Stem cells are the first cells formed when an egg and a
sperm join and the resultant zygote begins to divide. They are the precursors
of all the different types of cells that make up the body, and are characterized
by self-renewal – that is, the capacity to continue dividing to make ever
larger populations of stem cells – and the capacity to differentiate into any
mature cell type when they receive appropriate chemical instructions.
Several broad categories of stem cells exist, including
embryonic stem cells (derived from blastocysts), fetal stem cells (obtained
from aborted fetuses), adult stem cells (found in adult tissues), cord-blood
stem cells (isolated from umbilical tissue), cancer stem cells (which give rise
to a clonal population of cells that form tumors or disperse in the body), and
animal stem cells (derived from nonhuman sources).
In a developing embryo, stem cells can differentiate into
all of the specialized embryonic tissues. In adult organisms, stem and
progenitor cells make up a repair system for the body, replenishing specialized
cells. Of interest to researchers is the potential for using stem cells to
treat conditions that include diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and
neurological disorders by replacing defective cells and tissues; ideally, they
function as the raw material from which new populations of normal
differentiated cells and tissues develop.
Additionally, stem cells can be used in pharmaceuticalresearch to improve drug target validation and toxicology screening.This is of
intense interest to pharmaceutical companies because it offers a safer
alternative to the use of living organisms (including humans) for some aspects
of drug testing.
Stem cells are also being studied for their ability to
improve both the understanding and treatment of birth disorders.
To facilitate the research resulting from interest in stem
cell applications, a sizable research products market has emerged. Large
companies selling stem cell research products include Invitrogen, BD
Biosciences, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Millipore, although many other
suppliers exist as well. Products offered by these companies include antibodies
to stem cell antigens, bead-based stem cell separation systems, stem cell
protein purification and analysis tools, tools for DNA and RNA-based
characterization of stem cells, stem cell culture and media reagents, stem cell-specific
growth factors and cytokines, tools for stem cell gene regulation, a range of
stem cell services, tools for in vivo
and in vitro stem cell tracking, and
stem cell lines.
The major market for stem cells will be their use in the
treatment of disease, and there is already a population of companies
specializing in developing stem cells directed towards specific disease
targets. This market opportunity is at an early, experimental stage.
The above is an
extract from the BCC Research report, Global Markets for Stem Cells (BIO035D).
To download the complimentary first chapter, please click
here.
Posts
