The Past And Future of Osteoarthritis Treatment Using Stem Cells

One of the most common types of arthritis is osteoarthritis. This condition occurs when the cartilage amidst the bones wears out and the bones start to rub. Pain is one of the common symptoms of this condition, which is usually controlled with drugs and in case of acute pain surgical Osteoarthritis Treatment is the last resort. However, things have changed with advancements in science and technology and Stem Cell Therapy has emerged as a silver lining for millions of people who are fighting with such degenerative conditions. Researchers are testing every possibility of using mesenchymal stem cells for treating incurable ailments such as osteoarthritis.

Preference of mesenchymal cells

The reason why mesenchymal cells are preferred for such treatment is their multi-lineage ability and immunosuppressive features. Other advantages of using mesenchymal cells for Osteoarthritis Treatment include easy growth of such cells in culture and restricted immunogenicity. These characteristic of stem cells have made them the first choice for clinical use of Stem Cell Therapy. In a number of cases, mesenchymal cells are injected into the affected joint and majority of them have shown relief in symptoms within some weeks of getting the shots. Researchers are still working on finding out improved approaches of Stem Cell Therapy so that not only can they control the symptoms of diseases like osteoarthritis, but can also reverse the process that wears out the cartilage.

Problems with conventional treatment options

Traditional Osteoarthritis Treatment options have resulted into only meek benefits without any kind of reversal of either the symptoms or the condition itself. Stem Cell Therapy, on the other hand have shown positive results in tests done both on humans and animals. Researchers and health providers carries out consistent tests for evaluating the safety and feasibility of this kind of Osteoarthritis Treatment, so that they can acquire accurate efficacy report, based on which such therapies will be administered on patients suffering from osteoarthritis.

What kind of cells are suitable for Osteoarthritis Treatment

Even with surgical interventions and drug administration, restoration of normal functioning of the cartilage is yet not possible. As far as cartilage restoration is concerned, stromal cells derived from bone marrow, also called mesenchymal stromal stem cells are more suitable for therapeutic application, because of their potential of innate chondrogenic differentiation. Stromal cells from the bone marrow can be isolated easily using latest techniques and can be expanded in lab conditions even in their undifferentiated state, which makes them more preferable for therapeutic application. An additional benefit of using stromal cells from bone marrow is their ability of emitting bioactive soluble agents, which can protect against tissue destruction of the cartilage and aids in regenerating the residual progenitor cells.

Tested for efficacy

Mild Osteoarthritis Treatment generally involves physiotherapy and drugs for reducing inflammation as well as pain, but when it progresses added Osteoarthritis Treatment options are required including application of intra-articular drugs and administration of hyaluronic acid. The efficiency of such treatment options as compared to Stem Cell Therapy is not consistent. Doctors have been using cultivated autologous chondrocytes to regenerate the cartilage from over a decade now, and with each passing day, this kind of technology is developing to become even more efficient treatment of diseases.

Superiority of mesenchymal cells

Mesenchymal cells, which are used in Osteoarthritis Treatment, are mostly extracted from bone marrow, and later some are also derived from tissues like placenta, adipose tissues, cord blood, amnion, dental pulp, and umbilical cord. However, tests to check the capability of mesenchymal cells to turn into cartilage are still underway. Once these cells can be directed to form cartilage, they can replace the lost cells or cells that have been damaged due to aging or injury. Another reason why researchers prefer mesenchymal cells is that they can be expanded in huge scale, which can be later used for clinical purposes.

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