The use of stem cells for tissue regeneration has generated great hope in various fields of medicine. Including disorders such as Osteoporosis.
Stem cell therapy for osteoporosis can potentially increase bone mineral density loss. By increasing the number of stem cells or restoring the function of resident stem cells that can proliferate and differentiate into bone-forming cells, thereby reducing susceptibility to fractures.
Generation of new tissue
Stem cells promote the generation of new bone tissue as well as new connective tissues. This regenerative system uses stem cells to rebuild and strengthen bones. Stem cell therapy may also help reverse the effects of osteoporosis.
Many people think of bone as rigid, solid, and structural, but in reality, bone is a highly dynamic and active organ. Endogenous stem cells constantly replace old bone with new bone. Stem cell therapy enhances this daily maintenance mechanism.
New bone created
Stem cells first produce cartilage and then create new bone. Introducing stem cells is a way to carry out osteoporosis therapies. Typically, doctors obtain these cells intravenously from bone marrow, adipose tissue, and umbilical cord blood tissue. Another way to do it is through drug or small molecule treatments that recruit endogenous stem cells to osteoporotic sites.
A group of researchers at the University of Toronto and the Ottawa Hospital suggest that the use of stem cell therapies could restore normal bone structure.
Osteoporosis is a debilitating disease that affects millions of people worldwide. For example, 10 million people in the United States are diagnosed with osteoporosis. Another 34 million have low bone mass. It is estimated that in Mexico there are more than 10 million people with this condition.
Bone resorption drugs, which have various side effects, are the current treatments for osteoporosis.
With age-related osteoporosis, the internal structure of the bone decreases, leaving the bone less dense, thinner, and losing its function. Studies demonstrate the causal effect between osteoporosis and low or defective stem cells.
The researchers reasoned that defective stem cells are responsible for osteoporosis. Transplantation of healthy stem cells should be able to prevent or treat osteoporosis. This is according to a senior scientist at the Ottawa Hospital and a professor at the University of Ottawa.
Engineered stem cells to treat osteoporosis
Doctors at the Virgen de la Arrixaca Hospital in Murcia have been world pioneers in carrying out an intervention with fucosylated mesenchymal bone marrow cells, “engineered” to treat a woman with osteoporosis.
Scientists have modified these stem cells with fucosylation. Adult tissues contain these stem cells.
Rejuvenate bone marrow stem cells
Bone marrow stem cells age with age, causing bones to become weaker and break or develop osteoporosis. A study has discovered a way to slow this decline.
A group of researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Aging and the CECAD Excellence Group for Aging Research at the University of Cologne (Germany). They have shown that this process could be due to reduced stem cell function caused by changes in their epigenome and appear to have found a way to reverse it.
Epigenetics could be behind aging since it is responsible for analyzing the changes that occur in genetic information and in chromosomes that cannot alter the sequence of the genes themselves, but which can interfere with their activity. To discover this, the researchers studied the epigenome of mesenchymal stem cells, i.e. those found in the bone marrow that generate cells such as cartilage, bone, or fat cells.
The experts were surprised by the results, which showed that the epigenome was rejuvenated, stem cell activity improved, and bone cell production increased. These results were published in the journal Nature. This could help maintain healthy and strong bones for longer.
Conclusion
In conclusion, researchers have shown that stem cell therapy increases bone strength, plasticity, and structure. This revolutionizes the current treatment of osteoporosis (antiresorptive and anabolic drugs), which has many side effects.
We commit to providing each patient with personalized service and the highest quality of care.
Contact us today to learn more about possible current and future treatments using stem cell therapy.
To learn more about stem cells, we invite you to view our article Stem Cells: What are Stem Cells?
