Stem Cell Harvesting: Methods & Benefits

How Are Stem Cells Harvested?

In order to get stem cells for therapeutic use, an important process in modern medicine is called “stem cell harvesting.” These cells are useful for treating a variety of medical diseases because they have special regenerative qualities and can develop into other cell types.

Methods of Harvesting Stem Cells

  1. Bone Marrow Harvesting:

  • In this process, stem cells are taken out of the bone marrow, which is often located in the hip bone (pelvis).
  • Special needles are used to aspirate bone marrow, which often has to be placed at several locations throughout the 
  • In next process, the stem cells are extracted from the bone marrow and processed for transplantation in a lab
  • The donor must be given general anesthesia in order to remove bone marrow. After the surgery, the donor usually remains in the hospital for one to two days and there might be pain and scars where the needle was inserted after the surgery.
  • As a result, some people can have temporary back discomfort.
  • There are always risks associated with anesthesia for the patient. Infection is another risk that comes with having surgery.
  • Due to these reasons, the primary technique for obtaining stem cells is frequently blood.

  1. Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Collection:

  • An apheresis procedure can be used to extract stem cells from the blood circulation.
  • In order to boost the number of stem cells in their blood, patients may be given medication that promotes the formation of stem cells.
  • Stem cells are extracted from blood using apheresis equipment, and the patient is given back the remaining blood components.

  1. Cord Blood Banking:

  • After a baby is born, the stem cells from the umbilical cord blood are extracted and kept for possible later use.
  • This non-invasive procedure delivers an important amount of stem cells, particularly for the treatment of diseases related to blood.

 

Considerations and Benefits

  1. Safety and Ethical Considerations

    Patient safety is the top priority throughout stem cell harvesting operations, and we adhere to ethical guidelines regarding cell sourcing and usage.

     

  2. Potential Advantages


    Stem cells have an extensive range of potential uses in regenerative medicine, from treating diseases to healing damaged tissue. Using these cells allows for the development of innovative medical treatments and improved results for patients.

 

How are blood stem cells extracted?

Apheresis, a procedure that removes stem cells from blood without the need for anesthesia or a hospital stay, is used to do this. A few days prior to the treatment, a medication known as GCSF is injected under the skin to boost the quantity of stem cells in the circulation. This medication facilitates the release of more bone marrow-derived stem cells into the circulation. Blood is drawn from an arm vein during an apheresis procedure, and the blood is then run through a machine to extract the stem cells. Through a vein in the opposite arm, the residual blood is brought back into the body. This treatment is typically performed as a walk-in procedure and takes two to three hours. Sometimes, for collect more cells, the process needs to be repeated few times. However, this process does not require general anesthesia, there can still be temporary side effects from the growth factor medication, like joint pain, headaches, or bone pain.

 

How the Procedure of Stem Cell Transplant performs

In a stem cell transplant, you first undergo chemotherapy or a mix of chemotherapy and radiation. This therapy, known as the preparative regimen, kills both cancer cells and bone marrow stem cells. This stage helps get your body ready to receive fresh stem cells. The central venous catheter, a flexible tube inserted into your chest, is used to introduce the fresh stem cells into your bloodstream. Healthcare providers will find it easier to provide blood products and medicines to you using this tube. 

There is no surgery involved in the transplant procedure, which takes place in room and is similar to gaining a blood transfusion. Following the transplant, these newly created stem cells go to your bone marrow, where they develop into newly produced mature blood cells, including platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells. Your mature blood cell counts will recover to normal in a few weeks, but in the meantime, you’ll need extra defense against bleeding and infections.

 

The Pros and Cons of Stem Cell Treatment

Although stem cell treatment has great promise for treating a variety of diseases, it’s important to consider its benefits and drawbacks:

 

Adult Stem Cells

Embryonic Stem Cells 

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Pros

  • These cells can be reprogrammed and Trans differentiated, although this has not been well investigated.
  • Considered to have a lower chance of rejection in transplant applications.
  • Several clinical applications have previously shown success.
  • It has established methods for maintenance in culture;
  • Able to grow and keep in culture for a year or more.
  • The majority of cell types are produced by pluripotent cells, or ESCs.
  • It is possible to understand more about the development process by researching ESCs.
  • Donor somatic cells in excess can be used.
  • Histocompatibility problems with recipient/donor transplants can be minimized.
  • Extremely helpful for developmental research and medication development.
  • Knowledge gained from the “reprogramming” procedure might be applied to in vivo treatments that focus on reprogramming to damaged cells or tissues.

 Cons

  • ASC differentiation limitations are yet unknown; they are now believed to be multi- or unipotent.
  • Not able to develop in culture for extended periods of time.
  • They are often quite rare in each tissue, making it challenging to locate and purify them.
  • There isn’t yet a technique that can produce a lot of stem cells in culture.
  • The ESC line generation process is inefficient.
  • It is not clear if using them in transplants might result in rejection.
  • Since ESC pathway therapies are still very new, much more investigation and testing are required.
  • Teratomas, or tumor formation, can result when using ESC undifferentiated culture prep straight for tissue transplantation.
  • Techniques for guaranteed maintenance and repeatability, given the uncertainty regarding differentiated tissues.
  • Currently, viruses are utilized to insert genes into embryos; research on mice have shown that viruses may cause cancer.

Making educated healthcare decisions requires an understanding of the methods involved in stem cell harvesting, transplant procedures, and assessing the benefits and drawbacks of stem cell therapies. Methods for obtaining stem cells, such those from bone marrow or blood, come with advantages and disadvantages of their own. After experiencing a preparatory regimen, fresh stem cells are injected into the bloodstream to support the development of healthy red blood cells during the stem cell transplant surgery. Although stem cell therapies show promise for treating a variety of disorders and promoting tissue regeneration, it’s vital to analyze the risks and drawbacks.

Those who are looking for stem cell therapies must choose a reliable facility near them. StemcellsTurkey offers comprehensive stem cell therapies that prioritize patient well-being and excellent outcomes. Contact us for personalized consultations and to learn about the possibility of stem cell therapy in your healthcare journey.

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