Cells are the body’s smallest living unit. Every cell has a life cycle that includes reproduction, growth, aging, and death… Stem cell technology is presently being recognized as a means to help replace old and dead cells, allowing the dream of rejuvenation oneself with elixir to be fulfilled in real life instead of only in fairy tales. Can Stem Cells turn old people into young people, help young people stay young forever, and if so, what are the drawbacks… all of these questions will be scientifically answered with Illume through 9 questions in the Science Q&A page on Health and Beauty with Doctor Pham Xuan Khiem (PhD), CEO of TMV EMCAS.
1. Question: What exactly are Stem Cells, Doctor?
Answer: Cells are the smallest living unit in the human body. Each cell has a life cycle that includes reproduction, growth, aging, and death… Red blood cells, for example, have a lifespan of 120 days, whereas skin has a lifespan of 20 to 28 days. When cells age and die, immediately, in each tissue or organ area (which is a large collection of cells) of the body, there will be another type of cell that reproduces to compensate for the number of cells that have been lost. Those are stem cells.
2. Question: So, what is the primary function of stem cells?
Answer: The primary tasks and functions of Stem Cells include:
Reproduction: There are two types of reproduction. Pluripotent stem cells are the type of stem cell that gives birth to a complete organism (for example, a baby). The second type is a monoclonal stem cell, which produces an organ (such as skin, heart, lung, kidney, etc.).
Restore: This function is believed to play a role in the restoration of damaged or weakened cells in the body’s organs. For example, in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), stem cells are in charge of enhancing oxygen binding to red blood cells, forcing the bronchioles to contract and push the residual gas out. In the case of diabetes, stem cells are responsible for boosting insulin production in the pancreas, while decreasing insulin resistance in target tissues.
Furthermore, stem cells have a third function: they can assist restore tissues or organs that have been damaged by illnesses or injuries. For example, after a spinal cord injury or an injury that causes a loss of smell, stem cells are responsible for restoring nerve cell motor function as well as restoring olfactory cells so that the patient can smell.
3. Question: So, where do stem cells exist in the human body?
Answer: Stem cells can be found in all tissues and organs, including skin, adipose tissue, bone marrow, blood, and even heart muscle tissue and nerve tissue.
4. Question: Is it difficult to distinguish stem cells from normal cells, and if so, how can we tell which are normal cells and which are stem cells?
Answer: Of course, the naked eye cannot see it; it can only be recognized in research rooms or hospitals, as well as specialized and functional beauty salons. In fact, in cell extraction technology, this is not difficult. Many Markers on the surface of stem cells are receptors that enable stem cells to perform the three functions mentioned above.
These Markers will be detected by the cell extraction laser equipment (FACS machine).
And, based on the intended purpose, we select the type of stem cell with the appropriate Marker. For example, if we wish to cure an illness, we choose a Marker with a repair function. This, like a damaged house, need the hiring of repair and building workers.
5. Question: Is it possible to store and preserve stem cells under normal living conditions?
Answer: Stem cell storage must meet the following criteria:
+ proper environment
+ proper temperature
+ and remaining cells in a dormant state
Note that each location’s storage environment has its own secret technique. The temperature at which stem cells should be stored is -80°C if they are to be stored for six months and -196°C if they are to be stored for five to ten years.
6. Question: Does this mean that not every beauty salon can perform this “Rejuvenation oneself” technique on its customers or patients?
Answer: Yes, it is correct. To function properly, stem cells require a specialized environment.
If you want a stem cell retrieved from the reserve medium to be effective in reproducing, repairing or regenerating, you must replicate the environment of that damaged organ or pathological organ similar to the prior appropriate environment in which the stem cells lived to be effective.
During IVF, eggs are extracted from the woman. Sperm from a man – the zygote is made up of an egg and sperm, which is then returned to the uterus, where the zygote grows into a complete fetus.
+ Similar to monoclonal stem cells in tissues in the body, they must be in the right place where they belong in order to function and be effective.
7. Question: Is there any difference in Stem Cell activity at different ages?
Answer: Stem cell activity decreases with the age of a person’s life as well as the age of each type of tissue in the body – To make it easy to understand, the activity of stem cells in the elderly will gradually decrease; in other words, stem cells in young people will be stronger than stem cells in the elderly. This means that do not wait until you are very old to use this method to prolong your youth.
Summary:
+ To recreate a younger environment
+ To be full of material – ready for when stem cells function to use that material for reproduction, repair, and recovery.
8. Question: Will the number of stem cells used for each person vary depending on their body?
Answer: It’s noteworthy to highlight that when stem cells are utilized to cure a damaged tissue, other organs also vie for the stem cells with the repair function.
Therefore, an adequate amount of Stem Cells is required for each kilogram of body weight. So far, researchers have discovered a method for delivering specialized stem cells to the target tissue to be treated. That is Peptides Technology.
And when concentrated in the target tissue, a technology is required to push these cells into each damaged cell => Exosome Technology.
9. Question: Currently, stem cells are marketed as an elixir that can help rejuvenate old people and help young people stay young forever. Is this the primary use of stem cell technology in life?
Answer: In fact, the most obvious form of stem cell application in medicine today is in vitro fertilization – IVF (invitro Fertilize), not just in Beauty, making people stay young forever!
Thank you and see you again Doctor, in the next publication number with the topic: THE DOWNSIDE OF USING STEM CELLS.
Ha Vo, Mac Ha