Stem cell Injection therapy continues to show positive results in treating arthritis-related symptoms, though regenerative medicine isn’t a main stream treatment yet.

In this week’s blog, we explain why stem cell and PRP injections are the present and the future when it comes to treating arthritis symptoms.

MAKING THE CASE FOR STEM CELL INJECTION THERAPY

The articular cartilage that lines the heads of moving joints lacks blood vessels or nerves, slowing down the body’s repair process after acute injuries or chronic inflammation. Cartilage tissue has low cell content, with chondrocytes (cells that secrete the matrix of a cartilage and become embedded in it) making up 5% of the tissue.

Stem cells create chondrocyteswhich in turn create cartilage. So, it’s no surprise scientists are researching methods to differentiate stem cells into patient-derived chondrocytes for transplanting.

MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS – AKA THE SHAPE-SHIFTER CELL

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are full of anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties. They inhibit inflammation, stimulate blood vessel formation, repair tissue, and create cartilage. MSCs can turn into many different cell types including bone, fat, muscle, cartilage, bone marrow, and tendon.

Transplanted MSCs don’t cause extensive graft rejection, and are easily collected from bone marrow, fat, and umbilical cords.

Researchers have learned to harvest and expand MSCs in a laboratory, and how to stimulate them so they can differentiate to chondrocytes. Researchers have also found a way to engineer a layer of cartilage by cultivating MSCs on a three-dimensional scaffold used to replace damaged tissue. Studies transplanting MSC-derived chondrocytes into animals with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis have shown positive results.

MSCs are successfully being tested as anti-inflammatories that help regenerate cartilage in inflamed joints. By loading MSCs with inflammation-impeding genes, they are being packaged as “extra strength” anti-inflammatories.

CHEWING THE FAT (DERIVED STEM CELLS)

Adipose derived (fat) stem cells can make fat cells, bone, cartilage, and muscle cells, acting as a catalyst in forming blood vessels. They are obtained through minimal liposuction techniques, then put through various purification steps.

When injected into animals with osteoarthritis during preclinical trials, a dose of fat stem cells offset the inflammation responsible for cartilage damage and degradation to ligaments holding joints together. Human clinical trials for human joints with osteoarthritis are currently underway.

RegenerVate is no stranger when it comes to treating patients with our tried and true regenerative medicine and injection therapy. Our non-invasive PRP and stem cell injections have proven success as arthritis treatments, and in treating tears, tweaks, and sprains.

If you think regenerative medicine and stem cell injection therapy could alleviate your chronic pain, call us at 1-855-712-9901 to schedule an appointment, or drop by one of our RegenerVate locations today!