In the last decade, there seems to be no way out and we are stuck with traditional clinical methods when it comes to solving bone and cartilage damage, but with the latest stem cell technology there is hope arising.
Here we will discuss the latest regenerative therapy Mesenchymal Stem Cells for tissue regeneration and implantation.
The first implantation methods were applied using canine animal models by veterinaries. But we have advanced to such a point that it is now possible for humans to apply the use of mesenchymal stem cell therapies to humans suffering from osteoarthritis.
Once a person suffers from Cartilage injury it is nearly impossible for them to do a self-healing process without the aid of regenerative treatment. This is because Chondrocytes a crucial element in the body are not capable of migrating healing and assisting the damaged areas.
The absence of what they call cartilage vascularity does not allow progenitor cells to enter the cartilage to aid in supporting the healing or regeneration process of the damaged area. This is the reason why, our body heals a very long time or is limited in self-repair. These factors inside the cartilage are not capable of healing themselves effectively without intervention, and this is why humans experience progressive joint degeneration as they get older.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is described as a chronic degenerative joint disease. Increased body weight, aging, or direct injury can contribute greatly to the degeneration of the bones.
Osteoarthritis gets complex as one gets older and there is no one-part solution because it involves all aspects of the immune system response. As the disease progresses it begins to affect the ligaments, tendons, and muscles including the neural tissues. In its later stages, it becomes a system disease. If not treated, osteoarthritis is definitely going to be a major health issue, not to mention a financial burden for the ones who have it.
Stem Cell Therapy
Stem cells were created with the ability to self-renew. It can stay in an undifferentiated state and have a long life span. These cells are unspecialized but can give rise to other specialized cell types. It can be embryonic or it can be post-natal or adult stem cells which are capable of self-renewal and aid in adult tissue regeneration.
Types of adult stem cells give rise to all blood components or mesenchymal stem cells that lead to osteoblasts, chondrocytes, adipocytes, and the reticular stroma.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Is the most useful stem cell for tissue engineering and implantation in the treatment of osteoarthritis. It is able to secrete bioactive molecules. It comes with the ability to regenerate, stimulate, maintain, and proliferate as well as differentiate tissue-specific progenitors.
Osteoarthritis occurs at times when there is an overproduction of chondrocytes. It may create an oversupply of matrix degenerating enzymes.
While matrix degenerating enzymes are required by the body to function. Any overproduction can promote or lead to osteoarthritis. Currently, there is no truly effective therapy to combat the further progression of Osteoarthritis when it begins.
Clinics and hospitals only employ traditional methods like pain management and weight loss as a way to combat it but in advanced stages, there is nothing they can do.
And this is where various regenerative methods like Mesenchymal stem cell therapy need to be employed. Some temporary relief or solution given is hyaluronic acid. However hyaluronic acid only provides temporary pain relief. Eventually, as the disease progresses, and due to the intensity of the pain, joint replacements are advised.
What we have right now, or what standard hospitals and clinics are advocating for right now is pharmacotherapy for Osteoarthritis or merely pain reduction like the use of acetaminophen non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and analgesics like tramadol.
However, all of these treatments are but temporary and do not stop the decay and adverse events of the disease, and prolonged use might even affect other parts of the body and even lead to gastrointestinal and renal issues.
Physical therapy is required by osteoarthritis patients. Weight loss, body balance improvements, and training in reduction of mechanical stress and pain reduction. The intake of omega-3 fatty acids is also advised.
Total knee replacement is the ultimate solution for some patients, but this is too expensive and risky. There is a huge amount of effort that needs to be done, and the worst part is that it might not even be successful in the end. The greatest problem that we have now is that clinics and hospitals can only provide temporary relief instead of stopping the disease from the root.
Regenerative Medicine
The most difficult part of restoring the cartilage is bringing back its function. It will involve tissue engineering to restore maintain and improve tissue function. Regenerative therapy or cell therapy with the aid of stem cell technology, may one day fulfill the goal of delaying the progression of osteoarthritis and eventually paving the way for joint tissue repair.
The first successful Allogenic Stem Cell graft in humans was conducted in 1968 in the U.S. They made use of Stem Cell graft in humans using donor bone marrow.
It was the beginning of mesenchymal stem cell technology. In order to make the process and practical. Mesenchymal stem cell therapy has the advantage of being able to differentiate making it an ideal candidate in helping solve bone problems. It has what it takes to help slow down the progress of degeneration. This is the reason why clinical trials now make use of MSCs for Osteoarthritis management.
Mesenchymal stem cells have been shown to stimulate tissue regeneration. Doctors are trying to figure out the exact measurements needed. Determining the right dosage and the best way to systematically administer it to create an immense impact.
There is a need to select specific cells in collaboration with a specific disease. For example, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells should be differentiated in vitro and should be expressing correct markers for chondrocyte, and osteocyte, depending on which properties are required.
Potential sources of these MSCs are found in the bone marrow, adipose tissue, synovium, Wharton’s jelly, and even in the umbilical cord.
Those who have received mesenchymal stem cell treatments for their osteoarthritis usually experience gradual improvements within 5 to 135 months after stem cells were introduced to the body.
While full restoration of the cartilage is not yet achievable. There are notable and encouraging signs that signify mesenchymal stem cell therapies' ability to pave the way to significant improvements in the bone. The only known unpredicted adverse events are usually related to slight fever, fatigue, in some cases insomnia and constipation.
To sum up, untreated osteoarthritis lacks spontaneous healing, and current standard treatments face limitations due to insufficient vascularization in cartilage tissue.
Consequently, stem cell therapy emerges as the most potent avenue for joint tissue regeneration, particularly in the middle to late stages of the disease.
Among various stem cell types, mesenchymal stem cells stand out for their ease of extraction, robust proliferation, non-tumor-inducing nature, and high immune system compatibility.
With swift progress from animal models to chondrocyte transplantation, culminating in today’s state of bone marrow-derived MSC therapy, there’s hope for this technology to soon become a commonplace treatment for patients.
NEW BREED OF HOMO SAPIENS
In the midst of this symphony of science and aging, a radiant figure emerges, captivating hearts and challenging the conventional bounds of time. Lourdes Duque Baron, a fervent advocate of stem cell therapy, graces the stage. Defying the years, she stands as a living testament to the potential of science’s embrace.
With an aura that whispers of eternal youth, Lourdes Duque Baron remains an embodiment of vitality. Her allure is not just skin deep, for beneath her timeless beauty lies a spirit that dances to the rhythm of creation. The world witnesses her as a harmonious blend of music, film, and literature. With every note she composes, every scene she captures on celluloid, and every word she weaves into her books, she celebrates life’s chapters in vibrant hues.
The spotlight finds her, not just for her artistic flair, but for her journey as an ambassador of stem cell therapy. A beacon of possibility, she showcases that science can indeed script a different narrative for aging. As the pages of her life story turn, Lourdes Duque Baron not only defies the hands of time but uses her presence to amplify the message of the potential locked within stem cells.
Her journey is an ode to staying sensual, vibrant, and active, an anthem sung in defiance of the whispers of senescence. Through her advocacy and her very existence, she underscores that age can be a canvas painted with youthful strokes, where the hues of creativity remain vivid and alive.
“ Age should not define what you can do best to create a better world for humanity to thrive upon without fear of old age and other symptoms of age-related degenerative diseases-Lourdes Duque Baron
References
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