Every day, people ask R3 Stem Cell if the regenerative biologics being used in treatment come from aborted fetuses (ABSOLUTELY NOT). As a world leader in stem cell therapies with over a decade of experience in offering safe and effective treatment, it is very important for R3 to educate prospective patients and their families on where the biologics are obtained. So here’s the skinny on the cells.
First of all, R3 Stem Cell has never used aborted fetuses for any of the treatment biologics. There are several reasons for this:
- It’s an ethical issue. However one feels about using aborted fetuses for either stem cell research or treatment, no one can deny it’s a polarizing discussion.
- Fetal stemcells may not be safe. I’ll discuss this below.
While R3 Stem Cell has never used aborted fetal tissue for treatment, there are International stem cell clinics that do include it in their protocols. Why??? Allow me to explain.
Stem cells are not all the same. There are actually 2 broad categories to mention that pertain here which are:
- Embryonic stem cells – these stem cells are unique in that they can turn into ANY cell type in the human body. There are only a few ways to obtain them which are:
- Aborted fetus.
- Unused embryo from In Vitro Fertilization.
- Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.
- Adult stem cells – all other types of stem cells fall into this category, even stem cells that come from a “fetal” type of source.
- Autologous Bone Marrow.
- Autologous Adipose Tissue
- Post Natal Tissue
- Amniotic Fluid
- Umbilical cord tissue and/or blood
- Placenta
3. Stem cells from menstrual blood (yes it’s a thing)
So even with the term “Adult Stem Cell”, the cells do not all come from an adult source. So that’s confusing. Adult Stem Cells do not have the capability that pluripotent stem cells do. This means they cannot turn into any cell type, but have limitations and are called “multipotent”. While this is a limitation, adult stem cells are still able to turn into several useful cell types.
What is the difference between embryonic and adult stem cells scientifically?
The difference is dramatic. Embryonic stem cells are called Pluripotent, meaning they are able to turn into any type of cell in the human body, said Dr. David Greene R3 Stem Cell CEO. Meaning if there is a problem in any organ system, central nervous system, joint, etc, then in theory embryonic stem cells can help. There are no limitations to tissues that can be created.
So why aren’t embryonic stem cells used routinely? Even if embryonic stem cells had no polarizing ethical issue to discuss, safety is a huge concern for two reasons.
The first reason is due to compatibility. Unfortunately, embryonic stem cells evoke a significant immune response in humans. This is termed “rejection”. And it’s not a delayed reaction either. It occurs very quickly and may lead to a fatal response, added Dr. David Greene Arizona. While it may be avoided with immunosuppressant medications, it’s a problem as who wants to take those medications forever?
The second reason embryonic stem cells may be unsafe is due to their love of replication. To a point, having stem cells undergo mitosis and duplicate is beneficial for patients. More stem cells are better up to a point.
However, when embryonic stem cells replicate repeatedly and there is no “off switch”, then this is a potential problem as a tumor may occur. So the treatment may create an entirely new problem and make the patient worse!
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