On-going research has found a special set of Adult Stem Cells (ASCs) that are programmed to move towards the digestive system and target the healing of the cell population there. This is promising news for people with Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD) as it indicates the potential for Stem Cell Treatment to alleviate the condition.
The study is being performed at the University of Nevada with colleagues from the Indiana University School of Medicine. Because drug therapies aren’t always successful in the treatment of IBD, the study aims to find a stem cell that could help the damaged tissue to heal.
About IBD
IBD is a term used to describe two conditions: Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s disease, both of which cause the intestines to become inflamed and develop ulcers, with blood vessels in the intestine leaking, making the inflammation worse.
Up to a million people in the USA suffer from IBD and there is currently no cure, although some drug therapies are used in varying success to reduce the swelling in the intestines. The Stem Cells that have been discovered, called endothelial cells and which are found in cord blood, bone marrow and human blood are instrumental in the building of blood vessels. If injected into patients with IBD, endothelial cells could help to improve the abnormal blood vessel structure present in individuals with IBD.
IBD & Stem Cells
We know that Stem Cells are able to respond to an ‘SOS’ compound sent out by damaged tissue. Case history has shown their effectiveness in treating lung disease (COPD), heart disease and neurodegenerative conditions. This study set to testing the specific targeting of tissue in the intestines.
Patients with IBD have blood vessels that don’t function properly and have lower levels of vessel- forming cells in their blood. Additionally, IBD sufferers develop immature vessels, which cause the inflammation. In increasing the number of endothelial cells in the blood, the development of healthy blood vessels should be promoted within the intestine, reducing inflammation.
The Future
So far the study has found that human endothelial stem cells can increase the cell population in a healthy sheep’s intestine. The next step is to see if they can fight to reproduce and create healthy blood vessels in the inflamed intestine of someone suffering from IBD.
At Stem Cell Mexico we are at the forefront of research and cutting edge treatment. We already offer a range of successful treatments for conditions such as COPD, Heart Disease, Alzheimer’s, and Kidney damage, to name but a few.
If you would like to learn more about the conditions that we can treat or find out how Stem Cell Treatment can help your condition, contact us now for a prompt response.