Regenerative Therapies Though the Media

Regenerative Therapies

Though the media attention paid to stem cell research has waned somewhat in the face of economic crises and other political issues, the medical innovation that holds the promise to repair damages spinal cords, provide custom-made organs for transplantation, and cure any number of diseases remains an exciting and controversial topic in the worlds of medicine and of ethics. Derived until recently only from embryos necessarily destroyed in the extraction process, stem cells have the unique ability to become any specialized type of cell in the body -- they are essentially blanks that have not yet been assigned a place or task within the organism to which they belong. This unique feature grants them substantial rehabilitative powers that research scientists and physicians are only now beginning to unlock.

Though perhaps the most promising area of research currently in existence in the filed, stem cells represent just one of several different regenerative therapies currently under development, examination, and/or application. These therapies allow damaged or destroyed tissue to be repaired or re-grown, not simply alleviating or treating the symptoms created by tissue damage and/or loss but actually eliminating underlying issues in many instances by replacing areas of damage with brand new and healthy tissue. This means fewer required medications, operations, and other procedures, leading to fewer side effects and, in some cases, reductions in medical costs. Regeneration reverses problems and lets the body heal itself (albeit with some outside assistance), and this is preferable to many procedures that only provide artificial "fixes."

Stem Cells and other Regenerative Therapies

The opposite of regeneration is degeneration, and which humans begin undergoing virtually a birth and unquestionably after they have reached adulthood. Cells in the body begin to die and are not replaced as quickly or as efficiently as they used to be, and the risk of malfunction and true tissue loss increases with age and with injury. Simple aging is noticeable only because of its degenerative effects, and, "until we can address the root causes of age-related degeneration, we must learn how to regenerate every part of the human body" (Longevity Meme par. 4). The use of stem cells provides a method for achieving this regeneration, possibly reversing the effects of aging when applied in a full-body manner. Though techniques have not yet been developed to utilize stem cells in a direct reversal of the aging process, specific applications of tissue regeneration and of slowing the natural degenerative processes have been successful in the limited trials they have received.

More than this, however, stem cells can be used to repair damage caused by injuries or the growth of abnormal tissue brought about by congenital defects. The fact that stem cells can develop into any specialized cell in the human body means that those that have suffered spinal cord injuries leading to paralysis may eventually regain the full use and control of their bodies -- stem cells can become spinal tissue, reconnecting broken pathways and restoring nerve function. This application of stem cells leads to a great deal of excitement in the research community and among patients and the general public, as well.

Stem cells do not represent the only regenerative therapy in existence, however, and there are other methods that are specific to certain organs or areas of the body that have proven equally effective. A number of therapies have also been developed and described for repairing the myocardium -- the middle layer of the heart tissue that supplies a great deal of the muscular power necessary to the heart's proper functioning -- allowing for true recovery from heart disease and heart attacks rather than simply diminishing risks that are brought on by lifestyle choices and other factors. As of now, none of these therapies has become widely enough used to provide statistically significant evidence that they can be used to seriously combat heart disease and prevent deaths from myocardial issues, but the studies that have been conducted show great promise for making these techniques the new medical standard of tomorrow with great success (Yacoub, Suzuki, & Rosenthal 133-6).

This leads to an interesting ethical situation that must be considered alongside the many virtues of regenerative therapies. The fact that these therapies exist means that damage to organs and other body parts is potentially less serious and life-altering, meaning that some individuals might take greater risks based on the assumption or assurance that they can be made s good as new through the application of stem cell therapy or myocardial repair, or any other type of regenerative therapy. Risky behaviors like smoking or drug use could increase because of these assumptions, creating greater burdens of healthcare costs and other social and medical issues. The good that these therapies lead to is thus somewhat tempered by the bad they may encourage.

Other Applications of Regenerative Therapies

Regenerative therapies do not solely consist of age-reversing and life-saving applications. An examination of some other real and imagined uses to which these therapies can be put reveals the true breadth of these therapies' power and scope in everyday life. In the field of dentistry, where artificial implants have become increasingly sophisticated and well-integrated with the natural body, "the therapeutic potential of platelets in promoting and accelerating tissue regeneration" has led to a new trajectory in oral implantology because it allows for the growth of the body's own tissue at a faster rate that incorporates more completely and more efficiently with dental implants (Fugazzotto 113). Though not an instance of pure regeneration, researchers have found methods to enhance and amplify the regenerative function of platelets to build up tissues in a way that supports dental implants.

The above describes a method whereby artificial implants are enhanced through the body's own regenerative capabilities, assisted by medical technology. In somewhat opposite applications, artificial substances have been developed that enhance natural regenerative processes in the body:

The AutoloGel System harnesses the patient's natural healing processes with the delivery of a platelet releasate gel containing growth factors, cytokines and chemokines required for cell growth and formation of new tissue. Restoring the balance in the wound environment can transform a non-healing wound to a wound that heals naturally.

(Cytomedix).

Essentially, this company has produced a gel that can be placed in wounds to enhance the natural healing processes of the body, increasing the cascade of functions that take place in any wound in order to make healing occur both faster and more safely than it otherwise would.