Context
- The Union Health Ministry has advised States and Union Territories to ensure that stem cell therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is offered only as part of duly approved clinical trials, as current evidence does not support it as a standard treatment.
What is a Stem Cell?
- Stem cells are undifferentiated cells capable of self-renewal and developing into different specialised cell types.
- They can divide repeatedly and produce cells such as blood, nerve or muscle cells.
- Major types include:
- Embryonic stem cells – can develop into almost all cell types.
- Adult/Somatic stem cells – found in tissues such as bone marrow and have more limited differentiation capacity.
- Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) – adult cells reprogrammed to behave like pluripotent stem cells.
What is Stem Cell Therapy?
- Stem cell therapy involves using stem cells or their derivatives to repair, replace or regenerate damaged cells/tissues.
- An established example is hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), widely used in certain blood disorders and cancers.
- Many other applications remain experimental and require clinical trials to establish safety and efficacy.
Stem Cell Therapy & Autism
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition affecting communication, social interaction and behaviour.
- Currently, there is no established evidence supporting stem cell therapy as a standard treatment for ASD.
- Therefore, such interventions should be undertaken only through duly approved clinical trials and appropriate regulatory and ethical oversight.
Conclusion
Stem cells offer significant possibilities for regenerative medicine, but therapies must be distinguished between established treatments and experimental interventions based on scientific evidence, clinical validation and regulatory oversight.
| Important Current to Concept (CTC) from this Article for UPSC Stem cell therapy Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) |
Q. Consider the following statements regarding Stem Cell Therapy:
1. Stem cells have the ability to self-renew and differentiate into different specialised cell types
2. Embryonic stem cells are generally pluripotent and can give rise to many types of body cells
3. Adult stem cells are found only in bone marrow and cannot occur in other tissues
4. Stem cell therapy aims to repair, replace or regenerate damaged cells and tissues
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1, 2 and 4 only
B. 1 and 3 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: A. 1, 2 and 4 only
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: Stem cells can self-renew and differentiate into specialised cell types
Statement 2 is correct: Embryonic stem cells are generally pluripotent
Statement 3 is incorrect: Adult stem cells occur in several tissues, including bone marrow, blood, skin and intestinal tissues
Statement 4 is correct: Stem cell therapy seeks to restore or replace damaged cells and tissues through regenerative medicine