Is stem regeneration possible with AFA?
A new model of health based on stem cells
Dr. Christian Drapeau
“Consumption of blue-green algae AFAs or extracts thereof enhances the circulation and targeting to tissues of stem cells in animals and humans (both healthy and diseased). by inducing a transient increase in the population of stem cells in their circulation. “- Patent issued to inventors Gitte S. Jensen and Christian Drapeau
Stem cell research continues to evolve. It is becoming increasingly clear that bone-marrow stem cells represent an entire system of natural healing for the body. Learning about this system offers a new way of understanding health and disease.
When certain organs or tissues have a problem, they secrete cytokines – molecules that attract stem cells and cause them to migrate to the suffering tissue. When they reach the tissue, the stem cells gradually turn into cells of that tissue. It is this phenomenon that is behind the regenerative processes that take place in the body every day of our lives. In these processes, the amount of stem cells circulating in the blood is one of the most important parameters; more stem cells in the blood means that more stem cells are available to migrate to different tissues and organs of the body.
Stem cells and diseases
But if this is the case, there should be a link between stem cell deficiency and the development of various diseases. In other words, people with fewer circulating stem cells should have less opportunity for tissue repair and regeneration. Therefore, they should be at a higher risk of developing diseases as a result of cell loss.
And this is exactly right. In studies published recently, lower numbers of circulating stem cells have been associated with the development of heart disease, arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary arterial disease, diabetes, kidney failure, muscular dystrophy, and even migraines and erectile dysfunction. In other words, people with fewer stem cells are more likely to develop these diseases; and this link is likely to be found in many other diseases because research in this regard is ongoing.
From all these data, a new model of stem cell-based health and prevention is emerging. Traditionally, we associate the development of disease with the loss of certain cell types, and treatment with compensating for these losses. For example, diabetes is the loss of insulin-producing pancreatic cells, and treatment consists of compensating by injecting insulin.
Parkinson’s
Parkinson’s disease is the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells, and the treatment consists of taking L-dopa in order to boost brain dopamine levels. Renal failure is the loss of kidney tissue and treatment is regular haemodialysis. In some cases, compensation is palliative, such as a wheelchair for patients with muscular dystrophy or spinal cord injury.
Although in virtually every disease the main problem is the loss of function of an organ or tissue due to a specific loss of cells. Until now, treatment has not been tissue restoration or repair, but simply support or compensation. The emerging science of stem cells argues that there is another side to this whole formula. We don’t just lose cells to eventually reach an irreparable state of malfunction; we can also repair and regenerate ourselves.
Therefore, the disease is not simply the result of cell loss, but rather the result of an imbalance between cell loss and cell regeneration. In addition to losing cells every day, we also regenerate cells and repair tissues daily throughout our lives. To be healthy, we just need to renew our cells as fast as we lose them.
Update cycle
It is well known that every tissue and organ in the body goes through a cycle of renewal. For example, the lining of the intestine is replaced every 5 days. The liver is renewed every 3-4 years, the lungs every 4 years. The heart is renewed every 15-20 years, even the brain! In reality, it is quite difficult to say exactly how long it takes for each organ to completely renew itself. But that is not the most important thing. What is most important is to understand that every organ and every tissue of the body loses cells. As part of the normal process of life. But it also regenerates throughout our lives to maintain its function; and the role of bone marrow stem cells is to carry out these regenerative processes.
Anything that increases the number of circulating stem cells supports the body’s ability to naturally regenerate and tips the balance toward overall recovery and potentially slowing the onset of any problems caused by the loss of certain types of cells.
A new concept of health and wellness
This approach suddenly creates a whole new concept of health and wellness, which is all about maintaining good health. And not in the treatment and prevention of diseases . This concept offers for the first time a platform to move from a disease-based model of healthcare to a new health-based model. It gives us opportunities to think about medical care, not as something we do when health starts to decline. Rather, as something we do to maintain our health while we still have it.
We can do this simply by supporting the natural renewal of tissues through stem cells on a daily basis. When the disease has already started. We should definitely do our best. To compensate and mitigate its manifestations. But we can also engage the body’s natural regenerative abilities and tip the scales towards tissue and organ repair using our own stem cells.
The development of embryonic stem cell research will inevitably at some point face a shortage of human embryos, bringing back the need to create human embryos solely to satisfy research interests. Even if we use human embryos that would otherwise simply be destroyed. By focusing on embryonic stem cells and developing a medical industry related to them, we are creating real problems for the future.
