Medically reviewed by
Dr. Minako Abe, M.D., Board-certified emergency medicine physician researching the relationship between lifestyle and disease onset in relation to the immune system and cancer, Japan
The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped organ located in the neck. This vital organ of the endocrine system produces hormones that regulate metabolism, growth and development. Thyroid disorders, such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, are common and can have a significant impact on a person’s health and quality of life. While there are available treatment options such as medication, surgery, and radiation therapy for these disorders, they are not always effective, thereby necessitating the quest for more effective and innovative therapies.
Stem cell therapy is an emerging field that holds promise in the treatment of thyroid disorders as well as a host of other medical conditions. But what exactly are stem cells and how can they be used for medical treatment purposes? Stem cells are basically cells with the potential to develop into different types of cells in the body. Sounds cool, right? The unique ability of these undifferentiated cells to differentiate into various types of cells makes them attractive in the field of regenerative medicine. Stem cells can be obtained from various sources, such as the bone marrow, adipose tissue, umbilical cord blood, and embryonic tissue.
Stem cell therapy for thyroid disorders involves the transplantation of stem cells into the thyroid gland. The stem cells can secrete growth factors that can stimulate the growth and regeneration of the thyroid gland. Found in the thyroid gland are adult stem cells (thyroid stem cells) that can regenerate thyroid tissue and have the potential to result in the restoration of normal thyroid function, according to scientists. Thyroid stem cells have the ability to differentiate into thyroid follicular cells, which are responsible for the production of thyroid hormones. This insight has opened up new possibilities for the treatment of thyroid disorders. Overall, there are different types of stem cells, such as embryonic stem cells (ESCs), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
The rest of this article focuses on:
What is the latest research?
While the current state of research in stem cell therapy for thyroid health is apparently still in its early stages, there have been some significant findings that hold promise. Generally, several studies have shown that stem cells can be used to repair or replace damaged thyroid tissue, resulting in significant improvements in thyroid function. However, it cannot be overemphasized that more research is needed before this therapy can become a standard of care.
According to research findings from a study published in Cell Stem Cell in 2015, embryonic stem cells acquired from mice can be used to generate thyroid follicular cells (the cells responsible for the production of the T4 and T3 hormones). Within eight weeks of transplantation into mice that had undergone radioactive iodine ablation to destroy their thyroid tissue, the stem cells developed into follicular cells and produced regular amounts of the T4 and T3 hormones. While this is a promising finding, much more work still needs to be done in order to ensure safe and effective clinical application in regenerative medicine for thyroid disorders, especially given that findings from such research conducted in animals may not be directly applicable in the human system.
It is worth noting that there are currently no published studies in which stem cell therapy has been successfully carried out for human patients with thyroid disorders. Researchers in Japan successfully induced functional thyroid follicular cells that are capable of secreting free thyroxine (FT4) from human-induced pluripotent stem cells. However, these cells generated thyroid hormone in vitro (that is, outside a living organism; in a test tube, culture dish, or some other artificial environment).
Another study published in the Journal of Gene Medicine in 2010 investigated the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the treatment of thyroiditis in animal models. The results showed that stem cell therapy can result in a decrease in inflammation of thyroid tissue. There is, however, not much data on MSCs and hypothyroidism therapy in particular.
What are the potential benefits?
The most fascinating and perhaps most hopeful aspect of the great potential of stem cell therapy is that this approach could finally offer a lasting cure for thyroid conditions like hypothyroidism, instead of simply managing the symptoms. It is also essential to acknowledge that stem cell therapy is not yet widely available and is still considered an experimental treatment.
Here are some of the potential health benefits that stem cell therapy has to offer in the treatment of thyroid disorders:
Regeneration of thyroid tissue
Stem cells can potentially be used to regenerate thyroid tissue that has been damaged or lost due to disease or injury. In some cases, such as after thyroidectomy for cancer, patients may be left with a reduced or absent thyroid gland. Stem cell therapy may offer a way to regenerate thyroid tissue, restoring normal thyroid function without the need for hormone replacement therapy.
Restoring thyroid function and reducing symptoms
Given that stem cells can differentiate into thyroid follicular cells which are responsible for thyroid hormone production, normal thyroid function may be restored by injecting stem cells into the thyroid gland with the aim of repairing or replacing diseased thyroid tissue. This could also result in the mitigation of the symptoms associated with thyroid conditions such as hypothyroidism.
