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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