L5 - Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine

Question 1

What are stem cells?

Answer 1

Cells that can differentiate into many different cell types.
Capable of self renewal via cell division
provide new cells as an organism grows and can replace damaged cells
different types of stem cells include: induced pluripotent stem cells, adult and embryonic stem cells

Question 2

What are stem cell niches?

Answer 2

they are supportive microenvironments where tissue specific stem cells are maintained.

Question 3

What do stem cell niches do?

Answer 3

• Support extracellular matrix
• interact with environmental signals like hypoxia
• secreted soluble signalling factors and cytokines

Question 4

Describe stem cell based therapy for cancer?

Answer 4

chemo/radiotherapy kills cancerous cells, and transplantation of stem cells reconstitutes healthy cells.
effector immune cells from IPSC targeted for immunotherapy
production of anti-cancer vaccine