The Two Types of Bone Marrow Stem Cells and How They’re Used For Treatment

Bone marrow stem cells are just one set of stem cells that we use to treat people with certain conditions, like lymphoma or leukemia. Stem cells from bone marrow are the most potent stem cells because bone marrow is rich in blood vessels and capillaries. 

The two types of bone marrow stem cells are mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). This article will explain more about what bone marrow is, the differences between these types of stem cells, and how doctors use them for stem cell therapy. 

Bone Marrow Explained 

First of all, bone marrow is the soft tissue containing many blood vessels in the center of most of your bones. There are two types of bone marrow: 

• Red bone marrow: produces red and white blood cells and platelets 
• Yellow bone marrow: produces cartilage and fat 

Red blood cells are essential for carrying oxygen throughout your body. White blood cells fight off infections, and platelets help stop bleeding by forming clots. Bone marrow produces the majority of your blood cells, around 220 billion every single day.

 

Two Types of Bone Marrow Stem Cells

Since there are two types of bone marrow, there are two types of bone marrow stem cells. 

• Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs): Collected from red bone marrow 
• Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs): Collected from yellow bone marrow 

HSCs are powerful cells responsible for the production of red blood cells, and they are self-renewing! Plus, they can serve several different purposes.  MSCs are known for their ability to multiply rapidly and repair cartilage, bone, and other skeletal tissues. 

Treatment with Bone Marrow Stem Cells 

The first step in utilizing bone marrow stem cells for therapy is to collect bone marrow aspirate. This is what we call the bone marrow material in the bones and a process we call aspiration. 

We collect bone marrow stem cells from the patient who will receive the stem cell therapy treatment. During this procedure, we use a local anesthetic and a thin needle to perform the aspiration process. 

We collect bone marrow aspirate from a large bone, usually the pelvis, because it is a large bone with abundant stem cells. After we complete bone marrow aspiration, we then carry out specific tests to ensure those stem cells can be used for therapy. 

If approved, we then inject the stem cells into the affected area and carefully monitor the patient’s progress. Doctors use HSCs and MSCs for various stem cell therapy treatments. For example, treatment with bone marrow stem cells is a possible solution for osteoarthritis, diabetes, ALS, and even lower back pain and hair loss. 

Stem cells continue to be studied for their natural healing capabilities. We administer stem cell therapy for various conditions, as well as anti-aging and wellness. If you want to learn more and see if you’re a candidate for stem cell therapy, please contact us today.