Picture of Adult Stem Cell

Introduction Diabetes is an illness that affects the metabolism of insulin. About 16 million people are affected by this disease. A third of that affected population do not know they are living with this condition. Diabetes affects blood glucose levels due to a diabetics’ insulin production. Insulin is a hormone produced by the beta cells located in the pancreas.

Types of Diabetes There are three types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational. Type 1 occurs when too little or no insulin is produced in the pancreas. Type 1 diabetics have low blood glucose levels. When too much insulin is produced in the pancreas or it cannot be used efficiently, this leads to Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 is related to high blood glucose levels. Gestational diabetes is developed during pregnancy.

Types of Diabetes

Possible Solution Diabetes is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. This malady can lead to excessive thirst and hunger, weight loss, blurred vision, nerve damage, heart failure, kidney damage, and death. A cure for diabetes could change innumerable lives that are suffering with this disease. The use of stem cells is a debatable issue today in the world of technology. If more information about these cells is discovered with more research, they might be able to cure diseases like diabetes that was once incurable.

What are stem cells? Stem cells are unspecialized cells that are originally located inside the inner mass of the blastocyst. Stem cells start developing in the fetus and will gradually become the specialized cells that create organs and tissues. They consist of no specific tissue structures; however, they have the potential to become specialized cells such as blood cells or nerve cells. Nerve Cells Red & White Blood Cells

Stem cells are unspecialized. They are not capable of performing the certain tasks which differentiated cells are developed to do; they can only “give rise” to specialized cells. Stem cells renew themselves through a process called proliferation, prolong cellular division until they are signaled to become specialized. The cell’s genes, chemicals, and physical contact with nearby cells signal when to start dividing. Stem cells also become specialized upon injury or disease. Researchers and scientists work with embryonic and adult stem cells.

What are adult stem cells? Adult stem cells are unspecialized cells found in differentiated tissue and organs that are responsible to maintain and repair tissue where they are found. Adult stem cells are multipotent. They are capable of becoming various cell types depending on the surrounding environment. For example, adult stem cells found in bone marrow can differentiate into bone cells, fat cells, or cardiac muscle cells.

Adult Stem Cell Differentiation Picture of possible differentiation for adult stem cells in bone marrow

What are embryonic stem cells? Embryonic stem cells are unspecialized cells that are located in the inner mass of the blastocyst, a preimplanted embryo consisting about 150 cells. Embryonic cells are pluripotent cells. They can differentiate into any differentiated cell type in the body. This process is called plasticity. One example is differentiating into a blood or nerve cell. Scientists have considered this to occur in adult stem cells as well.

In Vitro Process A cell culture of an embryonic stem cell is created In vitro growth of cells using an artificial medium that has nutrients to feed cells to enable them to grow. Produce a clone

In Vitro Process Inject stem cell lines (clone) in patient Clone cells will grow in injured tissue or organ This process could be used to make insulin producing cells for a cure for type 1 diabetes And other diseases like Parkinson’s disease, heart disease,spinal cord injury, hearing loss, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Current Stem Cell Uses Today Adult Stem Cell Transplant Using Bone Marrow Stem Cells Patients’ cells are replaced by a donors’ stem cells Produce new leukocytes to replace injured cells

Current Stem Cell Uses Today Adult Stem Cell Transplant Using Peripheral Blood Stem Cells Stem cells collected from drawn blood Later transplanted

Current Stem Cell Uses Today Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplant The umbilical cord is another good source that contains many stem cells that can be used to treat illnesses just as well as embryonic stem cells.

The Issue The main problem with this approach to cure these illnesses is the use of embryonic stem cells and how they are derived.

Possible outcome