Age-old wisdom concerning cell-based therapies with added knowledge in the stem cell era: our perspectives

Abstract

Among the various strategies providing a cure for illness, cell-based therapies have caught the attention of the world with the advent of the “stem cell” era. Our inherent understanding indicates that stem cells have been in existence since the birth of multicellular organisms. However, the formal discovery of stem cells in the last century, followed by their intricate and extensive analysis, has led to clinical and translational efforts with the aim of using them in the treatment of conditions which don’t have a definitive therapeutic strategy, has fueled our interest and expectations. Technological advances in our ability to study their cellular components in depth, along with surface markers and other finer constituents, that were unknown until last century, have improved our understanding, leading to several novel applications. This has created a need to establish guidelines, and in that process, there are expressed understandings and views which describe cell therapy along lines similar to that of biologic products, drugs, and devices. However, the age-old wisdom of using cells as tools for curing illness should not be misled by recent knowledge, to make cell therapy using highly complex stem cells equal to factory-synthesized and reproducible chemical compounds, drugs, or devices. This article analyses the differences between these two entities from various perspectives.

<p>Informatics Approaches for Harmonized Intelligent Integration of Stem Cell Research</p>

“…40 Because of the success of these treatments as well as the theoretically limitless growth potential of stem cells, stem cells have become the new frontier for the treatment of a variety of chronic conditions. 41,42 For example, stem cells are now being investigated for their potential to treat degenerative diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, 43 Parkinson's disease 44 or myocardial ischemia. 45 Despite the fact that many theoretical models for these treatments have been developed, none have yet been translated into routine clinical care.…”