What are embryonic stem cells?

What are embryonic stem cells?

Embryonic stem cells arise when the early, pluripotent stem cells are removed from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst and brought into culture. The embryo is usually destroyed in the process. Embryonic stem cells only occur in the laboratory, not in the embryo itself.

What are multipotent stem cells?

Multipotent (from Latin multus much and Latin potentia ability, strength) is the name given to stem cells, which can develop into different cell types of a certain lineage. In contrast to the pluripotent stem cells, however, they are no longer able to develop into almost every cell in the body.

What are stem cells?

Stem cells are cells that are able to make a copy of themselves by dividing. When speaking of stem cells, one has to distinguish between different types of stem cells. They differ in their potential to divide into different cell types.

What does stem cell therapy do?

The most established and widely used stem cell therapy is the transplantation of blood stem cells to treat diseases of the blood and the immune system, or to restore the blood system after certain cancer therapies.

How long does stem cell therapy last?

The actual transplant only takes 1 to 2 hours. Since it takes about 10 days for new blood cells to form from the transplanted stem cells, the blood cells (erythrocytes, thrombocytes, leukocytes) initially drop sharply.

When do you need stem cell therapy?

In medicine, stem cells can be used in a variety of ways within the framework of established therapies, e.g. B. in blood and cancer diseases in which the patient’s bone marrow is restricted in function due to chemotherapy, as well as metabolic diseases or diseases of the immune system.

What does stem cell therapy cost?

The costs, at least as far as the stem cells are concerned, are comparatively low: the donation is free, processing is uncomplicated and it is not necessary to multiply the cells in the laboratory. Otherwise, however, the therapy is expensive, and so it costs just under 100,000 euros 1.

Where will stem cells be used today?

Stem cells from the bone marrow and blood of adults have been used successfully in the treatment of leukemia and lymphoma since the mid-1970s. As a rule, stem cells from foreign donors are used for this.

What happens if stem cells are not accepted?

The new stem cells either do not grow in the first place and thus blood formation does not recover (so-called non-engraftment) or, after a regeneration phase, a real rejection reaction occurs.

What happens after the stem cell transplant?

After stem cell transplantation, many patients are affected by side effects or complications of treatment – especially in the first year and then especially in the first 6 months. Afterwards, the transplant recipients can enjoy life again and z. B. also pursue leisure activities again.

Can the bone marrow regenerate?

In contrast to the platelets and red blood cells, the white blood cells cannot be adequately replaced by blood transfusions. Unique among all organs, the bone marrow has the ability to completely renew itself. A single cell would (theoretically) be sufficient for this.

When to be fit again after a stem cell transplant?

Whether and when you can go back to work depends on the individual progress after the transplant. The usual time span ranges from 3 to more than 12 months [5].

Why relapse after stem cell transplant?

About every third leukemia patient suffers a relapse because the effector cells developed from the new stem cells fail. This means that the cells do not recognize all of the remaining tumor cells and consequently cannot kill them. Then the chances of survival drop dramatically.

What can I eat after a stem cell transplant?

After an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant, the same rules for a healthy diet apply as for everyone. We recommend a “light diet” without gas that is flatulent or difficult to digest, divided into several small meals a day.

When can I go to rehab after stem cell therapy?

The vast majority of patients are hospitalized for rehabilitation within the first 30-100 days after transplantation.

How long do you have to stay in the hospital after a bone marrow donation?

The donor’s bone marrow usually regenerates completely within two to four weeks. There may be local wound pain that feels similar to a bruise. The hospital stay lasts three days.

How long does aplasia last?

Day + 21) The blood stem cells infused into the bloodstream find their way into the patient’s bone marrow, settle there and begin to form new, functional blood cells. This process takes two to three weeks.

When to have an autologous stem cell transplant?

Autologous transplantation Autologous stem cell transplantation is rarely used in the treatment of acute and chronic leukemia, but is mainly used in the treatment of multiple myeloma and lymphoma.

How long does high-dose chemotherapy last?

On average, the hospital stay for high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation lasts around three weeks. Only two to four months after the start of the first can a second high-dose therapy cycle be given, which is basically identical.

How does a stem cell transplant work?

The classic method of stem cell transplantation is the transfer of red bone marrow. As a rule, about 1 liter of a mixture of bone marrow and blood is taken from the donor from the iliac crest using a special needle. The stem cells are isolated from this and, if necessary,