Stem Cell Therapy in the Treatment of Parasitic Diseases

Stem cells are primary, unspecialized and mother of all cells that can differentiate into specialized cells and can produce more stem cells. These cells are classified into totipotent, pluripotent and multipotent. Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body and can replace damaged tissues and repaired them in the human body. Therefore, the use of stem cells shows the extraordinary ability to treat a wide range of disabling diseases. Stem cell therapy is the use of stem cells to treat or prevent a disease and injury. They stimulate the body to repair itself. Stem cells can be used for treating and preventing many diseases such as diabets, spinal cord injuries, cardiac infarction, arthritis, Alzheimer, Parkinson and wound healing. Researchers have recently used these cells to treat parasitic diseases in some cases. The findings show that the use of these cells in the treatment of various parasitic diseases such as malaria, trypanosomyosis, schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis and echinococcosis, have inhibitory effects which improves the function of the tissue and involved organs. This study summarizes the new advances in the stem cell therapy against parasitic infections.