Stem Cell Cytokines and Growth Factors

Neural Stem Cells

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are multipotent cells which give rise to neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes of the central nervous system (CNS). Due to the limited regenerative capacity of the CNS, injuries or neurodegenerative diseases often lead to irreversible damage. Neural stem cell therapy (NSCT) is a form of regenerative medicine in which NSCs are utilized to repair or replace damaged neural tissue. NSC-based therapies are now standard therapeutics for several neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and stroke and spinal cord injuries. For these therapies, NSCs can be isolated from brain tissue and expanded ex vivo or induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be reprogrammed and differentiated into NSCs.

Hematopoietic Stem Cells

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are bone marrow-derived multipotent stem cells that give rise to all the blood cell types from the myeloid and lymphoid lineages including monocytes and macrophages, neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, erythrocytes, megakaryocytes/platelets, dendritic cells, T cells, B cells, and NK cells. The essential role of HSCs in development and maintenance of hematopoiesis has underscored their clinical application. Autologous delivery of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), to meet its full therapeutic benefit, is combined with gene modification of HSCs: patient’s own HSCs are collected, genetically modified ex vivo, and reinfused after preparative chemotherapy. Allogeneic HSCT has been clinically realized as treatment for immunodeficiency disorders, defective hematopoietic states, and hematologic malignancies. Both transplant types utilize stem cells collected from peripheral blood or umbilical cord. 

Mesenchymal Stem Cells 

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent, self-restorative stem cells derived from the mesoderm that can differentiate into a variety of cell types including osteoblasts, chondrocytes, myocytes, and adipocytes. MSCs can be isolated from a variety of tissues, and the multiple differentiation and immunomodulatory properties of MSCs underlie their use in clinical therapy and applications such as tissue engineering, wound healing/skin repair, and other conditions in which regenerated cells can improve or resolve disease. 

*RUO recombinant protein. Request your custom GMP protein. 

Pluripotent Stem Cells

Pluripotent stem cells include embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). ESCs possess the ability to both self-renew and differentiate into each of the three primary germ layers—ectoderm, mesoderm, or endoderm—giving rise to nearly every other cell type in the body. Due to the limited availability of human ESCs, researchers devised a method of generating pluripotent stem cells from adult somatic cells through genetic reprogramming. These cells are referred to as iPSCs and have provided researchers with an alternative to ESCs. iPSCs are now hailed as powerful tools to study disease etiology, advance drug screening, and serve as a renewable source of immune cells for immune cell-based therapies for cancer. Pluripotent stem cells have truly revolutionized the field of regenerative medicine and therapeutics for several diseases and disorders.