By Dr.Supachai Ekwattanakit
B.SC., Ph.D., M.D.,
Thai Board of Adult Hematology
Stem cells are unique cells with three primary characteristics:
Self-renewal: They can divide and create copies of themselves indefinitely, without losing their original properties.
Unspecialized: They do not have a specific function within the body.
Potency: They have the ability to differentiate into various specialized cell types, such as bone, lung, heart, or brain cells.
Based on their potential to differentiate, stem cells can be categorized into three main types:
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs): Derived from embryos, these cells have the highest potential to differentiate into any cell type in the body. However, their use in research and medicine is ethically controversial and raises concerns about tumor formation.
Adult stem cells (ASCs): Found in adult tissues, these cells have a more limited differentiation potential but are widely used in medical treatments.
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs): They are currently a focus of research.
In medical applications, two types of stem cells are commonly used:
Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs): Used to treat blood diseases and cancers.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs): Applied in various medical treatments, including anti-aging and regenerative medicine.
Comments