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Stem Cells Possibility of Developing a

Treatment using Human Embryonic and Somatic
Stem Cells in healing Cardiovascular Disease
Kristine Magallanes
University of Seminar/Critical Thinking 1301
Professor Claudia Garcia

There are about 37 trillion cells in an adult human body and DNA that duplicates to
create cells in the process of cell division. Cells constantly divide to make more cells because
they are responsible for the growth and repair in the human body. The genetic material known
as, DNA, is a blueprint for cells to take orders and work on any organisms for adjustments.
Scientists knew the network of cells and digging for more information about the cells repairing
human organisms, they found Human embryonic stem cells and Somatic stem cells. Somatic
cells are already matured cells found in an organism of the human body. Human embryonic
stem cells are created when the egg from the mother and the sperm from the father unite,
containing a complete genetic code of DNA. The complete sets of DNA in the Human
embryonic stem cells become embryos a few days after the pregnancy.
An analysis of Human embryonic and Somatic stem cells to become human embryos is proven to
see which one is more effective to develop a treatment or cure for Cardiovascular Disease.
Within the few days of a womans pregnancy, the embryonic stem cells and the DNA in
her body start to converge and double to human embryos. When an abortion occurs, doctors
highly recommend aborting before the 8th week because embryos are not known to be human just
yet. Its not till the 9th week when the embryos become a fetus. When an embryo becomes a
fetus, then its genetic information is useless, since its already in the process of growing into a
human infant in the wall of the uterus. Furthermore, when a woman goes through an abortion,
the embryos are taken out of her body and then dumped. Though, scientists have discovered that
they can use these fresh embryos for stem cell research and study them for solving a treatment or
cure for different types of diseases, such as Cardiovascular disease. Scientists run tests and trials
to try finding drugs that will help treat complex diseases. Also, to get a better understanding to
why these diseases happened and what people can do to help prevent them. (Llic, D., Stevenson,

D., Patel, H., & Braude, P., 2012, pp. 24-48) For example, there can be a healthy person, a
person who eats right, doesnt smoke or drink and does exercise. All of a sudden that healthy
person gets Heart Failure disease or even a type of cancer. Scientists wonder the reason why this
happened and human embryonic stem cells can help with the research because its fresh and they
can use an organ from a donor to see and read the cells that duplicate.
In human embryos, the cells inside continue to divide and duplicate the DNA without
being inside the human female, therefore, more cells and tissues develop. The development
process is when the Blastocyst(a shaped-like sphere) generates the Inner Cell Mass (ICM) to
produce embryonic stem cells to create the three germ layers; Ectoderm(the outer layer),
Mesoderm(the middle layer), and Endoderm(the inner layer). These three germ layers each have
a specific job and are to create human organs during the process of pregnancy. (Lovell, M. J., &
Mathur, A., 2004, REVIEW) For instance, the Endoderm is responsible for creating the heart,
lungs, digestive organs and other structures. The Mesoderm is responsible for creating the
muscle, bone, tissue and kidneys. Lastly, the Ectoderm is responsible for creating the lungs,
digestive organs and other respiratory structures.
Another type of stem cells are called Somatic stem cells, or as commonly known as,
Adult stem cells. Scientists use the term somatic because these cells are found in any human
body and are not set for reproduction. Also the prefix of the word somatic is soma, which
means body. Though, in the organ or tissue it is found in, these adult stem cells can only repair
and maintain for that specific organ and tissue. (Prochazkova, M., Chavez, M. G., Prochazka, J.,
Felfy, H., Mushegyan, V., & Klein, O.D., 2015, Chapter 18) Thats a positive outlook because
with a patient whos suffering from any disease, can get adult stem cell therapy or a transplant
and have repairmen on any organ that is diseased. As simple as it seems, matching the cells is

difficult and making sure the body doesnt reject the cells after therapy or transplant is even more
complex.

For example, if doctors were to perform stem cell therapeutic surgery on the heart,

