By Becky Wiese
Regenerate [verb, ri-jen-uh-reyt], meaning to come into existence or be formed again.
In medical terms, this process describes an exciting and growing field of study and clinical application for a variety of illnesses. It wouldn’t be totally accurate to state that this is a new concept, however. Doctors have long observed the amazing self-healing properties of many organs of the body. Nerves can grow back after being cauterized. Blood vessels can create new pathways if the original pathway is blocked. The most visible, even to the naked and untrained eye, is the repair and restoration of the skin after it has been cut or scraped. How does this happen?
Medical researchers have broken down the wound healing process into an orderly sequence of events that takes place automatically—without intervention or medication. The human body inherently has the factors necessary for self-healing to take place.
The healing cascade, so named because the sequence of events occurs in successive stages, each of which triggers the next, occurs in roughly four main phases. The first phase, called hemostasis, stops the bleeding and sends specialized cells, primarily platelets, to the wound site.
Platelets are very important because the material within them promotes healing and regeneration of the tissue that was wounded. The other three phases include very specialized activities carried out by the body’s “repair team”—eventually resulting in healing of the damaged tissue.
Researchers have looked to the healing properties of platelets as the basis of other regenerative medicine applications.
After all, if the body can repair itself naturally, it seems that capitalizing on that ability—using the inherent elements already available—to apply these regenerative properties to even more physical problems and maladies only makes sense.
Regenerative medicine similarly uses components available in each human body. These components, such as stem cells and platelets, contain cytokines, which are chemicals that stimulate growth and regeneration. Researchers have found that introducing autologous stem cells and platelet-rich plasma into damaged or diseased parts of the body creates an environment for healing to occur.
Platelet-rich plasma consists of a high concentration of platelets, some white blood cells, and a minimal amount of red blood cells. The plasma portion includes serum, ions, cytokines, clotting factor, and other dissolved proteins. The components of platelet-rich plasma work together to stimulate cell replication, promote blood vessel growth, and finally form tissue. The end result is regeneration of healthy cells that replace the injured or diseased body part.
Dr. Ben Taimoorazy of Guardian Headache and Pain Institute provides an example of how this process works. “Take osteoarthritis—joint inflammation. An injury occurs, say to a knee, and inflammation results, beginning a cycle of degeneration as the cells die and the cartilage, which protects and cushions the space between the bones, is lost. The result is that the person has chronic knee pain.
“There is immense regeneration capacity in the joint because of the mesenchymal cells, but they are dormant. Injecting the joint with stem cells and platelet-rich plasma activates these cells, triggering them to regenerate chondrocytes, which in turn produce cartilage. The amazing thing about this is that, unlike many treatments, this process does not mask the pain. It actually causes the body to regenerate the tissue that was damaged, in this case, cartilage.”
Diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and ALS have shown promising results using the regenerative properties of stem cells and platelet-rich plasma. In addition, one of the best features of using a patient’s own stem cells or platelets is that there is very little chance of allergic reaction or rejection.
Regenerative medicine may not be the answer for every physical malady, but it certainly shows promise for treating a host of issues that cause pain and discomfort for many people. “It’s really like having a patient-specific drugstore for each individual,” says Dr. Taimoorazy.
For more information on regenerative therapies, you may contact Dr. Benjamin Taimoorazy at Guardian Headache & Pain Management Institute, 309-808-1700, www.GuardianPainInstitute.com. The practice is located at 2203 Eastland Drive, Suite #7 in Bloomington.
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