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Stem Cells
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Transplantation Donation

Stem Cells

Stem cells serve as the body's natural repair system, possessing the unique ability to develop into various specialized cell types.

Overview

Stem cells are cells with the potential to develop into many different types of cells in the body. They serve as a repair system for the body. There are two main types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells.

Unique Characteristics

Stem cells are different from other cells in the body in three ways:

  • They can divide and renew themselves over a long time.
  • They are unspecialized, so they cannot do specific functions in the body.
  • They have the potential to become specialized cells, such as muscle cells, blood cells, and brain cells.

Medical Research and Potential

Doctors and scientists are excited about stem cells because they could help in many different areas of health and medical research. Studying stem cells may help explain how serious conditions such as birth defects and cancer come about. Stem cells may one day be used to make cells and tissues for the therapy of many diseases, including:

  • Parkinson's disease
  • Alzheimer's disease
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Heart disease
  • Diabetes
  • Arthritis

Frequently Asked Questions

dult hematopoietic stem cells can be collected through two main methods: bone marrow aspiration, where cells are drawn directly from the hip bone under anesthesia, or peripheral blood stem cell collection, where medications are used to move stem cells from the marrow into the bloodstream, allowing them to be collected through a process similar to blood donation called apheresis.
While stem cell research is promising for these conditions, most treatments for Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, and spinal cord injuries are still in the clinical trial phase and are not yet standard, approved medical therapies. Patients should be cautious of unproven clinics offering stem cell injections for these conditions, as the long-term safety and efficacy have not been fully established by major regulatory bodies like the FDA.
Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, meaning they can develop into almost any cell type in the body, making them highly valuable for research and potential future therapies for complex diseases. Adult stem cells, found in tissues like bone marrow or fat, are multipotent and can only differentiate into a limited range of cell types related to their tissue of origin, which is why they are currently used in established treatments like bone marrow transplants for blood disorders.
Yes, stem cell therapy is already used to treat certain genetic blood disorders, such as sickle cell disease and thalassemia, by replacing the patient's defective stem cells with healthy ones from a donor. This approach aims to correct the underlying genetic defect in the blood system, though it does not typically cure genetic issues in other organ systems like the brain or heart.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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