Over the past several months, a number of national news stories have reported scientific breakthroughs involving stem cells. It is clear from these stories that many ethical questions surround the collection and use of these cells. However, the purpose of this two-part article is to discuss basic facts regarding stem cells and stem-cell research?not the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by society regarding whether this type of research should proceed.



The Mother Cell

Where do stem cells come from? The answer is not as straightforward as it might seem, as researchers and scientists sometimes use the term "stem cell" to describe cells at several different developmental stages. Stem cells, in the most general sense, are the "mother" of all the cells in our bodies. The most basic kind of stem cell (totipotent) can divide to form new cells, and it has the potential to develop into any kind of cell—from one in your brain to one in your liver; a stem cell has no preference.

If neural stem cells could be generated in large numbers, they might be used to restore function to individuals with many types of neurological disorders. More information on the progress in neural stem-cell research will be in Part II of this article.

Researchers today are studying the capabilities of many different types of stem cells in treating medical conditions. Cells used for these studies are isolated from the blood and other parts of the adult body (in small numbers), bone marrow, developing tissue, and even cadavers. Although a great deal of stem-cell research is conducted in animal models, some is conducted on human tissue.



Stem-Cell Therapies

It will take time to determine what areas of stem-cell research are the most promising, and what disorders are the most likely to be treated with these cells. Part II will explore some of the recent advances in stem-cell research that are relevant to treating SCI/D.



Melinda Kelley, Ph.D., is Research & Education director at the Paralyzed Veterans of America National Office in Washington, D.C.

For the complete version of this article, contact PVA Publications at (888) 888-2201 (toll-free) / (602) 224-0500, and request the May 2000 PN/Paraplegia News.



For More Information

Read the article, "Stem Cells: A Primer," available free at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Web site, www.nih.gov, then go to: www.nih.gov/news/stemcell/primer.htm.?