Retrodifferentiation Technology

What Are Stem Cells?

Stem cells are undifferentiated immature cells, capable of self-renewal (divide without limit) and differentiation (specialization). These juvenile cells are abundant in a developing embryo, their numbers decrease as development progresses. In contrast, an adult organism contains limited numbers of stem cells, which are confined to remote body compartments. Stem cells differentiate to become specialized cells and only then, can they perform a specific function in the body.

At the present time, stem cells can be extracted by isolation from:

• Bone marrow

• Growth factor mobilized peripheral blood

• Blood extracted from umbilical cords

• Others, in particular embryos or aborted fetuses

During their development, stem cells progressively acquire certain characteristics, which enable them to carry out specific functions in the body and hence become specialized cells. During tissue injuries (due to infections, chemical or physical insult) a stem cell embarks on proliferation and differentiation to replenish damaged cells.

Haematopoietic stem cells give rise to committed, specialized blood cells that defend, purify and nourish the body. Until now, the consensus in the medical community has been that this process is one way only, and that the cells, once committed, cannot revert to their pluripotent state. TriStem's proprietary technology has shown, ex vivo, that this is not the case.