Reduced need for medication
Thyroid disorders such as hypothyroidism require lifelong medication to manage symptoms. Since current treatment often involves lifelong hormone replacement therapy which can be costly and may present side effects in some people, stem cell therapy may, in the future, offer an invaluable approach to treating the root cause of the disorder. This could result in the reduction or outright elimination of the need for medication such as hormone replacement therapy for hypothyroid patients.
Improved quality of life
Thyroid disorders can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life, causing symptoms such as fatigue, depression, and weight gain. Stem cell therapy could offer a way to improve thyroid function and alleviate these symptoms, leading to an improved quality of life.
What are the challenges and potential risks involved?
Despite being a promising area of research, stem cell therapy is associated with some challenges and potential risks that need to be considered, not only for treating thyroid disorders, but also in a general sense. Aside from the very well-known ethical concerns regarding embryonic stem cells, and to a less extent, human induced pluriopotent stem cells, there are other noteworthy challenges and potential risks, some of which include the following:
Immune response and rejection
When stem cells derived from a donor are transplanted into the body, there is a risk that the immune system of the recipient may recognize them as foreign and attack them, leading to immune rejection, inflammation and tissue damage. This can reduce the effectiveness of the therapy and lead to complications.
Tumorigenesis
Stem cells have the potential to become cancerous if they undergo uncontrolled growth or differentiation. There is a risk that injected stem cells could develop into tumors, particularly if they are not properly controlled and differentiated. This risk is greater if stem cells are derived from an embryonic or induced pluripotent stem cell source and if they are transplanted into an area where there is already cancerous tissue. In fact, researchers believe that cancer stem cells are the source of some, if not most, cancers. This implies that in order to reverse carcinogenesis (cancer formation), these cancer stem cells may have to be targeted and inactivated.
Challenges with regulation and standardization
The use of stem cells for therapy is still a relatively new field, and there are regulatory challenges involved in ensuring the safety and efficacy of these treatments, generally speaking. The safety of stem cell therapy for thyroid disorders is still being studied, as there are potential risks associated with the use of stem cells. The lack of standardized protocols for stem cell therapy may result in inconsistency in treatment and a lack of reproducibility across different studies. While there are some existing regulations and guidelines governing stem cell therapies especially in the US and the EU, there is still the need for a more robust, clear, and far-reaching regulatory oversight of stem cell research and therapy globally to ensure that ethical standards are maintained and that patient safety is constantly assured.
What are the future directions of research?
The future of research in stem cell therapy for thyroid disorders is focused on addressing the current challenges and expanding the potential applications of this therapy. Some of the future directions of research in stem cell therapy include:
- Improving safety and efficacy, including developing ways to ensure that the transplanted stem cells are not rejected by the immune system and do not form tumors.
- Exploiting the potential of stem cell therapy to be used in developing personalized treatments of thyroid conditions to ensure optimal efficacy with limited adverse effects, as treatment is tailored to the individual patient’s medical needs and genetic makeup.
Key takeaways
- The thyroid gland plays a critical role in regulating metabolism and growth, and thyroid disorders can have a significant impact on a person’s health and quality of life.
- Stem cell therapy has the potential to repair or replace damaged thyroid tissue and could offer a potential cure for thyroid disorders.
- Stem cells are cells that have the potential to develop into different types of cells in the body. They have the ability to regenerate damaged tissues and organs, making them an ideal candidate for the treatment of thyroid diseases
- Several studies have been conducted on the use of stem cell therapy in the treatment of thyroid disorders, and while they are still in the early stages, they show promising results.
- Stem cell therapy is also an important area of research that could lead to a better understanding of the underlying causes of thyroid disorders and the development of new, targeted therapies.
- There are some challenges associated with stem cell therapy, including the risk of rejection by the immune system and the risk of tumorigenesis, but researchers are actively working to overcome these challenges.
- Immune rejection is likely to occur when the stem cells are not from the patient’s own body.
- In the future, stem cell therapy could potentially offer a more effective and long-lasting treatment for thyroid disorders, improving the health and quality of life of many people worldwide.
- The future of research in stem cell therapy for thyroid disorders is apparently focused on improving the safety and efficacy of this therapy and expanding its potential applications. With continued research, stem cell therapy may someday offer new options for treating thyroid disorders in the future.
