Potential Applications of Different Types of Adult Stem Cells Toward Medical Interventions

Ahmad Sukari Halim; Sankaralakshmi Gomathysankar; Norhayati Mohd Noor; Mohaini Mohamed; Mercy Halleluyah Periayah

Volume : IV, Issue : II, February - 2015

Potential Applications of Different Types of Adult Stem Cells Toward Medical Interventions

Ahmad Sukari Halim, Sankaralakshmi Gomathysankar, Norhayati Mohd Noor, Mohaini Mohamed, Mercy Halleluyah Periayah

Abstract :

Stem cells are undifferentiated progenitor cells that are capable of self renewing and differentiating into specific cell lineages. Emyonic and adult stem cells are the two main types of stem cells. The pluripotent nature of emyonic stem cells distinguishes them from adult stem cells. Adult stem cells are multipotent and are able to differentiate into a limited number of cell types. Unlike emyonic stem cells, the use of adult stem cells is not controversial or unethical because they can be derived from adult tissue samples rather than from emyos. The self-renewal and multi-differentiative potential of adult stem cells makes them highly suitable for various clinical applications because they can be harvested directly from patients themselves. Some types of adult stem cells are capable of transdifferentiation, whereas the ability of others remains unknown. More studies should focus on revealing the molecular and cellular pathways involving these adult stem cells and improving the methods of harvesting and culturing adult stem cells up to the required number of cells. Some types of adult stem cells such as hematopoietic, cardiac, neural, adipose-derived, epidermal, hair follicle, and dental pulp stem cells, as well as their potential clinical applications, are reviewed in this paper.