As per the Study, stem cells extracted from adipose tissue (known as body fat) can help heal osteoporosis-related fractures seen in humans.
- Osteoporosis is a disease which makes bones weak and fragile.
About Stem Cells
- Meaning: They are unspecialized cells that can self-renew indefinitely and can also differentiate into more mature cells with specialized functions.
- In humans, they have been identified in inner cell mass of the early embryo; in some tissues of foetus, umbilical cord, placenta; and in several adult organs.
- Key Types: Pluripotent stem cells (embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells) and Nonembryonic/Somatic/Adult stem cells.
- Pluripotent stem cells: Ability to differentiate into all cells of the adult body.
- Embryonic Stem Cells (ESCs): Found in the embryo (3- 5 days post fertilization and prior to implantation) containing an inner cell mass capable of generating to all the specialized tissues of human body.
- Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs): Created through the introduction of embryonic genes into a somatic cell (For E.g. Skin Cell) causing it to revert back to a “stem cell like” state.
- Pluripotent stem cells: Ability to differentiate into all cells of the adult body.
- Adult Stem Cells (ASCs): Undifferentiated cells found in tissue or organ and can differentiate to yield the specialized cell types of that tissue or organ. Key Types Include: Neural Stem Cells; Skin Stem Cells, etc.
