While stem cell therapy has been seen as a proactive treatment that signifies the great importance of molecular and regenerative medicine for the future diseases what would otherwise be not treated, the contemporary scholars are examining its impacts towards specific cell-based pharmacotherapies such as the treatment of autism. According to Siniscalco, Bradstreet, Sych, & Antonucci (2013) stem cell therapies can develop cell-based treatment options for autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This is because stem cell contains numerous useful characteristics that suggest a possibility of therapeutic application for ASD. Separately, autism spectrum disorders are prevalent attainment proportions, which is conceived to affect 1 in 166 children (Ardhanareeswaran, Coppola, & Vaccarino, 2015). In this case, one of the most common types of ASD is autism, and a mental malfunction considers it in social relation, diminished verbal and non-verbal communications, and restricted interests. The advent and use of stem cell therapy towards the treatment of autism allow for the artificial growth in a vitro miniature organs similar to brain cells, which sometimes can be immortal when it fails to address the documented biological aberrations (Ardhanareeswaran, Coppola, & Vaccarino, 2015). In this discussion, the use of stem cell therapy is controversial innovation when it comes to treatment of autism. The paper will, therefore, argue for and against the treatment of autism spectrum disorders using stem cell therapy.
Argument
Stem cell therapy has been regarded as an upbeat for the treatment of autism. Siniscalco, Bradstreet, Sych, & Antonucci (2013) argue so because autism cell-based treatment can generate positive results achieved through the trophic and immunomodulatory attributes. In this case, the implanted stem cell will be able to alter the immune system of the patient via cell-to-cell contact initiation mechanism and paracrine-secretome action. In their findings, Siniscalco, Bradstreet, Sych, & Antonucci (2013) proposes that stem cells can simultaneously counterbalance the immune system aberrations citing that ASDs are associated with vast proinflammatory cytokines overrun and resistant modifications. Therefore, the artificial planted stem cell will replace the patient unit, which is potentially beneficial. Siniscalco, Bradstreet, & Antonucci (2013) indicate that transplanted hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) can assume the fundamental function of regulating chronic inflammation, generating a stable immune system, and responsible for creating immune cells and forming blood. The affected tissues and cells sites during the treatment of autism can also be hosted by hematopoietic stem cells.
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On the other hand, research conducted by Ardhanareeswaran, Coppola, & Vaccarino (2015) indicate that the use of “into human-induced pluripotent stem cells” which is argued to be manufactured by the somatic cells and can be altered to numerous cells particularly cerebral cortical neurons of the central nervous system. Additionally, it is evident that stem cells therapy towards autism provides doctors to rein in the power of human embryonic stem cell for future study of human development by avoiding ethical aberrations associated with the damage of the embryo when acquiring embryonic stem cells (Ardhanareeswaran, Coppola, & Vaccarino, 2015). Consequently, the study carried out by Rusu et al. (2016) suggest that stem cell therapy have the capacity to differentiate into one or several established cellular lineages, which makes is a promising tool for clinical applications towards autism treatment. In this case, the ability for the stem cell to renew itself, differentiate into many cell types, and the potential to individual analogous and allergenic cell bestow to the therapeutic potential of human-induced pluripotent stem cells in reformative medicine (Rusu et al., 2016).
According to the research conducted by Sharma, Alok, et al. (2013) to address the safety and efficiency, and medical impacts of the analogous bone marrow mononuclear cells replacement in 32 patients with autisms, 47 percent of the patients showed development while 34.4 percent showed progress. Moreover, there was 18.8 percent with the negligible increase and 3.1 percent patient with minimal deteriorating (Sharma, Alok, et al., 2013). Besides, looking at the result of the social relationship and reciprocity, 29 patients out 32 showed improvement (Sharma, Alok, et al., 2013). In this effect, it can be argued that stem cells possess unique characteristics of the self-renewal, trans-differentiation, and paracrine effects (Sharma, Alok, et al., 2013). Therefore, the minimal aberrations, the uncomplicatedness of the of the process, and the selfsame nature of the stem cells provide a hopeful therapy for a patient with autism.
Counter-Argument
Nonetheless, other researchers have ignored the possible advantages of stem cell therapy and argued on the disadvantage of using this procedure in treating autism. In fact, according to the research carried out by McLean, Stewart, & Kerridge (2015) the use of the stem cell therapy is unproven, have not been tested and does not meet ethical standards as they are not supported by the government or private insurers and, therefore, seeks greater regulatory inspection. For example, McLean, Stewart, & Kerridge (2015) argue that when it comes to the treatment of autism, using autonomous stem cell therapy is always expensive. Moreover, the unanswered and original cause of chronic inflammation can be caused by the use of planted hematopoietic stem cells to autism. On the other hand, the use of autologous transplanted hematopoietic stem cells does not include concerns such as over graft-versus-host responses whereby the stem cell can be reprogrammed bb latent infections (Siniscalco, Bradstreet, Sych, & Antonucci, 2013).
