What Types of Stem Cells Are Right for the Therapy

Stem cells are the remarkable building blocks of life, with the unique ability to develop into various types of cells within the body. 

What Are Stem Cells?

When a baby is just starting to grow inside the womb, there’s a tiny ball of cells called a blastocyst. The inner cells of a blastocyst are stem cells that can turn into any part of the body: the heart, brain, skin, etc. Practically, they’re responsible for building the whole baby from scratch. 

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Some types of stem cells remain inside our bodies throughout our lives. They are present in various tissues, such as the brain, bone marrow, blood vessels, muscles, skin, and liver, and have the potential to grow into any of the body’s more than 200 cell types. However, they remain in a non-specific state until the body needs them for a certain purpose.

With their distinct regenerative powers, they provide hope for treating a wide range of diseases and health conditions. That’s why the therapeutic potential of stem cells has been the focus of much scientific research. Let’s compare the different types of stem cells.

So How Many Varieties of Stem Cells Are There?

What are the different types of stem cells? There are three main types of stem cells often mentioned in the context of stem cell therapy: embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells, and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). The main difference between them lies in their origin, potency—the ability to change into different cell types, and potential applications in research and medicine. 

How many cell types can stem cells develop into? That question categorizes stem cells into totipotent (can become any cell), pluripotent (can become many types of cells), multipotent (can become several types of cells), oligopotent (can become a few types of cells), and unipotent (can become only one type of cell).

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Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are totipotent and pluripotent cells. These are the most versatile and powerful stem cells, capable of differentiating into any cell type required for the development of a complete organism. They are present only in the earliest stages of embryonic development, laying the foundation for the entire organism’s formation.

Adult stem cells are mostly uni-, oligo- or multipotent stem cells. These cells are limited to developing into a certain range of cells, typically within a specific lineage. For example, skin stem cells can only produce different cell types of the skin, but not blood or nerve cells. Examples include mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which are found in many types of tissues, including fat tissue, bone marrow, intestine, placenta, and umbilical cord. 

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Dr. Aleksandra Fetyukhina, MD

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Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). In 2012, Shinya Yamanaka received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering that mature skin cells can be transformed into pluripotent stem cells, called iPSCs. These are mature body cells that have been reprogrammed to exhibit pluripotent capabilities, similar to embryonic stem cells. They are generated from the patient’s own cells and can self-renew and differentiate into any cell type in the body.

While iPSCs showcase promise for regenerative medicine, at Swiss Medica we do not use them, since they are not yet part of clinical practice. For now, there is ongoing research utilizing iPSCs for 3D organ modeling and disease studies. 

Which Stem Cells Are Used in Stem Cell Therapy?

How many types of stem cells are there available for use in regenerative medicine? According to a report at Science Direct, many businesses in the US market stem cell therapies giving confusing descriptions of their products. 

These raise worries about whether people fully understand what they are agreeing to, whether vulnerable people are being put in danger, and whether the treatments being sold are safe and effective. 

Here, we will try to clear up this stem cell mess.

Adult Stem Cells vs. Embryonic Stem Cells—Which Ones Work the Best?

As we have mentioned, totipotent embryonic stem cells (ESCs) have the potential to develop into any cell type in the body, making them a promising area of research for treating various diseases.
Then why do trusted medical institutions avoid using them in treatments?  

There are several serious disadvantages associated with the use of embryonic stem cells, both ethical and practical.

Ethical Concerns

Firstly, the use of ESCs involves the destruction of blastocysts (structures formed in the early development of the baby), which are formed from laboratory-fertilized embryos. For many, this is a significant ethical concern, especially those who believe that life begins at conception.

Tumor Formation

Since ESCs can differentiate into any type of cell in the body when injected into adult tissues, they can grow irregularly or specialize in different cell types spontaneously if they are exposed to unfavorable conditions.   

Genetic Instability

Research has shown that embryonic stem cells, obtained from artificially created embryos, can exhibit genetic abnormalities. They pose challenges in ensuring the long-term safety and success of treatments involving embryonic stem cells.

