Stem Cells And Cell Therapy: A Sober View

Abstract

Stem cells and cell therapy are one of the most widely discussed topics in the medical and biological literature. It is supposed to differentiate exogenous SC into various cell lineages and to replace senescent, dysfunctional, and damaged cells. However, in vitro differentiation with the expression of certain markers does not prove replacement of functioning cells in vivo. The application of cell therapies in cardiovascular, hepatic, neurodegenerative diseases, osteoarthritis, and diabetes mellitus is discussed in this article. Some publications exaggerate the successes of cell therapies without giving due consideration to potential adverse effects. In recent years, there has been a global increase in the number of clinics offering stem cell treatment with unproven efficiency. In conclusion, therapeutic methods with unproven efficacy and potential adverse effects should be applied within the framework of high-quality scientific research programs that are free of conflicts of interest.Key words: stem cells; cell therapy; cardiovascular diseases; osteoarthritis; liver cirrhosis; diabetes mellitus; central nervous system.