Separately, other researchers have argued that stem cell therapy for autism is disadvantageous and immortal. Research conducted by Ma, Li, Ma, Cao, & Liu (2015) indicated that use of stem cell therapy towards autistic children presents adverse effects that are caused by anesthesia. Their finding also suggested that events of breathing downheartedness, hypertension, and the pain during the vaccination are expressively advanced. Besides, another significant aftermath is related to the use of Propofol as argued by Ma, Yu-Heng, et al. (2015) to create an occurrence of discomfort at the vaccination site which was 25-50 percent. On the other hand, research conducted by Lv, Yong-Tao, et al. (2013) shows abnormal immune system among the children diagnosed with autism using stem cell therapy. This also includes other factors that impair the affects the behavior of the child. These factors include an abnormal function of the immune system, active neuroinflammation the brain, increased cytokine episodes, and a presence of autoimmunity (Lv, Yong-Tao, et al., 2013). Collectively, the immune dysfunctions alone would lead to severe medical aberrations when dealing with autism.
Rebuttal Counter-Argument
Even though various studies have indicated that stem cell therapy for autism is not appropriate, other researchers commonly maintain that stem cell signifies the great importance of molecular and reformative medicine. This is because the use of telemedicine for treatments have has been accepted to be innovative, important, and legitimate tools for evolving the medical expertise (McLean, Stewart, & Kerridge, 2015). Additionally, with the advanced technology in telemedicine, the transition of stem cell therapy for autism is promising. Also, Ma, Yu-Heng, et al. (2015) argue that the use of stem cell has improved the behavioral system and function observed in the children with autism. Therefore, with the safety profile and high positive results, stem cell therapy and efficacy is warranted in long-term treatment for autism.
Conclusion
In conclusion, with the advent and the development of the potent clinical study, developing and using stem cell therapies for treating and managing autism represents the sign of the regenerative medicine because of their unique characteristics. This makes the stem cells to be used to treat several human disorders, which otherwise would seem impossible in the future.
References
Ardhanareeswaran, K., Coppola, G., & Vaccarino, F. (2015). The Use of Stem Cells to Study Autism Spectrum Disorder. The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine , 88 (1), 5–16.
Lv, Y.-T., Zhang, Y., Liu, M., Qiuwaxi, J.-N.-T., Ashwood, P., Cho, S. C., ...Hu, X. (2013). Transplantation of human cord blood mononuclear cells and umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells in autism. Journal of Translational Medicine , 11 , 196.
Ma, Y.-H., Li, Y.-W., Ma, L., Cao, C.-H., & Liu, X.-D. (2015). Anesthesia for stem cell transplantation in autistic children: a prospective, randomized, double-blind comparison of propofol and etomidate following sevoflurane inhalation. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine , 9 (3), 1035+
McLean, A. K., Stewart, C., & Kerridge, I. (2015). Untested, unproven, and unethical: the promotion and provision of autologous stem cell therapies in Australia. Stem Cell Research & Therapy , 6 (1), 33. http://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-015-0047-8
Rusu, E., Necula, G. L., Neagu, I. A., Alecu, M., Stan, C., Albulescu, R., &Tanase, P. C. (2016). Current Status of Stem Cell Therapy: Opportunities and Limitations. Turkish Journal of Biology,40; 955-967. doi:10.3906/biy-1506-95
Sharma, A., Gokulchandran, N., Sane, H., Nagarajan, A., Paranjape, A., Kulkarni, P., ...Badhe, P. (2013). Autologous bone marrow mononuclear cell therapy for autism: an open label proof of concept study. Stem Cells International .
Siniscalco, D., Bradstreet, J. J., & Antonucci, N. (2013). Therapeutic Role of Hematopoietic Stem Cells in Autism Spectrum Disorder-Related Inflammation. Frontiers in Immunology , 4 , 140. http://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2013.00140
Siniscalco, D., Bradstreet, J. J., & Antonucci, N. (2013). Perspectives on the Use of Stem Cells for Autism Treatment. Stem Cells International, 2013 , Article ID 262438, seven pages. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/262438
