FAQS

Tell me, please, what are stem cells?

Stem cells are the foundation cells for every organ, tissue and cell in the body. They are like a blank microchip that can ultimately be programmed to perform particular tasks. Stem cells are undifferentiated or "blank" cells that have not yet fully specialized. Under proper conditions, stem cells begin to develop into specialized tissues and organs. Additionally, stem cells can self-renew, that is they can divide and give rise to more stem cells.

There are many different types of stem cells. These include embryonic stem cells that exist only at the earliest stages of embryonic development; as embryonic stem cells can form all cell types of the body, they are referred to as ‘pluripotent’ stem cells. There are various types of ‘adult’ or ‘tissue-specific’ stem cells that exist in a number of different fetal and adult tissues. These stem cells generally can only form a limited number of cell types corresponding with their tissues of origin; they are called ‘multipotent’ stem cells.

Where do stem cells come from?

Embryonic stem cells are derived from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst: the fertilized egg, called the zygote, divides and forms two cells; each of these cells divides again, and so on. Soon there is a hollow ball of about 150 cells called the blastocyst that contains two types of cells, the trophoblast and the inner cell mass. Embryonic stem cells are obtained from the inner cell mass.

Stem cells can also be found in small numbers in various tissues in the fetal and adult body. For example, blood stem cells are found in the bone marrow that give rise to all specialized blood cell types. Such tissue-specific stem cells have not yet been identified in all vital organs, and in some tissues like the brain, although stem cells exist, they are not very active, and thus do not readily respond to cell injury or damage.

Stem cells can also be obtained from other sources, for example, the umbilical cord of a newborn baby is a source of blood stem cells. Recently, scientists have also discovered the existence of cells in baby teeth, abdominal fat, the testes, the nose lining, amniotic fluid and a host of other places that may also have the potential to form multiple cell types.

Recently, cells with properties similar to embryonic stem cells, referred to as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) have been engineered from somatic cells.
 

What is an adult (tissue-specific) stem cell?

Perhaps better referred to as a tissue-specific stem cell, these cells are found in tissues that have already developed. Tissue-specific stem cells can be isolated from many tissues, including brain. The most common sources of tissue-specific stem cells is umbilical cord blood and the bone marrow, located in the center of some bones. There are different types of stem cells found in these places, including hematopoietic or blood stem cells, endothelial stem cells, and mesenchymal stem cells. It is well established that hematopoietic stem cells form blood, that endothelial stem cells form the vascular system (arteries and veins), and that mesenchymal stem cells form bone, cartilage, muscle, fat, and fibroblasts.

It has become apparent that some adult stem cells may have a broader potential to form different cell types than was previously suspected (for example, stem cells may contribute to regeneration of damaged livers, hearts and other organs).
 

What are ‘induced pluripotent cells’ or iPS cells?

Induced pluripotent cells (iPS cells) are non-pluripotent cells that were engineered (‘induced’) to become pluripotent, that is, able to form all cell types of the body. In other words, a cell with a specialized function (for example a skin cell) was ‘reprogrammed’ to an unspecialized state similar to that of an embryonic stem cell. While iPS cells and embryonic stem cells share many characteristics they are not identical.


Currently, iPS cells are produced by inserting copies of three-four genes into specialized cells known to be important in embryonic stem cells using viruses. Different groups have used slightly different combinations of genes. It is not completely understood how each of these genes functions to confer pluripotency and ongoing research is addressing this question.

The technology used to generate iPS cells holds great promise for creating patient- and disease-specific cell lines for research purposes.

What are the potential uses of human stem cells?

Stem cell research contributes to a fundamental understanding of how organisms develop and grow, and how tissues are maintained throughout adult life. This is knowledge that is required to work out what goes wrong during disease and injury and ultimately how these conditions might be treated. The development of a range of human tissue-specific and embryonic stem cell lines will provide researchers with the tools to model disease, test drugs and develop increasingly effective therapies.

Replacing diseased cells with healthy cells, a process called cell therapy, is a promising use of stem cells in the treatment of disease; this is similar to organ transplantation only the treatment consists of transplanting cells instead of organs.

