Cell Based Vs Protein based Strategies For Promoting Tissue Regeneration

Question 1

Name the two current therapies attempting to achieve tissue regeneration?

Answer 1

Cell therapy

Protein Therapy

Question 2

How does ‘cell therapy’ aim to achieve regeneration?

Answer 2

Through induced pluripotent stem cells.
By De-differentiating fibroblasts, making pluripotent cells which can be introduced into the damaged tissue and replace damaged cells

Question 3

What are the problems facing cell therapy?

Answer 3

• Full control of these cells has not been achieved hence these cells induce teratomas
• Highly expensive, won’t be possible to cure all degenerative diseases
• Ethical concerns about using human cells for therapy

Question 4

How does ‘protein therapy’ aim to achieve regeneration?

Answer 4

The purpose is to drive the endogenous population of stem cells to the infarcted area, make them proliferate and differentiate to repopulate it

Question 5

In terms of regeneration after an MI, which stage has protein therapy managed to reach?

Answer 5

Protein therapy has been able to make stem cells differentiate into small cardiomyocytes, not fully functional fully differentiated cardiomyocytes with sarcomeres

Question 6

Do small cardiomyocytes contract sufficiently?

Answer 6

Nope

Question 7

What are the advantages of protein therapy?

Answer 7

• Cheaper and therefore more accessible

- Less ethical problems