What Are the Benefits of Stem Cell Banking, How Reliable Is It Today, What Are the Precautions, and Who Should Consider It?
What Are the Benefits of Stem Cell Banking, How Reliable Is It Today, What Are the Precautions, and Who Should Consider It?
Stem Cells Stem cells are regenerative cells that can self-renew and differentiate into various specialized cell types in the body, such as skin cells, brain cells, heart cells, muscle cells, and blood cells. They help replace damaged or degenerating cells.
Benefits of stem cells Currently, stem cells are widely used in medical treatments across different age groups. Their primary role is to regenerate or repair damaged tissues and organs. For example, stem cell therapy may be used in patients with diabetes to help reduce insulin requirements, injected into joints to improve knee and hip osteoarthritis, applied in patients with immune-related conditions such as SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus), used to support recovery in diabetic kidney disease, treated in certain blood cancers such as leukemia, and applied in organ injury repair.
The advantage of stem cell banking is that stored stem cells may be used for the treatment of various diseases. They can be categorized as follows:
Cord Blood Stem Cells (Hematopoietic Stem Cells – HSCs) is used to treat blood-related disorders and other hematologic conditions, including all types of blood cancers, bone marrow disorders, abnormalities in red blood cell production, leukemia, anemia, and thalassemia.
Cord Tissue Stem Cells (Mesenchymal Stem Cells – MSCs) is primarily used in degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, muscular disorders, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, age-related functional decline, and musculoskeletal conditions. They are also applied in aesthetic and anti-aging treatments. An advantage of this type of stem cell is its potential use for other family members.
Adipose Tissue-Derived Stem Cells (Mesenchymal Stem Cells – MSCs) is used in the treatment of degenerative and autoimmune diseases, orthopedic conditions, and aesthetic or anti-aging procedures. A key advantage is that they can be collected at any time; however, they are intended for autologous use only (by the individual donor, not others).
Precautions to consider with stem cell transplantation include graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), which often occurs with allogeneic transplants. This involves the transplanted cells destroying the patient's own cells, leading to a decrease in blood cell count and potentially anemia, excessive bleeding, bruising, and an increased risk of infection.
At MEDEZE Group, stem cell banking is conducted with a strong commitment to long-term service and quality assurance. Our cryopreservation process differs from other stem cell banks because MEDEZE performs immediate stem cell isolation and evaluates both cell quantity and quality at the time of storage. In addition, the quality of stored stem cells is guaranteed for up to 30 years.
The MEDEZE laboratory operates under Clean Room Class 100 standards for tissue culture. This sterile environment is temperature-controlled and equipped with an advanced air management system to ensure optimal conditions for cell processing and storage.
For stem cell isolation, MEDEZE uses the automated AXP stem cell processing system. This closed-system technology minimizes human error and reduces contamination risk compared to manual processing methods. It also preserves cell integrity more effectively, achieving a cell recovery rate of over 95%, significantly higher than manual processing methods, which range from 64–76%. World-class laboratories, including major institutions such as The New York Blood Center in the United States, utilize the AXP system. After cell isolation, stem cells undergo comprehensive quality testing, including contamination screening in accordance with AABB standards. For mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), chromosome analysis (Chromosome Study) is also included as part of the quality control process. Furthermore, MEDEZE guarantees cell quantity before storage. Mesenchymal stem cells are expanded (cultured) before cryopreservation to ensure sufficient cell numbers for potential future therapeutic applications.
MEDEZE is led by a team of experienced professionals, founded by Dr. Veerapol along with medical experts in stem cell and tissue banking. With over 11 years of experience in this field, they are prepared to offer guidance on the storage process as well as the practical benefits of using the tissue.
Who can benefit from stem cell banking?
Stem cell banking is available at any age. The sooner you bank your stem cells, the better you can preserve them for future use. However, with MEDEZE's advanced technology, individuals who missed the opportunity to bank their personal stem cells at birth, specifically the youngest stem cells, can still bank stem cells from fat right away. Therefore, we shouldn't miss this important opportunity.
References
1) Mayani H. Biological differences between neonatal and adult human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Stem cells and development. 2010 Mar 1;19(3):285-98.
2) Hayani A, Lampeter E, Viswanatha D, Morgan D, Salvi SN. First report of autologous cord blood transplantation in the treatment of a child with leukemia. Pediatrics. 2007 Jan 1;119(1):e296-300.
3) Lee, J. S., Hong, J. M., Moon, G. J., Lee, P. H., Ahn, Y. H., & Bang, O. Y. (2010). A long‐term follow‐up study of intravenous autologous mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in patients with ischemic stroke. Stem cells, 28(6), 1099-1106.