Source: Cell Kingdom

The human body is a vast kingdom of cells, inhabited by about 40-60 trillion inhabitants - cells. Cell is the basic unit of human body, which goes through the life cycle of growth, differentiation, senescence and decay. Disease and aging in the body correspond to changes in the quality of cells. The health and strength of cells can inject new vitality into life. Especially during the epidemic, stem cells have played a huge role in the treatment of severe COVID-19 patients, and we gradually understand the importance of immune cells and stem cells, which are glowing in their respective fields.

However, as cells, stem cells and immune cells have what differences and common ground? What are the roles of stem cells and immune cells? What is the current hot stem cell therapy and immunotherapy?

First, the function is different

We know that the cell is the smallest unit of the human body, there are more than 200 different cells in our body, they influence each other and cooperate, each performs its duties, forming a cell kingdom. The existence of any country requires both builders to build and maintain, and defense forces to protect against foreign enemies. The same is true of our body's cellular kingdom. In the cell, stem cells are builders and repairers, and immune cells are the defense forces of the defense forces.

Stem cells are builders

Stem cells exist in most organs and tissues of the human body, can infinitely self-replicate and constantly renew, can differentiate into any cell, can become any tissue and organ, so they are also known as "universal cells". When our human body is still growing, stem cells bear the basic construction of the cell kingdom, they rush to the construction of the first line, through a steady stream of division and differentiation of new cells, increase the type and number of cells in our body, and ultimately create a healthy human body.

Immune cells are defenders

The main role of immune cells is to eliminate foreign pathogenic microorganisms, senescent cells, mutated cells and even cancer cells. When there is an invasion by an external enemy, such as bacteria and viruses, the immune cells are the defenders of the defense forces in the cell kingdom, reacting quickly to destroy them. If a rogue molecule appears in the cell kingdom, such as a normal cell mutating into a cancer cell, the immune cell activates a security system to recognize it and eliminate it.

We live in a world full of bacteria, viruses and other harmful substances, the body is constantly under attack by invisible tiny creatures, but still healthy alive, it is the body's own immune system to play a protective role.

The immune system is like the body's guard, and the guard is composed of immune cells, on the one hand, they play the function of clearing bacteria, viruses, foreign bodies; On the other hand, the elimination of senescent cells and mutated cells in the body lays the foundation for health.

And the reason why the human body is sick, in the final analysis is that the immune cells have lost the battle!

The reason for being defeated is not only the strength of the enemy, but the more important factor is the weakening of their own strength, in a series of "death" behaviors of people themselves, the immune system has collapsed step by step...

But when there are too many foreign invaders, or too many internal rebels, our immune cells can't get rid of them all, and our bodies get sick.

Unfortunately, as we age, the number and vitality of stem cells and immune cells in the body decreases. With regenerative medicine technology based on stem cells and immune cells, for our health escort, immune cells, the body's "best doctor", it is strong you are strong.

Second, the classification is different

Stem cell

Because stem cells and immune cells function differently, they are classified differently.

Stem cells are not fully mature, fully differentiated cells that can replicate themselves and constantly renew. It is precisely because of these special advantages of stem cells that they can differentiate into any cell, can become any tissue and organ. Therefore, it is also called the "universal cell". If the human body is compared to a tree, the seeds buried deep in the earth are totipotent stem cells, which can differentiate into a complete human body, just as the seeds can grow into a towering tree.

The main branches of big trees can be likened to pluripotent stem cells, mainly including subtotipotent stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells, which can differentiate into nerve cells, cardiomyocytes, liver cells, osteoblasts and other multi-system functional cells, just like the luxuriant branches, leaves and fruits that can be produced by each tree crown.

The end branches are specialized stem cells, such as hematopoietic stem cells, which can only differentiate into red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, etc., of the blood system, just as the end branches can grow leaves and fruits.

Immune cell

Immune cells are more competitive than stem cells. In the whole family of immune cells, the main function is around the elimination of other cells, the elimination of foreign pathogenic microorganisms, senescent cells, mutant cells and even cancer cells, is the part of immune cells. At present, CAR-T, NK, DC, CIK and so on are widely used in clinical applications using immune cells.

The full name of CAR T is Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell Immunotherapy, which refers to chimeric antigen receptor T-cell immunotherapy. It's an immune T cell modified with a tumor protein gene.

The full name of NK cell is Natural Killer cell, also known as natural killer cell, which is inherent immunity and can eliminate aging and mutated cells in the body at any time, just like the police to maintain social order at any time.

In the process of tumor cells being hunted by NK cells and CIK cells, some tumor cells learn to camouflage themselves in the war and are no longer recognized by NK and CIK cells.

Then there's CAR-T, which can target and kill these crafty camouflaged tumor cells. Therefore, CAR-T is like a special police officer with a clear task, which can completely annihilate the enemy.

Third, the extraction method is different

Stem cell

Stem cells can be extracted from a variety of human tissues.

Great scientists have discovered mesenchymal stem cells, which are widely used in clinical research, and their sources can be extracted from a variety of human tissues such as umbilical cord, placenta, fat, and dental pulp. Among them, fat stem cells are especially favored by everyone because of their convenient extraction and sufficient quantity.

Immune cell

Immune cells are born in the bone marrow, grow in the thymus, and eventually settle in the body's immune organs and wander in the blood. The blood contains a large number of fully functioning immune cells, which are constantly circulating in our bodies to protect our health.

The 21st century is the era of cell therapy, and the application of stem cells and immune cells in the future will become a common means in clinical treatment, storing cells and creating unlimited possibilities for enjoying the development of future medicine.

Fourth, different clinical applications

Immunocell therapy

Immunotherapy, which activates or boosts the body's immune cells, is already the hottest cancer treatment.

CAR-T cell therapy for hematoma achieved improvement in 82% of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Immune checkpoint inhibitors also play a role in multiple relapsed or refractory solid tumors.

In addition, the application of immune cells in cancer prevention, anti-aging and other fields is also being studied.

Stem cell therapy

While immune cells are mainly used for cancer treatment, stem cells are more used for tissue repair and chronic disease treatment. Taking fat stem cells as an example, in addition to cosmetic anti-aging, they can also be used in the treatment of various diseases.

In the case of aging, fat stem cells are also entering the clinic for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Stem cells can be used to repair and treat organ injuries such as spinal cord injury and joint necrosis.

Not only that, in cardiovascular diseases, the number one mortality, fat stem cells can also be used to treat acute ischemic stroke.

Although stem cells and immune cells are different in terms of origin, function and application, they both contribute to human health and fight disease. It is believed that with a deeper understanding in the future, stem cells and immune cells will be applied to a broader platform.