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FAQs
What is the uniqueness of Pluristem’s technology?
Pluristem’s 3-dimensional PluriX™ bioreactor utilizes adherent stromal cells
that are derived from the placenta. ASCs are multipotent adult
stem cells that have strong anti-inflammatory properties and can regenerate and
repair damaged tissue. When ASCs receive appropriate biochemical and
biomechanical signals they can differentiate into various tissues such as nerve,
bone, muscle, fat, tendon, ligament, cartilage and bone marrow stroma. ASCs also
have low immunogenicity, are not rejected by the patient’s immune system and,
therefore, do not require HLA matching.
Pluristem is unique in their
approach to stem cell research in that they are using:
v
A
proprietary bioreactor (PluriX™) 3D system that enables the ex vivo
expansion of ASC populations in a microenvironment resembling the architecture
of natural bone marrow.
v
The
unique micro-structure enables expansion of adherent stromal cells (ASCs) to very
high densities. Adherent stromal cells have the advantage of being
immune-privileged and immunosuppressive, which means that the patient’s immune
system is less likely to reject the transplant.
v
Pluristem’s (PluriX™) 3D system does not use exogenous biologics or chemicals in
their expansion process, eliminating the risk of genetic instability and
allowing for the safer expansion of cells.
How
can Pluristem’s PLX cells be used?
PLX cells are the ASCs expanded
in Pluristem’s proprietary (PluriX™) 3D bioreactor. Pluristem believes these PLX
cells are multipotent and able to differentiate into a variety of cell types as
well as being immune-privileged to protect the recipient from immunological
reactions that often accompanies transplantation. Pluristem believes their
future products will participate in the approximate $30 billion therapeutic and
regenerative cellular market.
Pluristem’s first product, PLX - PAD, has been developed as a unrelated donor-patient (allogeneic)
product intended to treat the limb ischemia from Peripheral Artery Disease
(PAD). n the US alone, it is estimated that 8-12 million people suffer from limb
ischemia. Industry experts have estimated that the therapeutics used in the
treatment of limb ischemia market is $4 Billion.
What are
stem cells?
Stem cells are undifferentiated “mother” cells that have the ability to develop
into any kind of cell in the human body. Dedicated non-stem cells have a
specific function (e.g. liver cells, skin cells, brain cells, etc.) and once
dedicated cells have taken on their function, in a process called
differentiation, they can't be adapted for any other function.
Stem cells, however, have not yet differentiated. Stem cells can, theoretically,
multiply and differentiate an unlimited number of times and, by doing so,
replenish any and all other cells. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has
the potential to either remain a stem cell or differentiate into another, more
dedicated type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a muscle cell,
a red blood cell, a brain cell, etc.
What are the different classes of stem cells?
There are three main classes
of stem cells: totipotent, pluripotent, and multipotent
* Totipotent stem cells have the potential to become all other types of cells in
the body. A fertilized egg is totipotent.
* Pluripotent stem cells can produce any type of cell in the body except those
needed to develop a fetus. Embryonic stem cells are produced when a newly
fertilized egg begins to divide and are pluripotent.
* Multipotent stem cells can produce only certain types of cells. Adult stem
cells are multipotent and are found in adults, infants and children. mesenchymal
stromal cells (ASCs) are also multipotent adult stem cells and are found in the
placenta as well as organs that have already developed. ASCs act as a repair and
maintenance cells dividing regularly to provide the body with specialized cells
to take the place of those that die or are otherwise lost.
What are Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSC)?
A hematopoietic stem cell
(HSC) is an adult stem cell isolated from the bone marrow, umbilical cord or
peripheral blood that can renew itself, differentiate to a variety of
specialized blood cells such as red and white blood cells and platelets. HSCs
are exclusively required for bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and are the only
cells that can reconstitute the hematopoietic or blood system following BMT.
HSCs are now routinely used to treat patients with cancers and other disorders
of the blood and immune systems. Examples of the diseases where BMT may be of
value are the following:
Acute Leukemias
Acute Biphenotypic
Leukemia
Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)
Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)
Acute Undifferentiated Leukemia
Chronic Leukemias
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)
Juvenile Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (JCML)
Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia (JMML)
Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Amyloidosis
Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML)
Refractory Anemia (RA)
Refractory Anemia with Excess Blasts (RAEB)
Refractory Anemia with Excess Blasts in Transformation (RAEB-T)
Refractory Anemia with Ringed Sideroblasts (RARS)
Stem Cell Disorders
Aplastic Anemia (Severe)
Congenital Cytopenia
Dyskeratosis Congenita
Fanconi Anemia
What
are adherent stromal cells
(ASCs)?
Adherent stromal cells (ASCs),
which are mesenchymal-like
stem cells, are multipotent adult stem cells that are derived from the placenta as well as
other functioning organs. ASCs have the ability to generate supporting cells
such as those found in cartilage, bone, muscle, tendon, ligament and fat.
ASCs
have the potential to replace damaged tissues and have the potential to be
expanded then transplanted to the injured site to generate appropriate tissue
constructs.
How
are stem cells used in medicine?
Researchers are exploring two
main avenues for using stem cells to treat disease
1) Stem cells as “replacement parts”: A wide range of diseases (heart disease,
Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, motor neuron disease, etc.) may be amenable
to stem cell therapy if stem cells can be directed to the appropriate place in
the body and become the appropriate cell type. For example, if stem cells could
be made to migrate to an injured spinal cord and become nerve cells, it might be
possible to cure paralysis.
2) Developing drug therapies: It is possible to make stem cells that are
genetically identical to those of a patient with a disease such as amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis. The stem cells can be made to generate the cell type that is
defective in that disease (e.g. nerve cells). By studying these cells,
researchers may be able to gain insight into what goes wrong at the molecular
level in the disease. They can also use these cells to test drugs that might
block the progression of the disease.
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