Adult Stem Cell & Stem Cell Therapies

Question 1

Do stem cells exist in adult organisms?

Answer 1

Yes, adult stem cells exist in various tissues including bone marrow, intestine, and hair follicles.

Adult stem cells play a crucial role in the regeneration and repair of tissues.

Question 2

Which cells and/or tissues are constantly being replaced?

Answer 2

Blood lineages, including erythrocytes and white blood cells.

Erythrocytes are produced at a rate of approximately 2 million per second.

Question 3

What is the function of erythrocytes?

Answer 3

Transport oxygen.

Erythrocytes have a lifespan of about 120 days.

Question 4

What is the innate immune system?

Answer 4

A non-specific immune response that combats infection.

It includes cells like neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, and macrophages.

Question 5

What is the adaptive immune system?

Answer 5

A highly specific immune response that confers long-lasting immunity.

It evolved in jawed vertebrates and involves B and T cells.

Question 6

What is the lifespan of a neutrophil?

Answer 6

1-2 days.

Neutrophils are involved in the acute phase of inflammation.

Question 7

What is the function of T cells?

Answer 7

Destroy virally infected cells and tumor cells.

Memory T cells persist long-term and are antigen-specific.

Question 8

What are the two types of stem cells mentioned?

Answer 8

Adult stem cells and progenitor cells.

Adult stem cells have indefinite self-renewal and differentiation potential.

Question 9

How were hematopoietic stem cells first identified?

Answer 9

Through functional assays involving transplantation into lethally irradiated mice.

This method resulted in long-term repopulation of all blood lineages.

Question 10

What is aplastic anemia?

Answer 10

A decrease in blood counts.

It can be caused by radiation effects, leading to symptoms such as nausea and hair loss.

Question 11

What are the effects of radiation on humans?

Answer 11

Loss of hair, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

These effects are due to damage to rapidly dividing cells.

Question 12

What is the role of intestinal stem cells (ISCs)?

Answer 12

Regeneration of the intestinal epithelium.

ISCs are located in the crypts of the intestine.

Question 13

What is the significance of the CCR5 gene in HIV?

Answer 13

Mutations in CCR5 can provide resistance to HIV infection.

Scientists are exploring gene editing of CCR5 to treat HIV patients.

Question 14

What is limbal stem-cell therapy?

Answer 14

A treatment that uses adult stem cells to replenish the cornea.

It has been used in the long-term regeneration of corneal tissue.

Question 15

What disease is associated with mutations in extracellular matrix proteins?

Answer 15

Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa.

This disease affects the integrity of the skin and can be treated with stem cell therapies.

Question 16

What is the role of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)?

Answer 16

Provides support to overlying photoreceptors in the eye.

RPE is crucial for vision and is targeted in therapies for age-related macular degeneration.

Question 17

What diseases can be treated with neural stem cells?

Answer 17

Neurodegenerative diseases, retinal degeneration, and demyelination diseases.

Neural stem cells give rise to both neurons and glial cells.

Question 18

What is the function of oligodendrocytes?

Answer 18

To lay down myelin in the central nervous system.

Myelin increases the speed of neural transmissions.

Question 19

What breakthrough was achieved regarding Type 1 diabetes?

Answer 19

Human embryonic stem cells can be coaxed to produce insulin-producing beta-cells.

This can potentially lead to transplants for diabetes patients.

Question 20

What is the outcome of combining gene therapy with HSC transplantation?

Answer 20

It can cure diseases if treated early enough.

This approach has shown promise in conditions like metachromatic leukodystrophy.

Question 21

Who worked on frog embryos before shifting focus to mammalian pluripotent stem cells?

Answer 21

John Gurdon

Question 22

What special interest did John Gurdon have in stem cell research?

Answer 22

Finding ways to use stem cells to cure diabetes

Question 23

Where do adult stem cells exist in the body?

Answer 23

• Bone marrow (for blood)
• Intestine (bottom of the crypts)
• Hair follicles (bulge)

Question 24

What tissues are affected by radiation and chemotherapy?

Answer 24

Tissues that turn over quickly, such as blood, gut and hair

Question 25

What are the common side effects of radiation and chemotherapy?

Answer 25

• Decrease in blood counts
• Hair loss
• Nausea and vomiting

Question 26

What was the first successful stem cell therapy to reach the clinic?

Answer 26

Bone marrow transplants

Question 27

What recent progress has been made in stem cell therapy?

Answer 27

Developing therapies to treat various injuries and diseases, such as corneal injuries and retinal and glial degenerative diseases

Question 28

What types of stem cells are being used for developing therapies for injuries and diseases?

Answer 28

• Adult stem cells
• hiPS cells

Question 29

Fill in the blank: Adult stem cells exist in the _______.

Answer 29

[bone marrow, intestine, hair follicles]

Question 30

What is the role of stem cells?

Answer 30

Have an indefinite capacity to self-renew and are capable of differentiating into at least one cell type

Question 31

What are progenitor cells?

Answer 31

Retain some limited potential to proliferate and are capable of differentiating into at least one cell type