What is a Mesenchymal Stem Cell?
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are the main cells found in connective tissue. MSCs have the ability to move from the tissues in the body to damaged tissues and have the ability to differentiate in every environment. They do not stimulate the immune system due to their immunosuppressive / non-immunogenic properties.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells are found in many different tissues in the organism, such as bone marrow, umbilical cord, fatty tissue, dental pulp, placenta and amniotic fluid.
What are the Clinical Uses of Mesenchymal Stem Cells?
- In soft tissue defects,
- In chronic wounds that do not heal (diabetic wounds),
- In the treatment of burn scars,
- In peripheral vascular diseases (Buerger's, ischemic foot),
- In tissue repair and regeneration,
- In heart diseases,
- In rheumatology diseases,
- In diabetes treatment,
- In bone structure damage,
- In retinal diseases (such as optic atrophy, macular degeneration, chicken black),
- In neurodegenerative diseases and neurological damage,
- Mesenchymal Stem Cells are also used within the scope of clinical trials/clinical research in the treatment of acute tissue rejection that develops after allogeneic stem cell transplants due to their immunosuppressive effects.
- Clinical research studies exist demonstrating that conditions such as autoimmune encephalomyelitis, osteogenesis imperfecta, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, systemic lupus, Type I diabetes, and multiple sclerosis can be treated using this approach.
Stem cell studies are on track to become the most common research field in medicine in the future; In recent years, many clinical studies have been conducted on the use of MSCs and their treatments in different diseases. For this reason, it is recommended that cord blood and umbilical cord be stored separately.
How is Mesenchymal Stem Cell Treatment Applied?
While the production and application of bone marrow and adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells are done autologously (person-specific), the production and application of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells are conducted allogenically (from donations).
For the production of person-specific mesenchymal stem cells, a bone marrow and/or adipose tissue biopsy is needed based on the physician’s request. Blood is also drawn from the individual during the biopsy and sent under special transfer conditions to ONKIM GMP laboratories.
In the laboratory, mesenchymal stem cells are cultured and multiplied from the serum obtained from the individual’s own blood. Depending on the required quality control tests and the area and type of damage to be treated, the physician prepares the desired number of mesenchymal stem cells for application, and they are then transferred for use. The cells that are transferred must be applied within 48 hours.