Alternatives
There is an alternative – I think we should look at the potential of adult stem cells, which is unlimited. There is no doubt that every dollar invested in stem cell research would yield a much greater scientific, moral and social return. If invested in adult stem cell research.
It is a myth that embryonic stem cells are better than adult stem cells. Adult stem cells are just as effective as embryonic stem cells, if not more so, when used wisely. Adult stem cells, unlike embryonic stem cells, do not pose a risk of tumour formation. There are no limitations in the supply of adult stem cells as they can be extracted from each person’s own body.
Recently, it has been found that with the help of genetic manipulations, all cells can become cells. Similar to stem cells, which completely eliminates the need to use human embryos.
All scientific research clearly indicates that the future of stem cell research is related to adult stem cells. And that this is where the funding should go first and foremost.
Interview with Dr. Christian Drapeau
TIME magazine in its February 9, 2009 issue tells us “Expect the stem cell revolution to save your life and save you from diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson’s disease and more.” We’ve been hearing about stem cells for years. What is new in this article? Can you summarize the main points?
Christian Drapeau: The main point of the paper is a description of a recently developed new way to create stem cells by manipulating a few genes from normal tissue cells.
How is this being done and what is the significance of this new development?
Christian Drapeau: Every cell of the body contains the same DNA that we had when we were just an embryo made up of embryonic stem cells. What is so characteristic of embryonic stem cells, namely their ability to proliferate and become cells of almost any tissue, still exists in every cell of our body. However, since after birth this is no longer necessary, part of the genome is suppressed.
A few years ago, Japanese scientist Shinya Yamanaka pointed to four genes responsible for this “embryonic” state. For this reason, it is possible to turn normal body cells into something like embryonic cells by activating these genes. So in theory it is possible to work with embryo-like stem cells without harming human embryos.
Is there any reason to treat this new development with caution?
Christian Drapeau: I believe that is the case. Yes, because that’s exactly what cancer cells are – rogue cells that have hijacked the “embryonicity” present in DNA. A major problem with embryonic stem cells is the high risk of developing tumours. The genes responsible for their “embryonicity” are suppressed after birth to prevent the formation of abnormal (cancerous) tissues that sooner or later lead to death.
So nature in her wisdom has specifically developed a way to block these genes to prevent the development of disease after birth. When these genes are unnaturally added or activated, I think we are playing with a very dangerous fire. We are essentially waking up chaos in the cage and we have no idea what that might bring.
Are you saying that this development is inappropriate?
Christian Drapeau: Absolutely not. As the article makes clear, even if these cells cannot be used for actual treatment. They can help scientists to further study the biology of stem cells and the formation of diseases. And that in itself is important.
The paper talks about new ways of turning one cell into another without having to revert to an embryo-like state. Can you comment on that?
Christian Drapeau: The article refers to Dr. Melton’s work on converting non-insulin-producing pancreatic cells into insulin-producing ones. In other words, the ability to take a cell and wake up the gene in it that codes for a specific function, i.e. insulin production, without having to go through an embryo-like phase. This work is very interesting, but again involves manipulation of genes, which can have unseen consequences.
Similar results have been observed simply by allowing adult stem cells to make contact with pancreatic tissue. Liver stem cells, for example, can turn into insulin-producing pancreatic cells on contact with the pancreas. So there is no need to go to such complicated genetic manipulations with unknown consequences when it is so simple to use the own stem cells (adult stem cells).
But the article hints that adult stem cells are too limited, and that they can only turn into certain specific types of tissue.
Christian Drapeau: This is probably one of the biggest misunderstandings and confusions in the field of stem cell research. Yes, adult stem cells are limited and can only convert into the cells of the tissues in which they are found, but that is exactly why they are so promising. Unlike embryonic stem cells, which can become any type of cell, including tumor cells. Adult stem cells can only become cells of the tissues in which they are found.
Adult stem cells themselves are not limited as they have the ability to convert into cells of almost any tissue. After migration into given tissues, however, they become restricted. And they can only become cells of the tissues in which they are found. So with adult stem cells we have the potential for tissue regeneration (creating new tissue) but without the risk of tumours forming. I have no doubt that the future of stem cells is linked to adult stem cells.
Source : www.anhira.com
