Stem cell therapy does not always produce the expected effect in all patients. The reasons for this can be varied and depend on many factors. Below are the main reasons that are worth paying attention to:
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1. Individual characteristics of the body
• Immune response: Even when using your own (autologous) stem cells, an immune response is possible, especially if the cells have been modified or altered during the cultivation process.
• Age and health: With age, the number and quality of stem cells decreases, which can reduce the effectiveness of therapy.
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2. Quality and origin of cells
• Method of collection: The methods of extracting stem cells (for example, from bone marrow) can affect their viability and functionality.
• Modifications and cultivation: The processes of culturing and modifying cells can lead to changes that reduce their therapeutic potential. ________________________________________
3. Unproven methods and clinics
• Lack of scientific validity: Some clinics offer stem cell therapy without a sufficient understanding of how stem cells work, which can lead to ineffectiveness or even harm to the patient.
• Side effects: Using unproven methods can cause serious complications, including infections and other adverse reactions.
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4. Limitations in understanding the mechanisms of action
• Insufficient study: The mechanisms of action of stem cells in the body are not fully understood, which makes it difficult to predict their behavior after administration.
• Difficulties in integration: The introduction of stem cells does not always lead to their successful integration into damaged tissues or organs.
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5. Patient behavior and lifestyle
• Bad habits: Smoking and drinking alcohol can reduce the effectiveness of stem cell therapy.
• Failure to comply with recommendations: Violation of doctor’s instructions and the regimen after the procedure can negatively affect the treatment outcome.
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Recommendations for patients
• Contact trusted medical institutions: Choose clinics with a good reputation and licenses to conduct stem therapy.
• Study the information: Before starting treatment, read the scientific research and clinical trials confirming the effectiveness of the method.
• Follow the recommendations of doctors: Carefully follow all instructions of the medical staff before, during and after the procedure.
• Lead a healthy lifestyle: Giving up bad habits and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can increase the chances of successful treatment.
We often come across cases of patients who have undergone stem therapy more than once, and each time without any improvement. We will try to explain to you the obvious reasons, confirmed by the biological aspects of the interaction of stem cells with damaged cells.
REASON 1
INTRODUCTION OF AUTOLOGOUS (OWN) CELLS IN AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES, AT THE AGE OF 45+, WITH A COMPLEX MEDICAL HISTORY.
Autologous stem cell therapy (using the patient’s own cells) is generally considered safe and effective. However, in some cases it may not give the expected result. The main reasons why this may happen are listed below:
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Poor quality or quantity of collected cells
If the collection process (apheresis) does not yield an insufficient number of viable stem cells, this may lead to an unsuccessful transplant. Factors affecting the quality of the cellular material include:
• Previous intensive treatment (e.g. chemotherapy) that can damage the stem cells.
• The presence of pathologies (genetic, chronic, immune)
• The age and general health of the patient.
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Concomitant diseases and general condition of the patient
Chronic diseases such as diabetes, autoimmune disorders or infections can negatively affect the effectiveness of stem therapy. In addition, a general weakening of the body or immune system can prevent the successful engraftment and functioning of the injected cells.
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Insufficient effectiveness in certain diseases
Autologous stem therapy may not be effective in treating certain diseases, especially if they are at a late or chronic stage and have an aggressive, degenerative course. All information about diseases throughout life is stored in the signal memory of our cells, therefore, with the most effective cell cultivation, your new stem cells are still carriers of all the breakdowns that you have had throughout your life, and this significantly reduces the level of regeneration.
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REASON 2
USE OF GENERAL THERAPEUTIC BROAD-SPECTRUM STEM CELLS FOR DISEASES OF INDIVIDUAL SYSTEMS AND ORGANS
The use of narrowly differentiated stem cells in therapy is often more successful than the use of pluripotent or totipotent cells. This is due to a number of advantages that provide more predictable and safer treatment results.
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Advantages of narrowly differentiated stem cells
1. Pinpoint targeting
Narrowly differentiated cells are capable of turning into only certain cell types. For example, unipotent cells can differentiate into only one cell type, which reduces the risk of unwanted tissue or tumor formation. This makes them especially useful when there is a need to replace specific cells or tissues.
2. Reducing the risk of tumor formation
Narrowly differentiated cells have a limited differentiation potential, which reduces the risk of uncontrolled growth and tumor formation.
3. Better understanding and control
Due to their limited ability to differentiate, narrowly differentiated cells are easier to control in the laboratory and also reduce the likelihood of unpredictable reactions after introduction into the body.
4. Less immune response
The use of narrowly differentiated cells reduces the risk of immune rejection, since such cells are recognized by the body as “its own”. This is especially important in transplants and the treatment of chronic diseases.
5. Precise targeting of the lesion
Often, narrowly differentiated cells are supplemented with vesicles-conductors (these can be exosomes, liposomes), which accompany the stem cell to the site of damage. And the patient can be sure that the therapy is aimed specifically at solving the problem, and the stem cells will not go to other organs or systems.
If the patient has several problems that he wants to solve, then the therapy is selected individually, taking into account the patient’s entire medical history, test results, diagnostics – which makes it possible to create a personalized treatment program and obtain results in all areas.
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The use of narrowly differentiated stem cells in therapy provides more predictable, safe and effective results. Their limited differentiation potential reduces the risks associated with tumor formation and immune rejection. This makes them the preferred choice for many clinical applications in modern regenerative medicine
REASON 3
NON-TARGET USE OF STEM CELLS
Very often, when treating neurodegenerative diseases, toxic conditions after chemicals, strokes, spinal cord and brain injuries, etc., they use stem cells that cannot physically pass the BBB and get into the affected areas of the brain or spinal cord. Even sometimes, the introduction of cells endolumbarly does not provide confidence in passing this barrier. The BBB (blood-brain barrier) is a very selective barrier between blood vessels and brain tissue. It protects the brain from toxins, microbes, and large molecules, allowing only the necessary substances (e.g., glucose, oxygen, some amino acids, etc.) to pass through.
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Why a stem cell cannot pass through the BBB:
• Size: A stem cell is a large living cell (usually 10–20 microns in diameter), and it is too large to pass through the tight junctions between the endothelial cells of the BBB.
• Integrity of the BBB: Under normal conditions, the barrier does not allow intact cells to pass through. Only in pathologies (e.g., inflammation, brain injury, stroke) can it temporarily “leak”, and then some cells (including stem cells) can penetrate the brain.
• Transport mechanism: A stem cell does not have an active mechanism for penetrating the BBB. It cannot “leak” through tight junctions or use transcytosis, as some molecules do, for example.
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Why do we use organelles + vesicles-conductors to get into the BBB:
• It is important to clarify: organelles by themselves also do not pass the BBB under normal conditions. However, in combination with vesicles (for example, exosomes), they can pass:
o These vesicles are about 30-200 nm in size, which is hundreds of times smaller than a cell.
o Also, artificially grown organelles or their carriers, so that they can pass through the BBB, for example, are introduced into liposomes or use carrier peptides.
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Conclusion:
• The stem cell is too large and does not have a mechanism that allows it to pass through the BBB.
• Organelles do not pass directly either, but can be transported inside small vesicles that pass the BBB.
When choosing the type of stem cells, the doctor must always take into account the individual complete medical history of the patient in order to offer him exactly the therapy that can give him the greatest improvement in his current situation.