| Stem cells and stem cell therapy have received a | | | | modulation to promote or suppress T-cell function. |
| lot of news coverage lately, some of it | | | | Stem cells are triggered to move into an area by |
| controversial, so this month I've decided to | | | | signals from the tissue based on chemical, neural, |
| discuss stem cells in general, along with several | | | | and mechanical changes. Hypoxia, which is lack of |
| approaches to stem cell therapy. The stem cell | | | | oxygen, and inflammation are strong triggers for |
| therapies I advocate are both legal and simple, | | | | stem cells to target an injury, although the stems |
| especially with the advent of a new nutritional | | | | cells account for less than half of the new tissue |
| product called Stemplex, which I'll discuss a little | | | | formed. The rest of the repair is done by other |
| later. But first, a little about the stem cell itself... | | | | cells recruited and managed by the initial stem |
| Embryonic Versus Adult Stem Cells | | | | cells. This is why very tiny injections of stem cells |
| A stem cell is an undifferentiated cell that can | | | | are used. Injecting larger numbers of stem cells |
| renew itself and develop into at least three | | | | into an injured area can actually interfere with |
| different types of tissue. Embryonic stem cells | | | | healing, since some of the injected cells die and |
| are derived from early stage embryos and have | | | | must be removed during the healing process. |
| the ability to differentiate into all adult cell types. | | | | Under ideal conditions stem cells would respond to |
| Embryonic stem cells behave in a consistent way | | | | injuries and healing would occur. Factors that |
| under a microscope but are much less predictable | | | | affect stem cell response include the age of the |
| when injected into the body. They can offer | | | | animal, the fitness of the animal, and the level of |
| some benefits for research but their use is | | | | free radicals in the body. Free radicals damage all |
| controversial and they are not useful for actual | | | | cells, including stem cells. |
| treatments. | | | | Stem Cell Therapy in Horses |
| Adult stem cells reside in post-fetal animals. | | | | In horses the repair of ligament injuries has shown |
| Examples are linage-committed such as | | | | the most promise. Injuries to the ligaments in a |
| hematopoietic stem cells that become red or | | | | horse's lower leg are notoriously difficult to heal. |
| white blood cells, or mesenchymal stem cells that | | | | Stem cells harvested from the injured horse's |
| can become many types of tissue, including bone, | | | | own fat can be injected directly into the area of |
| tendon, ligament, cartilage, heart, liver, or nerves. | | | | ligament damage to stimulate healing with less |
| Sources of adult stem cells include bone marrow, | | | | scarring, which decreases the chance of re-injury. |
| fat, brain tissue, and muscles. Of all the tissues, | | | | In some cases bone marrow is harvested, but |
| fat yields the largest numbers of mesenchymal | | | | this tissue must be cultured to increase the |
| stem cells, while bone marrow or umbilical blood | | | | numbers of mesenchymal stem cells. |
| yield more stem cells that will become red or | | | | Another promising stem cell therapy is based on |
| white blood cells. | | | | increasing the numbers and activity of the animal's |
| Types of Stem Cells | | | | own stem cells using nutrition. Just as scientists |
| There are several different categories of stem | | | | discovered that beta glucan is a nutrient that |
| cells, including autologous, allogenic, and xenogenic. | | | | stimulates the white blood cells called |
| Autologous stem cells are those derived from the | | | | macrophages, researchers have now identified |
| same animal. These are best for transplanting | | | | nutrients that stimulate and cause the proliferation |
| since there is no concern about them being | | | | of stem cells. Based on this research, Simplexity |
| rejected. Allogenic stem cells are from a donor of | | | | Health has developed a product called Stemplex |
| the same species. Since stem cells do not have | | | | (TM) that contains green tea extract, wild |
| the standard cell surface markers that would | | | | blueberry, the amino acid carnosine, blueberry |
| trigger immune response, these cells can | | | | extract, vitamin D, and blue-green algae. I have |
| potentially be used without fear of rejection by | | | | been using this product on my own horse, who |
| the host tissue. Xenogenic stem cells come from | | | | has chronically contracted and sore heels. Within |
| a donor of another species, such as a pig. | | | | just a month I am seeing improvement in his gait. |
| Although one would expect these cells to be | | | | Stem cell therapy has huge potential and should |
| rejected, because of their unique characteristics | | | | be considered as a healing treatment for injuries |
| they can survive, in some cases, when injected | | | | or organ damage. In addition, systemic stem cell |
| into the body of another species. | | | | therapy shows promise in treating neurological |
| How Do Stem Cells Work? | | | | conditions. Providing nutritional support for the |
| The most commonly cited function of stem cells | | | | body's own stem cells is always a good option, |
| is their ability to differentiate into different tissues | | | | which can be supplemented by using targeted |
| but they also have other abilities that can be very | | | | injections of harvested stem cells. These |
| beneficial for healing. Stem cells produce over 30 | | | | injections are especially useful when nutritional |
| types of growth factors and tissue chemicals that | | | | support does not create enough healing effect or |
| stimulate healing. Stem cells help recruit other local | | | | the injured area, such as ligaments in a horse's |
| and systemic stem cells to focus on repairing | | | | lower leg, has poor circulation. |
| damaged tissue. They are also active in immune | | | | |