In theory, any condition in which there is tissue degeneration can be a potential candidate for stem cell therapies, including Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury, stroke, burns, heart disease, Type 1 and II diabetes, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, muscular dystrophy and liver diseases. (For a fuller list of conditions currently being treated see ‘Conditions’)

In addition, retinal regeneration with stem cells isolated from the eyes can lead to a possible cure for damaged or diseased eyes and may one day help reverse blindness. Bone marrow transplantation (transfers blood stem cells) is a well-established treatment for blood cancers and other blood disorders.
 

Are stem cells currently used in therapies today?

Yes. Hematopoietic stem cells have been transplanted for more than 40 years. Advanced techniques for collecting or "harvesting" HSCs are now used to treat leukemia, lymphoma and several inherited blood disorders. Cord blood, like bone marrow, is stored as a source of HSCs and is being used as an alternative to bone marrow in transplantation. Likewise, mesenchymal cells transplants are now commonly available.

New clinical applications for stem cells are currently being tested therapeutically for the treatment of musculoskeletal abnormalities, cardiac disease, liver disease, autoimmune and metabolic disorders (amyloidosis), chronic inflammatory diseases (lupus) and other advanced cancers. At this time these new therapies have been offered to thousands of patients in treatment centers around the world. They have proven both safe and effective.

Why is cord blood a valuable resource?

Cord blood is rich in hematopoietic or blood stem cells and is currently being used as an experimental alternative to bone marrow transplantation. The collection process is completely non-invasive, the host-donor match required for transplantation is less stringent and cord blood has fewer mature immune cells and thus poses a lower risk of graft vs. host disease.

Why are researchers interested in developing disease-specific or patient-specific pluripotent stem cells?

The development of patient-specific or disease-specific pluripotent stem cells has great therapeutic promise for three reasons. Firstly, these cells could provide a powerful new tool for studying the basis of human disease and for discovering new drugs. Secondly, the resulting embryonic stem cells could be developed into a needed cell type, and if transplanted into the original donor, would be recognized as 'self', thereby avoiding the problems of rejection and immunosuppression that occur with transplants from unrelated donors.

What is regenerative medicine?

The goal of regenerative medicine is to repair organs or tissues that are damaged by disease, aging or trauma, such that function is restored, or at least improved.

The term regenerative medicine is often used nowadays to describe medical treatments and research that use stem cells (either adult or embryonic) to restore the function of organs or tissues. This can be achieved in different ways; first, by administering stem cells, or specific cells that are derived from stem cells in the laboratory; or second, by administering drugs that coax stem cells that are already present in tissues to more efficiently repair the involved tissue.

What is bioethics?

Bioethics is the study of the moral and ethical issues in the fields of scientific research, medical treatment and, more generally, in the life sciences. With advancing technology come new and exciting insights into scientific processes and diseases; at the same time, new ethical issues arise.

What are some of the things to consider in choosing a treatment provider?

We think it is very important that you get all your questions answered accurately and without hype. We also think it’s important that you have the opportunity to speak with patients who have been treated with adult stem cell therapy. Their stories are both inspiring and moving.

The treatment center should be able to provide you with their experience in treating people with conditions such as yours (or your loved one) and they should be able to assure you that the specific treatment they will provide is adapted (in the light of the patient’s medical history) to each patient. Many treatment providers have “one size fits all” protocols, where regardless of the presenting symptoms every patient receives the same protocol.

Finally, we believe strongly that adult stem cell therapy today is primarily about quality of life. We do not use the word ‘cure’, but the vast majority of patients have a reduction in painful or debilitating symptoms that give them a quality of life that they thought they had lost forever. It is a fact that for some reason some patients do not derive the benefits they had hoped for. Providers who ‘fudge’ this fact are being less than open with you.

Why Bangkok?

Because we can provide therapies in a first-class facility with the best cells money can buy, backed up by skilled physicians, scientists and English speaking staff. We also take care of your accommodation and provide you with 24/7 contact to your care coordinator. Every step of the way you will have a dedicated member of staff with you. It is our great privilege to be able to assure you of the very latest, patient-specific protocols, administered safely and effectively to provide you with the best outcome possible. We will shortly be able to provide our protocols in Manila also, under a Licensee agreement and Middle Eastern patients can contact our partner doctor in Abu Dhabi where they will get full support and guidance in Arabic.