Stem Cell Therapy FAQS | National Stem Cell Centers

Broadly speaking, there are two basic kinds of stem cells: embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. As the name implies, embryonic stem cells come from embryos. These kinds of cells are known as pluri-potential, meaning that they can become anything required to create a human body. Embryonic stem cells are taken from unwanted embryos, and as such, are highly controversial. Embryonic stem cell use is highly regulated and has also been associated with certain kinds of tumor formation.

Adult stem cells, on the other hand, come from adults. Adult stem cells are harder to isolate, but still retain many (but not all) of their undifferentiated properties, allowing them to become nerve, skin, bone, cartilage and other tissues as needed, depending on the specific type of tissue they are recovered from. Bone marrow adult stem cells (mesenchymal stem cells), for instance, come from the mesodermal sections of the human body and can form into cartilage and bone.

Evidence suggests that they are also capable of differentiating into other tissues like connective tissues (ligaments, muscle, tendons), blood vessels, fatty tissues, nerve and blood vessels. Bone marrow stem cells are not as prevalent in the body and usually need to be cultured (encouraged to multiply in the lab) so that there are enough to work with.

Fortunately, human fat cells also have mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) which can be more easily harvested and separated from fat cells for use. Because the ratio of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is over a thousand times greater in fat cells than bone marrow, these usually do not need to be cultured and can be obtained from fatty deposits in the patients body.

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Stem Cell Therapy FAQS | National Stem Cell Centers