1 of 1

Write now Article Tools

Stem cell research and the use of cord blood are topics that are as polarized as they have always been. The ability of placental blood stem cells to transform into other types of cells within the body screams of new hope for the treatment of many common diseases, including diabetes. How realistic is the suggestion that cord blood may present a possible cure for diabetes?

History:
Using stem cells was controversial even back in the mid 1800s when it was first discovered that some body cells had the ability to produce other cells. Cord blood is that blood which remains in the placenta and umbilical cord following birth. Stem cell research as it pertains to embryos explodes the core of certain religious ideologies. There have been, however, new scientific breakthroughs that are forcing the resolution of this very heated issue.

The Facts:
South Korean researchers at Seoul National University headed by Professor Kang Kyung-sun, have successfully grown pancreatic beta cells, which are capable of secreting insulin. Scientists are trying to determine whether stem cells can thrive in insulin-producing cells and JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) is researching whether or not the transplantation of cord blood cells can slow or halt the progression of type one diabetes.

Considerations:
Cord blood from a child with genetic defects may carry the same genetic mutations in its stem cell population. This technology is a dynamic field, but it cannot be a panacea for the treatment of those diseases that plague our society. Research is provocative and hopeful, but still years away from offering standardized treatments. That does not mean there isn't reason to hope that one day these diseases may well be a memory, for there is more and more progress made with every day that passes.

Significance:
Cord blood stem cells are important in the transplantation process because they are less prone to rejection than other cells. Scientific breakthroughs in cord blood stem cell research even in these initial stages are capable of speeding up the development of treatments for many diseases, including diabetes. Those conducting research avoid the controversies associated with the use of embryonic stem cells.

Potential
Stem cell research is fast becoming a valuable branch of therapeutic medicine. Due to the availability of cord blood and the fact that it was once a discarded material, umbilical cord blood (UCB) presents a life-saving source of stem cells. A properly funded national stem cell depository would make it possible for cord blood infusions to become part of a standard treatment plan for kids with type one diabetes.

In the last few decades, the scientific community has recognized the potential of adult and embryonic stem cells to regenerate new organ tissues and to treat diseases ranging from type one diabetes to Parkinson's disease to spinal cord injuries. The future looks bright and the pathway clear. That light at the end of that tunnel is in sight, but still blocked by societal and political obstacles.

Learn more about this author, M Dee Dubroff.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Can cord blood cure diabetes??
We want to hear your view. Write now!