are obtained from bone marrow, adipose tissue, and umbilical cord blood. The collection process of cells is performed under light sedation and local anesthesia to avoid pain for the patient.
Stem cells from adipose tissue or pelvic-bone are subject to filtration and separation under sterile conditions.
After the 30-40 minutes of the stem cell preparation process, the obtained pure stem cells become ready for application to the patient.
STEM CELL APPLICATIONS IN ORTHOPEDIC DISEASES
Stem cell treatment is done in two ways
- Aspirates obtained from the stem cell-rich tissues of those in need of treatment are concentrated under sterile conditions and applied to the damaged area. Belly fat and bone marrow are generally used for this job.
- Stem cells taken from another personare produced in the laboratory and brought to the desired number and characteristics. Here, stem cells obtained allogeneically from cord blood are used.
USING BELLY FAT IN OBTAINING STEM CELLS
The area where belly fat will be removed is painted with batikon. A half-centimeter incision is made in the belly button to remove fatty tissue. It is entered with cannulas. Heparin liquid solution is injected into the fatty tissue around the umbilical cord. After waiting for a while, negative pressure cannulas are entered through the same incision and the fatty tissue is slowly collected into the tubes. The collected fat tissue is washed by various methods, then passed through filters and centrifuged. Thus, an aspirate rich in stem cells is obtained.
USING BONE MARROW IN OBTAINING STEM CELLS
For bone marrow, the iliac crest (pelvis) or tibia bone (lower leg) is used. Under local anesthesia, the bone wall is punctured with a needle that can enter the bone and the bone marrow is aspirated. Then, the end products rich in stem cells are concentrated by going through various processes. The aspirate taken is injected into the damaged area of the knee where cell recovery is expected.
LICENSED PRODUCTS IN STEM CELL THERAPY
- Fibroblast from skin tissue
- Mesenchymal Stem Cell from Umbilical Cord
- Mesenchymal Stem Cell from Fat Tissue
- Mesenchymal Stem Cell from Cartilage Tissue
- Mesenchymal Stem Cell from Synovial Tissue
- Exosome
- Adipose Tissue Derived (SVF) Stromal Vascular Fraction
- Bone Marrow Derived Mononuclear Cell
STEM CELL APPLICATIONS APPROVED BY THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH
- Covid-19 Pneumonia
- Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
- COPD
- Diabetic Foot Injuries
- Peripheral Artery Diseases
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Cerebral Palsy
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Spino-Cerebellar Ataxia
- Friedreich Ataxia
- Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
- Cystic Fibrosis Ischemic Cardiac Diseases
- Autoimmune Encephalitis
- Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Stroke
- Congenital Progressive Myopathy
- Optic Atrophy
- Retinitis Pigmentosa
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Ovarian Failure
- Scleroderma
- Crohn’s Disease
- Short Intestine
WHAT IS THE AGE LIMIT FOR STEM CELL TREATMENT?
Cell therapies are generally evaluated according to the patient’s age, disease and clinical conditions. It is necessary to evaluate all factors together. It should not be forgotten that no aspirate taken from the individual for autologous source will give positive results in applications over the age of 65.
HOW COMMON IS STEM CELL THERAPY?
Stem cell treatments have been tried around the world for about 20 years and have been widely used, especially in recent years. However, it should not be forgotten that such treatments will be applied with products produced in certified centers.
4 BASIC FEATURES OF STEM CELLS
- When injected intravenously after tissue injury, it settles in the inflammation area,
- It can secrete many bioactive molecules that enable damaged cells to heal and suppress inflammation
- It does not cause allergic reactions in the body and has an immune system regulating function
- Ability to differentiate into different cell types
Applications of Stem Cells in Medicine
Another extremely rich source of adult mesenchymal stem cells is the pulp of the lower (mandibular) third molar. These stem cells eventually form tooth enamel, dentin, periodontal ligament, blood vessels, dental pulp, nerve tissues and at least 29 different organs. These stem cells also have the ability to generate hepatocytes.
Adipose tissue is the source where stem cells are most abundant and easiest to obtain. In 2011, Time magazine selected the extraction of stem cells from fat tissue as one of the 50 most important inventions of the year.
Multipotent stem cells: Also found in amniotic fluid. These stem cells are highly active and highly expandable without nutrient media, and are also non-tumorogenic. Amniotic stem cells are multipotent and can differentiate into cells in adipogenic, osteogenic, myogenic, endothelial, hepatic and also neuronal lines. It seems that many problems related to stem cells obtained from human embryos will be overcome by the use of stem cells obtained from amniotic fluid.
While the Roman Catholic Church banned the use of embryonic stem cells in experiments, the Vatican newspaper titled amniotic stem cells as the medicine of the future. It is possible to collect amniotic stem cells from donors or those who want to use them themselves; For this reason, there are amniotic stem cell banks established and working collaboratively around the world.