Diana Castaneda
Latin News Agency for Medicine and Public Health
The stem cells (hMSC) Mesenchymal Stem Cells or Mesenchymal Stromal Cells have been protagonists in modern research for several years given their clinical applications and their biological importance.
Thus, researchers from the Advanced Therapies Unit of IDCBIS (District Institute of Science, Biotechnology and Innovation in Health), are advancing in the study of the biology of mesenchymal cells and their possible applications in medicine that improve the quality of life of patients with different conditions, since they have been observed to modulate adverse reactions in different diseases, especially in degenerative and autoimmune diseases.
Mesenchymal cells regenerate and repair damaged tissues and replace cells that routinely die, these are characterized by a great capacity for expansion and differentiation, which allows them to renew easily and give rise to various cell types, such as bone cells, fat cells and cartilaginous; they also have the capacity for tissue regeneration, aiding healing, preventing cell death and facilitating the formation of new blood vessels.
IDCBIS laboratories investigate and evaluate the potential of mesenchymal stem cells, which are extracted from umbilical cords donated by Colombian mothers, to reduce inflammation and regulate the activity of cells of the immune system in multiple diseases.
In addition, tissue engineering research is carried out that is focused on the generation of structures that support mesenchymal stem cells for the regeneration / repair of skin (burns and ulcers), bone (fractures and bone losses) and cartilage (osteoarthritis).
In turn, simulation models are developed from mesenchymal cells to recreate metabolic diseases of genetic origin and thus evaluate the efficacy of the drugs used in these pathologies.
Currently the only approved treatment in the world is the transplantation of blood-forming cells present in the bone marrow or in peripheral blood drawn from a donor or from the same patient. The other treatments that involve the use of stem cells, as in the research carried out at IDCBIS, are in the experimental phase.
This research project, among others currently underway at IDCBIS, is carried out under the leadership of the director of the Institute, Dr. Bernardo Camacho, who was recently re-elected as leader of the Institute unanimously by the board of directors, made up of the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Universidad Nacional, Universidad de Los Andes, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología and the Mayor’s Office of Bogotá – District Health Secretariat together with the integrated subnets of health services: Central East, South West and North.
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