The Professor and Head of the Department of Hematology and Oncology at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Assistant Researcher of the Stem Cell Project, Dr. Fatima Al Kaabi, revealed the details of the treatment that was developed at the Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Center, to be used as a supportive treatment for people with the emerging coronavirus, and the stage reached by clinical trials for this The new treatment, which is the first innovative clinical treatment in the Emirates.
In detail, Al-Kaabi explained, that stem cells are a special type of cell located throughout the human body with very interesting properties, and one of these characteristics is their ability to transform into different types of cells and proliferate indefinitely to produce more of the same stem cells. , Noting that stem cell therapy harnesses these unique properties to regenerate cells that do not regenerate on their own.
She pointed out that stem cells have been used in the treatment of many conditions, including leukemia and immunodeficiency disorders, for more than 30 years, as they are used as bone marrow transplants in diseases of blood cancers and lymphoma, and in many ongoing experiments as treatment by injection in cases Certain, indicating a greater interest in the medical and scientific community to reach further exploration of the hidden potential of these cells through innovative safe methods.
"The treatment that we developed at the Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Center was carried out by isolating a type of primitive stem cell called a very small embryonic stem cell, which is believed to have regenerative potential, in other words, it is called primitive because it dates back to early stages of development," he said. It is able to divide quickly and turn into many types of cells. "She pointed out that this achievement was worked on by 28 researchers and specialists within one team that worked and intensified research and experiments, to reach a promising result and an honorable national achievement.
She added: "The advantage of using these cells in treating Corona patients is that their collection does not require surgery as is the case with other types of stem cells. Rather, the blood sample is taken from patients and the treatment is introduced to the lungs without the need for surgical intervention, but only By inhaling treatment with a fine spray.
Al-Kaabi continued: "After taking the blood sample and extracting the cells from it, they undergo a biochemical process where the blood plates responsible for the growth of the patient himself are used to activate these cells, and then we can re-enter them into the lungs where we believe they are able to regenerate the damaged cells and modify their immune response to reduce From inflammation in the lung tissue caused by HIV (Covid-19) infection and contributing to the regeneration of these damaged cells on their own.
She emphasized that the researchers at the Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Center are currently supervising the end of data collection to conduct experiments to determine the effectiveness of this treatment, by doing a comparison of patients ’condition after receiving treatment with the condition of other patients who did not receive treatment taking into account the same characteristics, where the next step will be more towards effectiveness A wider application, to establish health and safety.
Al-Kaabi stressed that this treatment is a supportive and not a cure for the disease, as it helps patients overcome the symptoms caused by the virus, but it will not eliminate the virus itself, as the idea of supportive therapy depends on it helping to reduce the severity of inflammation in the lung caused by the virus Same, as it works to support lung tissue by regulating immunity and increasing the body's ability to recover on its own.
And indicated that the implementation of the first experiments with the first case infected with the virus "Covid-19", began on April 4 last, and the result was very promising, and the number of patients with whom the treatment was tried so far reached 73 patients aged 18 years and classified their infection between medium and severe symptoms And 25% of them were in intensive care, and all their results were sound and promising, indicating that stem cell therapy does not stop the protocol for treating patients, whether with malaria or with antivirals, or even through blood plasma therapy,