INTRODUCTION:

With the whole world reeling under the shadow of many incurable and debilitating diseases, if there is some chance of helping in the treatment of these life- threatening medical conditions, then all sorts of new possibilities may unfold in our lifetimes. One such possible way of improving the quality and perhaps even the duration of life is through the collection of potentially life-impacting stem cells found in the menstrual blood of woman. With advancements in stem cell research and development, a number of pre-clinical studies have demonstrated that menstrual blood contains self-renewing stem cells which may potentially be utilized to treat various diseases.

STEM CELLS:

The undifferentiated cells which can differentiate into specialized cell types are called stem cells. Stem cells can be broadly divided into two parts, embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Further, there are majorly three types of stem cells; they are Hematopoietic stem cells, Mesenchymal stem cells and Endothelial stem cells. The stem cell therapies can cure fatal diseases like Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Cancer, Spinal Cord injury, Diabetes and many more.

CHARACTERISTICS OF MENSTRUAL STEM CELLS:

Mesenchymal stem cells can be obtained from the uterus in a variety of ways including hysterectomy, diagnostic curettage, menstrual blood, and first trimester decidua. To date, the most convenient source of stem cells is isolated from menstrual blood. Endometrial stem cells, which were isolated from menstrual blood, also possess the adult stem cell- like characteristics of self-renewal, high proliferative potential, and the ability to differentiate into different types of cells like fat, nerve, cartilage, bone, blood vessel, lung, liver, pancreas and also cardiogenic cells. The cells in menstrual blood are known as MenSCs.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MenSCs AND OTHER STEM CELLS:

· MenSCs contains many of the same properties associated with both embryonic stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells, such as those found in bone marrow.

· Unlike cord blood stem cells or stem cells from bone marrow for example, the menstrual stem cell can rapidly expand its numbers in cell culture, as well as differentiate into many other cell types.

· The MenSCs can be collected as often as a woman has her menstrual period, making the collection of a large number of stem cells possible over time.

· Compared with the stem cells from bone marrow the menstrual stem cells are easy to collect and do not cause any harm or pain to the donor.

· MenSCs can be used to treat patients without the fear of tissue rejection, and they avoid the ethical questions associated with embryonic stem cells.

COLLECTION OF MENSTRUAL BLOOD

A most amazing fact about these cells is that they can be collected from the age of 12 years up to 47. It is better to store the menstrual blood stem cell at a younger age as the fitness of the menstrual blood stem cells are much better when they are collected at a younger age. The collection process for menstrual blood is painless and hassle free.

The collection can be done at the privacy and convenience of home, using a ‘Menstrual Cup’- a conical shaped medical grade silicon cup which can collect up to 30 ml of menstrual blood. The specimens should be collected during the heaviest flow of the menstrual period. The menstrual cup is used in place of a tampon or sanitary napkin for 2-3 hours to collect the samples of the menstrual fluid.

The collected menstrual blood should be transported to a stem cell bank within 48 hours where the isolated menstrual blood goes through the process of cryo-preservation; the menstrual stem cells are frozen in time. This process allows menstrual stem cells to retain their viability and potential for a long period of time, perhaps decades or even longer.

BENEFITS OF MenSCs:

· Menstrual blood is safe and renewable.

· It is easy to retrieve and is readily available whenever it is needed.

· This method is completely painless due to non- invasive approach.

· It is a life saving alternative to bone marrow transplants.

· It is used to benefit the donor and also their first degree relatives such as parents, siblings and children in future regenerative therapies.

· It has less immune rejection in females.

· It is being predicted that these stem cells can be used as medication for sports treatments and also in anti-aging products.

CONCLUSION:

Since it is not clearly known as to how may stem cells may be required for various therapies that we anticipate may possibly emerge in the future, and also because the menstrual stem cells may potentially be used to treat other family members, women should consider preserving their menstrual stem cells as often as they are able to, while they are healthy and this precious source of their stem cells is available. Thus, today’s women must come forward and give their vital contribution.

REFERENCES:

1. Gargette, C.E., Uterine stem cells: what is the evidence? , Journal of Human Reproduction Update 2007, 13(1), 87- 601.

2. Murphy, M.P., Wang,H., et al., Allogeneic endometrial regenerative cells: an “off the shelf solution” for critical limb ischemia, Journal of Medicine.2008, 6(1), 45.

3. Patel, A.N.,Park, Multipotent menstrual blood stromal cells: isolation, characterization, and differentiation. Cell Transplant 2008, 17(3), 303 -311.

4. Portmann, placental mesenchymal stem cells as potential autologous graft for pre- and perinatal neuroregeneration. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2006, 194(3), 664 - 673.

5. Prianishnikov, On the concept of stem cell and a model of functional – morphological structure of the endometrium. Reproductive Science 2008, 18(3), 213-223.

6. Wolff, E.F., Demonstration of multipotent stem cells in the adult human endometrium. Reproductive science 2007, 14(6), 524 -533.

Received on 10.06.2012 Modified on 12.07.2012

Asian J. Nur. Edu. and Research 2(3): July-Sept. 2012; Page 163-164