Cord blood stem cells, being versatile and potent, are undifferentiated cells that can evolve into many different specialized cell types, from muscle cells to brain cells. They are endowed with the exceptional capacity to self-renew and replicate, which makes them highly valuable in tissue repair and regeneration processes.
However, do you know that there are different types of stem cells? From adult stem cells to cord blood stem cells, let’s understand the different stem cell types.
What exactly are stem cells?.
Stem cells are unique cells that can transform into a variety of cells. With myriad stem cell benefits, these undifferentiated cells can mature into specialized cells, replace damaged cells, and restore the organ or tissue's original and healthy functionality. They serve as the basic building blocks of an organism's tissue development, repair, and regeneration processes throughout its lifetime.
To date, many stem cell researches have been carried out, which have proved the norm that, being pluripotent or multipotent, stem cells are capable of producing a wide spectrum of cell types. This has great potential for medical research and therapeutic applications.
Read also: Diseases That Can Be Healed By Stem Cells
Types of Stem Cells
There are various stem cell types, each holding unique properties and implications:
- Embryonic Stem Cells
They arise from the inner mass of the blastocyst that contains pluripotency, the ability to develop into any cell type. Embryonic stem cells can be further subdivided into:
Totipotent Stem Cells: These multipotent cells are capable of differentiating into all types of stem cells in our body.
Pluripotent Stem Cells: These are the cells of the earliest embryo, and they can turn into cells of any type.
Multipotent Stem Cells: These divide into a unique cell type that resembles the original cell. E.g., the hematopoietic stem cells are capable of differentiation into red blood cells and white blood cells.
Oligopotent Stem Cells: These are adult lymphoid/myeloid cells that can differentiate into several different cell types.
Unipotent Stem Cells: The cells can produce only the type of cells that they are of. Because they can never renew themselves, they are also referred to as unipotent stem cells.E.g., Muscle stem cells.
- Adult Stem Cells
These stem cells are derived from established organs and tissues. They can mature and replace damaged tissues in the area where they are positioned. For example, bone marrow contains hematopoietic stem cells, which are utilized in bone marrow transplants to treat some forms of cancer.
- Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs)
iPS Cells, generated by reprogramming adult somatic cells in the lab, function like embryonic stem cells but with no ethical issues. These cells provide an alternative option that may overcome immune rejection issues in personalized treatments. They are also capable of producing all of the numerous types of cells found in the human body.
- Perinatal Stem Cells
Amniotic fluid and umbilical cord blood contain stem cells that can differentiate into other cells. The umbilical cord tissues, particularly Wharton's jelly, are rich in immature stem cells. These cells have the advantage of reduced rejection from the immune system compared to mature or adult stem cells used for stem cell treatment.
These are further classified into two types:
Pre-natal stem cells: These are extracted from the fetus or supporting structures
Post-natal stem cells: These are extracted from newborns.
Conclusion
Stem cells remain at the cutting edge of medical science, providing treatments that at present are unavailable for diseases. Through the understanding and utilization of different stem cells, scientists and clinicians aim to break the way for individualized medicine and regenerative therapies.
At Cryoviva, we understand the power of cord blood stem cells in beating life-threatening diseases and their profound influence on human health. Stem cells have the potential to heal disease, and stem cell preservation services can preserve these. We utilize world-class technology to extract, preserve, and store the stem cells collected from the umbilical cord, and that too at cost-effective rates. We aim to make stem cell banking affordable to everyone. So, protect your family’s health and future today with Cryoviva!