they would need the adult stem cells that came from the heart, including tissue. For that exact
reason about adult stem cells and the complexity of matching a heart or heart tissue, doctors want
the human embryonic stem cells because they are pluripotent cells and can differentiate to other
cells needed for any organ, muscle and tissue. Also, Human embryonic stem cells can cell
divide continuously while differentiating into a new cell type because of the signals it receives
from the organ, known as signal pathways. The signal pathway the organ gives off tells the
embryonic stem cells how many cells to produce and what type. (Reed, D. M., Foldes, G.,
Gatheral, T., Paschalaki, K. E., Lendvai, Z., Bagyura, Z., Mitchell, J. A., 2014)
For instance, the heart is very complex and requires a lot of different types of cells, such
as, atrial and ventricular cardiomyocytes, endothelial and cardiac fibroblasts. These cells work
together to keep pumping blood for oxygen and nutrients. Atrial and ventricular are both
responsible for maintaining the muscle in the heart, known as the Myocardium. They keep the
heart pump strong and the pressure balanced. Also, endothelial cells are responsible for the
endocardium; it keeps the blood vessels and cardiac valves in order. Lastly, the cardiac
fibroblasts cells are general cells that take fifty percent of space throughout the heart. Knowing
that human embryonic stem cells injection can differentiate to the types of heart cells, it is a lot
simpler than having to find the adult stem cells that are compatible with a specific organ, muscle
or tissue.
Continually, there are many types of Cardiovascular diseases and are listed in the top of
the list to cause human deaths. One of the main cardiovascular diseases is Heart Failure,
meaning the heart is failing to pump blood throughout the human body to provide oxygen and

nutrients it needs. (Kattman, S. J., Alder, E. D., & Keller, G. M., 2007) If the muscle in the heart
continues to keep fighting to pump blood than it will weaken and can lead to cells dying
extensively in the heart and it can lead to death. Studies have shown that human embryonic stem
cells can help build the heart with new improved cells the heart needs. By injecting human
embryonic stem cells, these can differentiate and become new tissues or muscles in the heart.
Mentioning the atrial and ventricular cardiomyocytes are responsible for the muscle, it would be
those cells that need to be renewed to keep the heart alive and human embryonic stem cells can
help achieve it.
Though, human embryonic stem cells are new inside the medical institute, it hasnt been
officially published that it works one-hundred percent, but so far the research and practices are
on good track. Scientists want to make sure that they dont interfere with the system and go
wrong of the compatibility of cells and the repairmen of organs or tissues. If all goes wrong, the
human body will start to reject the embryonic stem cells that are placed in and the body will
worsen. If the body feels that new cells that are not familiar with the body enter, than it will send
destructive cells coming from the immune system to kill off the new embryonic stem cells that
are trying to help the body. (Reed, D. M., Foldes., G., Harding S. E., & Mitchell, J. A., 2013,
British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology) Therefore, the part of the body that is diseased will
worsen even more and will be closer to death because of the destructive cells. It is basically
leading its human body to die; when these destructive cells want to help the body stay alive. So
the compatibly and making sure the signal pathways are sending the right signals to the new
embryonic stem cells is very important.
By studies and research, human embryonic stem cells proves more promising than adult
(somatic) stem cells because hECS can at least change to any cells the organ, muscle or tissue it

needs. Unlike, the adults stem cells having to be matching with the exact organ, muscle or
tissue. If the human embryonic stem cells are to be published than it would be a miracle and
millions of lives would be taken care of. There would be chance for people who suffer from an
awful disease, such as heart failure, than having to accept it.

References
Ilic, D., Stevenson, D., Patel, H., & Braude, P. (2012). 2 - basic principles of human embryonic
stem cells. In A. Atala (Ed.), Progenitor and stem cell technologies and therapies (pp. 2948) Woodhead Publishing. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1533/9780857096074.1.29
Kattman, S. J., Adler, E. D., & Keller, G. M. (2007). Specification of multipotential
cardiovascular progenitor cells during embryonic stem cell differentiation and
embryonic development. Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine, 17(7), 240-246.
doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tcm.2007.08.004
Lovell, M. J., & Mathur, A. (2004). REVIEW the role of stem cells for treatment of
cardiovascular disease. Cell Proliferation, 37(1), 67-87. doi:10.1111/j.13652184.2004.00301.x
Prochazkova, M., Chavez, M. G., Prochazka, J., Felfy, H., Mushegyan, V., & Klein, O. D. (2015).
Chapter 18 - embryonic versus adult stem cells. In A. V. S. S. Ramalingam (Ed.), Stem
cell biology and tissue engineering in dental sciences (pp. 249-262). Boston: Academic
Press. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-397157-9.00020-5
Reed, D. M., Foldes, G., Gatheral, T., Paschalaki, K. E., Lendvai, Z., Bagyura, Z., . . . Mitchell, J. A.
(2014). Pathogen sensing pathways in human embryonic stem cell derived-endothelial
cells: Role of NOD1 receptors. PLoS ONE, 9(4), 1-9. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0091119

Reed, D. M., Foldes, G., Harding, S. E., & Mitchell, J. A. (2013). Stem cell-derived endothelial
cells for cardiovascular disease: A therapeutic perspective. British Journal of Clinical
Pharmacology, 75(4), 897-906. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2125.2012.04361.x

(Lovell & Mathur, 2004; Reed, Foldes, Harding, & Mitchell, 2013; Reed et al., 2014)