At Swiss Medica, we prioritize the safety of our patients above all else. To avoid any potential negative effects linked to embryonic stem cells, we exclusively utilize:

• Adult multipotent MSCs from a donor or a patient
• Secretome and exosomes from these cells.

Donor vs. Patient’s Stem Cells: How Do We Choose the Right Therapy?

Two main types of stem cells are used in therapy: 

• Autologous stem cell transplants—they come from the patient’s own body.

• Allogeneic stem cell transplants—they come from a donor, either related or unrelated.    

Some patients believe that the body may reject donor types of stem cells and that family members can provide bone marrow more suitable for them. However, this is not always the case. Sometimes patients have better odds of matching with someone who is unrelated and shares their ethnic background.

When choosing the right therapy at Swiss Medica and answering the question: “what are the types of stem cells best to use”, we consider various factors, including the type of condition being treated, the patient’s circumstances, i.e. the age of the patient, the availability of a suitable donor, and susceptibility to immune effects.

Interested to know how many different types of stem cells are there at Swiss Medica? Explore the full catalog of stem cells we utilize following this link. 

Autologous Stem Cell Transplants:

Advantages: 

• No risk of rejection since the stem cells come from the patient, ensuring full HLA compatibility. For some types of stem cells, like Mesenchymal Stem Cells, full HLA matching is less critical due to their ability to suppress immune responses.
• No risk of infection diseases from donor
• A very wide range of cells can be used, including both stem and differentiated ones

Disadvantages: 

• It takes around 3–4 weeks to prepare a cell product, although the patient doesn’t have to be at the clinic during this period.
• Depending on age, health and genetic factors, one’s own cells may be less “healthy” and efficient
• Relapse rates in some cases can be higher compared to allogeneic transplants.

When do we use them: for injections delivered directly into the space around the spinal cord and brain, because using donor cells in this case is riskier. When it comes to injections into a joint, we also strive to use a patient’s own cells. When using differentiated cells, we will also always give preference to the patient’s own cells.

Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplants

Advantages:

• These types of stem cells are free of contaminating tumor cells.
• Lower risk of disease recurrence compared to autologous transplants.
• ​​The preparation time is typically shorter than for autologous stem cells because there is no need to collect, freeze, and store the cells before transplantation.
• Given the source, these cells are guaranteed to be younger and more active than your own cells.

Disadvantages:

• Possible temporary suppression of the immune system.
• If not thoroughly checked, they may contain infections from the donor.
• Not all types of stem cells from donors can be used.

When do we use them: We suggest using donor stem cell types and applications when therapy needs to begin right away or when using the patient’s own tissue isn’t possible due to specific reasons like anesthesia risks, bleeding concerns, or severe conditions.

In our practice, we often use a combination of our own and donor cells, as this allows us to use the advantages of both methods.

Why Do We Use Live Stem Cells, Not Thawed Ones

Live stem cells are cells that are freshly extracted or cultured. Thawed stem cells, on the other hand, are cells that have been previously frozen and then thawed for use immediately before the injection procedure. In such cases, the cells are often inactive or die soon after being introduced into the body.

​​Careful and rigorous cryopreservation, thawing, and preparation processes are crucial to ensure good viability and recovery of the thawed MSC product.

Having our laboratories eliminates the need for freezing different types of stem cells in many cases. Our technology involves monitoring cells after thawing, bringing them into an active state, assessing their viability and removing inactive cells. This enhances the quality and effectiveness of treatments offered in Swiss Medica.

On the other hand, we have the ability to freeze and store the patient’s own cells for multiple future uses, eliminating the need for a painful and complex cell collection procedure before each treatment.

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Depending on the therapeutic purposes, different types of stem cells can be used for different tasks. The doctor will recommend stem cell types and their uses that are likely to benefit your case and provide expert guidance and support throughout the process.

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Looking for treatment alternatives for your ailment but unsure if stem cell therapy is right for you? Leave your information, and we will schedule a free online consultation with our experts to help you understand stem cell therapy.

Dr. Aleksandra Fetyukhina, MD

Medical Advisor, Swiss Medica doctor

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