Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy: A Path to Recovery

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are cells with a fibroblast-like or spindle-shaped morphology, possessing multipotential characteristics and the ability for asymmetric self-renewal. These cells, approximately 5-20 microns in size, must express surface proteins such as CD73, CD90, and CD105, and should not express any hematopoietic proteins like CD34 or leukocytic proteins like CD45 and CD14.

At Immunotherapy Regenerative Medicine, we utilize a variety of mesenchymal stem cells sourced from different tissues to ensure effective and personalized treatments. These include stem cells derived from dental pulp, adipose tissue, apical papilla, placenta, Wharton’s jelly, endometrial tissue, umbilical cord, and bone marrow.

We take pride in the fact that our stem cells are ethically sourced and processed in our own COFEPRIS-certified laboratory (equivalent to the FDA), ensuring the highest standards of quality and safety for our patients.

This comprehensive approach allows us to offer advanced and effective therapies tailored to the specific needs of each patient, optimizing the outcomes of regenerative medicine treatments.

Wharton’s jelly is a gelatinous substance found in the umbilical cord, where the mother’s and baby’s tissues are separated. It’s abundant with mesenchymal stem cells. These cells are also known as universal donor cells because they interact with any type of tissue.

Other stem cells contain SVF (stromal vascular fraction) and are harvested from fat, bone marrow, and other tissues. Those types of stem cells are grouped with different cell types and require extracting. On the other hand, Wharton’s jelly-derived stem cells are already isolated and can be obtained in large quantities. 

To harvest Wharton’s jelly stem cells, specialists use pre-screened donors who donate their umbilical cord after a full-term pregnancy. The procedure for getting these stem cells is safe, non-invasive, and painless.

Mesenchymal stem cells are clinically useful due to their multipotential capacity. In the presence of an appropriate microenvironment rich in specific growth factors, these cells can differentiate into specialized cells of various tissues, including bone, tendons, heart, liver, lung, brain, muscle, and blood vessels.

Yes, research conducted between 2000 and 2010 has demonstrated that human mesenchymal stem cell transplants are non-tumorigenic, meaning they do not generate tumors or cancer. Since the inception of human transplants, there have never been any reports worldwide of these cells causing tumors or cancer.

No, mesenchymal stem cells are minimally immunogenic, meaning the risk of rejection is very low or nonexistent. This is because they secrete numerous proteins that modulate the recipient’s immune responses through various cellular mechanisms, making them tolerogenic.

Although transplanted cells administered systemically pass through the lungs first, it has been shown that many cells travel to other organs such as the liver, kidneys, heart, etc. In conditions where tissue damage is present, different factors are released that attract mesenchymal stem cells more strongly towards the damaged tissues. Through a process known as chemotaxis, mesenchymal stem cells migrate towards areas with a higher concentration gradient, involving the interaction between specific receptors or ligands, usually associated with damaged tissues.

Mesenchymal stem cells can be beneficial in a wide range of conditions. However, to maximize the benefits, it is crucial to personalize treatment protocols and consult with specialized medical personnel.

Yes, mesenchymal stem cells can delay aging by secreting proteins that are no longer produced in sufficient quantities by the body’s aging cells, and they help maintain cell numbers in balance. Additionally, they can transfer new mitochondria that improve biological processes, thereby enhancing the aesthetic appearance of patients. This strengthens and revitalizes cells, contributing to greater longevity and health.

No, mesenchymal stem cell therapy does not pose significant ethical issues, as it uses adult cells obtained from non-controversial tissues and does not involve the destruction of human embryos. Generally, waste tissues such as the umbilical cord, placenta, baby teeth, liposuction fat, menstrual blood, etc., are used.

We can readily provide internationally published scientific material in prestigious peer-reviewed journals related to any specific documented condition.

No. Graft-versus-host disease is caused by immune system cells called lymphocytes. In hematopoietic progenitor cell transplants, these are purified, but they usually carry about 0.01% lymphocytes, which are activated in the recipient’s secondary organs and recognize the recipient as foreign, attacking it. Research conducted since 2009 has shown that mesenchymal stem cells significantly reduce the incidence of graft-versus-host disease. This is because mesenchymal stem cells secrete tolerogenic factors that prevent the activation of lymphocytes responsible for graft-versus-host disease.

Mesenchymal stem cells are obtained from healthy tissues such as the umbilical cord, placenta, dental pulp, apical papilla, and endometrial tissue. Primary cultures of these cells are meticulously analyzed to detect the presence of viruses such as cytomegalovirus (CMV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis A, B, and C, and mycoplasma, ensuring their safety for clinical use.

Bone marrow is a primary lymphoid tissue where all blood cells are generated from a CD34+ hematopoietic stem cell, and it also houses bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, where their existence was first discovered. Both types of cells are used in different pathologies; for example, hematopoietic stem cells are transplanted in cases of leukemia, while mesenchymal stem cells are employed in regenerative medicine and can be co-transplanted to treat graft-versus-host disease.

There are three types of stem cell transplants: autologous, allogeneic, and xenogeneic. Currently, xenogeneic transplants are not performed in our country. The most performed type of transplant worldwide is the allogeneic stem cell transplant, with excellent results when high-quality cells are used and following good manufacturing practices.