Stem cell storage is seen as an advancement, in medicine with the potential to treat illnesses. Many parents struggle with the decision wanting to ensure their children have access to top notch healthcare options in the future. This article delves into the advantages and challenges of stem cell preservation offering a view for families contemplating this choice.
Potential Benefits of Stem Cell Preservation
Stem cell preservation is gaining popularity due to the ability of stem cells to treat a significant number of medical conditions, including blood disorders and immune system disorders. It has several benefits for stem cell preservation, including:
1. A Perfect Match for Your Child and Their Siblings
There is no doubt that the autologous stem cells derived from the umbilical cord are an exact copy of your child’s genetic makeup. So, these stem cells will not induce any immune response and are safe to use. Another benefit is the use of these stem cells for a sibling. A doctor can mix your child and their siblings stem cells to make up the amount of stem cells they need. This can then be transplanted to the host to ensure that they receive the exact amount of stem cells, all the while ensuring minimal immune response. It can save the lives of the child himself and his siblings.
2. Life-Altering Potential
Umbilical cord blood and stem cells are showcasing a very wide range of life-threatening diseases and conditions that can be treated with innovative therapies. There are already a number of clinical trials underway to further explore the possibilities and benefits of these treatments. These treatment options have shown great improvements in cerebral palsy, autism, stroke, anoxic and traumatic brain injury.
3. Store your Child’s Stem Cells for 20 Years or More
Stem cells are nestled in specially cryo-preserved bags which are meticulously labeled. They are snugly placed in custom cryopreservation bags each one carefully enclosed in a protective aluminum casing. These bags are then kept in a cryopreservation tank, which is maintained at minus 196°C. It is done to prolong the vitality of your child’s stem cells. Research has shown that even after 23 years these valuable cells remain robust and prepared for use. This results in an enduring gift for your offspring, potentially extending its advantages to generations present that could provide a fighting chance, against illnesses in the times ahead.
But, you have to pay special attention to newborn stem cell preservation costs. Why? Because ensuring that the stem cells are viable and can be used later on when needed requires constant upkeep from the stem cell banking organization, They have to ensure that liquid nitrogen is present in the cryopreservation tank to maintain a temperature of minus 194°C.
Emerging Issues of Stem Cell Preservation
Stem cells have opened a door of opportunities to manage and treat diseases that were believed to be untreatable. Couples who are stepping into the world of parenthood are taking precautionary steps to ensure that their child has access to the best medicine and procedures in the future. They are using stem cell banking services. Superficially it will look like a very good idea. But when we dive deep into stem cell banking we discover why it is not a good idea to store stem cells. We will discuss these reasons below:
1. No Universal Protocol for Stem Cell Preservation
Every stem cell bank facility has its own stem cell preservation protocol, which is proprietary at several banks. But, when one takes a closer look at it, we cannot just transfer the protocol we use for preserving HSCs to the MSCs or even ESCs. The reason is quite simple. It is because each and every individual cell type has a different biology that it carries. The protocol that is able to preserve HSCs will not be able to preserve ESCs, because of their unique biology. Hence, when we take these preserved ESCs for therapeutic needs, we will fail to see any improvements.
2. Use of DMSO in Preservation
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is a widely used cryoprotectant when storing cells at sub-zero temperatures. It not only helps protect the cells from damage at low temperatures but also helps keep the cells free of bacterial growth. However, DMSO is not approved for human infusion. Studies have shown that DMSO has adverse effects on humans by causing epigenetic changes in the cells. Stem cell banks need to develop alternative methods where cryopreservation is carried out without the use of DMSO. Not only that, they also have to ensure that the preserved stem cells in India are free from DMSO before they are transplanted into humans to provide the best healthcare for them.
3. Control Cell Death after Preservation
At present, we see that numerous stem cells die after they are removed from their cold slumber to be used in therapeutics. This death is due to the cold induced damage that occurs in the cell. This eventually leads to a decrease in the number of cells needed for stem cell therapy. So, it has a negative impact on the individual’s health. Each step of the cryopreservation process, including isolating, freezing, storage, and thawing cells, has the potential to damage the cells. In many banks, there are no checkpoints created to review the health of cells.
4. Ensure constant Keep Up
During cryopreservation, there are two major things being done. The first thing is to ensure that stem cells are maintained at a low temperature. And secondly, we have to continuously monitor the cells. We have to prevent any fluctuations in the storage temperature that can adversely affect the viability of stem cells. It can be challenging to do so and predicting what these cells have undergone can be even more challenging. All of which can lead to stem cells that are not in optimal health. All these factors contribute to the stem cell preservation cost in India.
For Query Ask The Expert
What is the Alternative to Stem Cell Preservation?
While we have shared the facts of stem cell preservation with you in an unbiased manner. But not discussing what the alternatives are for stem cell preservation would be like leaving you in the middle of the ocean. So we will share the best available alternative for stem cell preservation─”allogeneic stem cell transplantation.”
Allogeneic stem cells are isolated from a donor or someone other than the host. Even though they are not as compatible as autologous stem cells, they are the next best thing to use in treatment. There are several advantages of using allogeneic stem cells in your therapy, including:
- Not extracted from the host
- The stem cells are ready-to-treat patients
- Greater than 90% viability for therapeutic application
- Stem cells are healthier
- Higher scalability than autologous stem cells
But, allogeneic stem cells are not without disadvantages. These stem cells have the ability to induce an immune response in the host. It can place the patient at risk of graft-versus-host disease, or GVHD, due to HLA mismatch. But, it is not something to be worried about, as the condition can be monitored and the response can be reduced with the use of immunosuppressant medications.
Another concern that you will hear being raised is the source of the stem cells. Because if it harms an individual to acquire stem cells, it is morally and ethically wrong, for which there are strict laws. But if the stem cells are isolated from umbilical cords which are usually discarded after childbirth, we can easily answer the ethical concerns of anyone.
Umbilical cords are labeled as medical byproducts and usually discarded. Hence, using it and products from it does not raise ethical concerns. We just have to ensure that we have openly disclosed to the individuals from whom we are collecting the umbilical cord.
Success Stories of Stem Cell Therapy
Conclusion
Preserving stem cells provides a peek into the future of care holding promise, for life saving therapies. Ongoing research is constantly improving techniques. Addressing concerns. Ultimately whether or not to preserve stem cells is a decision. This information aims to help families consider the potential benefits and factors involved.
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