A DC’s guide to stem cell treatment

Sponsored by Stem Cell Institute of America

Advanced regenerative treatments with various forms of stem cells are beginning to help thousands of patients get better without the use of drugs or surgery.

When it comes to regenerating joints, the nonsurgical options range from amniotic tissue or fluid, or cord blood; the surgical options include bone morrow and adipose tissue. For either type of procedure, the product is obtained and then injected into the targeted joint in a process that takes about 10 minutes to perform.

That is just the beginning, as there are more than 40 medical conditions including cardiovascular, pulmonary, autoimmune, neurologic, and digestive disorders that can be treated with IV infusions derived from mesenchymal stem cells derived of adipose tissue.

These options have allowed people to drastically improve their function and quality of life, and decrease their dependence on potentially harmful medications. In fact, this type of medicine is gaining so much traction that the state of Texas recently passed a stem cell therapy bill (HB 810), known as Charlie’s Law, to broaden access to treatment.

In the U.S., stem cell therapy is allowed provided nothing is added to the stem cells or they are grown for greater concentration. But the Texas bill makes exceptions for those who have a terminal illness or chronic disease.

An easier procedure

For a chiropractor looking to make a referral for their patients to receive adult stem-cell therapy, you would think that the choice would be quite clear based on the fact that bone marrow harvesting requires a surgical procedure to open the hipbone. This can in some cases cause permanent pain at the site, vertebral misalignment due to the pressure exerted during the process, and even fracture of the hip.

Alternatively, fat-derived adult stem-cell therapy is a simple procedure involving a small liposuction at the abdominal or flank area, in which a needle is placed subcutaneously. With manual suction and a bit of lidocaine, this can be accomplished in less than 30 minutes with minimal pain during and after the procedure. By contrast, a bone-marrow stem cell patient undergoes a surgical procedure that requires weeks if not months of healing time, whereas an adipose-tissue patient is able to drive home the same day.

Given our understanding of human anatomy, spinal alignment, and the detrimental effects of spinal misalignment, why would a chiropractor choose to refer their patients to an invasive bone-marrow harvesting clinic for stem cell therapy? One argument is that the amount of stem cells available in red marrow is higher than anywhere else in the body, but that idea is based on research of mesenchymal stem cells in the 1950s, in which it was generally accepted that it was the only place where these cells were located.

Conversely, the current literature refutes that notion in a big way. In fact, there is a higher concentration of mesenchymal stem cells in fat compared to that of bone morrow to the tune of more than 400 times.

Down to the facts

According to Peng, et al., mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from adipose tissue (AT) possess the highest proliferation potential.¹ Adipose tissue is emerging as a source of stem cells that can be obtained by less invasive methods and in larger quantities than from bone marrow. AT-MSCs grow at the highest speed and keep almost the same growth speed throughout 10 generations, whereas bone marrow (BM) MSCs grow at a relatively slow speed over 10 generations. This slowdown is termed senescence.

According to a recent study published by the Department of Orthopedics, Dongguk University Ilsam hospital, in South Korea, “AT-MSCs have a higher proliferation and lower senescence than BM-MSCs” and “over extended periods, AT-MSCs exceed BM-MSCs by more than two orders of magnitude.”²

Additionally, according to Li, et al., AT-MSCs exhibit significantly greater population doubling than BM-MSCs, showing the higher proliferation potential of AT-MSCs.³

These findings raise the question of why most orthopedic surgeons are continuing to champion red marrow-derived stem cells, while others, including family practitioners, plastic surgeons, and some in non-surgical specialties are choosing the superior stem-cell content of AT-MSCs. Is it because they are billing for the surgical code? It could be that you just cannot teach an old dog new tricks.

Brent J. Detelich, DC, president of Stem Cell Institute of America, helps chiropractic and integrated offices make better decisions about their practices. Learn more about Stem Cell Institute here.

About Stem Cell Institute of America

Stem Cell Institute of America is a strategic partner with health care professions who want to educate the public on cutting-edge regenerative cellular medicine. Our purpose is to help answer questions concerning regenerative cell therapy and improve the live of patients all over the United States. For patients suffering from chronic pain, our providers work to address the source of the problem rather than simply treat symptoms. With advanced regenerative cellular medicine, chronic joint pain and other degenerative health problems may be improved with treatments. Stem Cell Institute of America offers educational webinars and seminars for interested doctors of chiropractic. Call 800-391-6040 or email elliot@pbs500.com for more information.

References
¹ Peng L, Jia Z, Yin X, et al. Comparative analysis of mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow, cartilage, and adipose tissue. Stem Cells Dev. 2008;17(4):761-73.

² Im G-I. Bone marrow-derived stem/stromal cells and adipose tissue-derived stem/stromal cells: Their comparative efficacies and synergistic effects. J Biomed Mater Res Part A. 2017;105A:2640-2648.

³ Li CY, Wu XY, Tong JB, et al. Comparative analysis of human mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow and adipose tissue under xeno-free conditions for cell therapy. Stem Cell Res Ther. 2015;6:55.