Stem cells: a comprehensive review of origins and emerging clinical roles in medical practice.

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Stem cells are types of cells that have unique ability to self-renew and to differentiate into more than one cell lineage. They are considered building blocks of tissues and organs. Over recent decades, they have been studied and utilized for repair and regenerative medicine. One way to classify these cells is based on their differentiation capacity. Totipotent stem cells can give rise to any cell of an embryo but also to extra-embryonic tissue as well. Pluripotent stem cells are limited to any of the three embryonic germ layers; however, they cannot differentiate into extra-embryonic tissue. Multipotent stem cells can only differentiate into one germ line tissue. Oligopotent and unipotent stem cells are seen in adult organ tissues that have committed to a cell lineage. Another way to differentiate these cells is based on their origins. Stem cells can be extracted from different sources, including bone marrow, amniotic cells, adipose tissue, umbilical cord, and placental tissue. Stem cells began their role in modern regenerative medicine in the 1950's with the first bone marrow transplantation occurring in 1956. Stem cell therapies are at present indicated for a range of clinical conditions beyond traditional origins to treat genetic blood diseases and have seen substantial success. In this regard, emerging use for stem cells is their potential to treat pain states and neurodeg

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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