Stem Cells in Health and Disease

Stem cells are cells with the ability to differentiate into specific cell types. They also self-renew perpetually. Stem cells are of two kinds- embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent cells that can become any cell in the adult body, while adult stem cells give rise to similar cell types only. Stem cells have immense potential in tissue repair and regeneration. Stem cell therapy, which is also called regenerative medicine, promotes the repair response of dysfunctional, diseased or injured tissues. This is done using stem cells or their derivatives. Stem cells that are manipulated to specialize into specific cell types, like blood cells, nerve cells, heart muscle cells, etc. are then implanted into a person. Stem cell transplants may also be performed to replace cells damaged due to disease or chemotherapy. It can also be done as a strategy to enable the donor's immune system to fight cancers and other blood-related disorders, such as lymphoma, leukemia, neuroblastoma and multiple myeloma. This book covers in detail some existing theories and innovative concepts revolving around stem cell therapy. Some of the diverse topics covered herein address the role of stem cells in health and disease. As this field is emerging at a fast pace, this book will help the readers to better understand the advanced concepts of this field.