Indications of Cell Therapy
Cell therapy is a treatment that involves transferring cells into a person to treat or prevent disease. The type of cell used depends on the disease being treated. It has shown promise across a wide range of medical conditions. Potential applications include cancers, autoimmune diseases, and infectious diseases, rebuilding damaged tissues such as cartilage in joints, spinal cord injuries, and helping patients with neurological disorders.
1. Wound Healing
The cell therapy approach for wound healing is easier, faster, and less invasive than traditional procedures, including local flaps and skin grafts. Improved tissue repair and regeneration are seen when treated with cell therapy for severe burns, and chronic wounds. Cells like keratinocytes, bone marrow stem cells, and fibroblasts, have been used for wound healing in clinical practice.
2. Cardiovascular Diseases
Cell therapy is being studied as a potential treatment for myocardial infarction and heart failure. It has been demonstrated that stem cells, especially cardiac progenitor cells may repair damaged heart tissue and enhance cardiac function. Improved patient outcomes, such as increased cardiac function and less scar tissue development have been seen in studies.
3. Cancer Treatment
Oncology is one of the most common medical fields in which cell therapy is used. Various studies have shown that cancers are treated using chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) treatment. This method involves modifying T-cells to combat cancer cells. In situations when conventional medicines have failed, this individualized approach has shown impressive results.
4. Neurological Disorders
Research on cell therapy is important in neurodegenerative disorders such as spinal cord injury, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. Because stem cells, such as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), or mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), convert into neuronal cells and replace damaged neurons to reverse the progression of illness or mitigate its symptoms.
5. Autoimmune Disorders
Cell treatments have shown promise in treating autoimmune conditions such as Rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Because of their immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory qualities, MSCs improve immune system regulation, lowering inflammation and preventing more tissue damage.
6. Diabetes
Cell therapy for Type 1 diabetes aims to restore the pancreatic beta cells that produce insulin. Emerging techniques for the treatment of diabetes including Type 2, include the transplantation of pancreatic islets or the generation of functional beta cells using stem cells.
References:
1. You, H., & Han, S. (2014). Cell therapy for wound healing. Journal of Korean Medical Science, 29(3), 311. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2014.29.3.311
2. Abouzid, M. R., Umer, A. M., Jha, S. K., Akbar, U. A., Khraisat, O., Saleh, A., Mohamed, K., Esteghamati, S., & Kamel, I. (2024). Stem Cell Therapy for Myocardial Infarction and Heart Failure: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Critical Analysis. Cureus, 16(5), e59474. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.59474
3. CAR T cells: Engineering immune cells to treat cancer. (2022, March 10). Cancer.gov. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/research/car-t-cells
4. Sivandzade, F., & Cucullo, L. (2021). Regenerative stem cell therapy for Neurodegenerative Diseases: An Overview. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(4), 2153. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22042153
5. Shandil, R. K., Dhup, S., & Narayanan, S. (2022). Evaluation of the Therapeutic Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) in Preclinical Models of Autoimmune Diseases. Stem cells international, 2022, 6379161. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/6379161
6. Shilleh, A. H., & Russ, H. A. (2023). Cell Replacement Therapy for Type 1 Diabetes Patients: Potential Mechanisms Leading to Stem-Cell-Derived Pancreatic β-Cell Loss upon Transplant. Cells, 12(5), 698. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells12050698
