Adult stem cells
Adult stem cells are undifferentiated cells, found throughout the body after development, that multiply by cell division to replenish dying cells and regenerate damaged tissues. Also known as somatic stem cells, they can be found in children, as well as adults.
Characteristics[edit | edit source]
Adult stem cells have two important characteristics that distinguish them from other cells. First, they are unspecialized cells capable of renewing themselves through cell division. Second, under certain physiological or experimental conditions, they can be induced to become tissue- or organ-specific cells with special functions.
Types[edit | edit source]
There are several known types of adult stem cells. The most well-known and studied include Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and Neural stem cells (NSCs).
Hematopoietic Stem Cells[edit | edit source]
Hematopoietic stem cells are found in the bone marrow and blood. They are responsible for producing all of the body's blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells[edit | edit source]
Mesenchymal stem cells are found in many tissues, including bone marrow, fat, and teeth. They can differentiate into a variety of cell types, including bone cells, cartilage cells, and fat cells.
Neural Stem Cells[edit | edit source]
Neural stem cells are found in the brain and spinal cord. They can differentiate into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes.
Uses in Medicine[edit | edit source]
Adult stem cells are currently being used in therapies for a variety of diseases and conditions, including leukemia, lymphoma, and sickle cell anemia. They are also being studied for their potential use in treating other conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes.
Research and Controversy[edit | edit source]
While adult stem cells hold much promise, there is also controversy surrounding their use. Some people object to the use of embryonic stem cells for research or therapy, while others are concerned about the potential for misuse of stem cell technologies.
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
 | This biology article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
