Stem Cell Therapy

Repair Tissues and Restore Health with the Power of Cells

Stem cell therapy is an advanced medical treatment that uses special cells—stem cells, which our bodies naturally possess—to promote the repair and regeneration of damaged tissues.

Stem cells are the “source” cells that can become all kinds of cells—muscle, nerve, skin, and more. They have both self-renewal capacity (to replicate themselves) and differentiation capacity (to turn into various specialized cells).

Thanks to these properties, stem cells can continuously generate new cells, replace damaged tissue, and activate surrounding cells.

For this reason, stem cells are drawing attention as the cornerstone of regenerative medicine: they unlock the body’s inherent ability to heal and make it possible to repair damage that conventional medicine could not fix.

The Regenerative Capacity and Potential of Stem Cells

Stem cells have the ability to regenerate damaged tissues and cells.
For example, when stem cells are supplied to tissue impaired by injury or illness, they can differentiate into new cells to make up for what is lacking and stimulate the repair of surrounding cells.

This opens the possibility of repairing damage that was previously untreatable.
By leveraging their regenerative capacity, stem cells are expected to enhance the body’s innate healing power, and in the future may enable fundamental treatments through the regeneration of organs and tissues.

The Role of Stem Cells in Regenerative Medicine

In the field of regenerative medicine—advanced medicine that aims to restore tissues and organs damaged by disease or injury—stem cells play a central role.

In this domain, stem cells function as the engine for creating new cells and tissues, and are being applied to treatments for many areas such as the nervous system, heart, and joints.
In short, regenerative medicine would not be possible without stem cells; they are the key to the field.

Mechanism of Stem Cell Therapy

How Stem Cells Work in the Body

In stem cell therapy, the administered stem cells gather and act at sites of damage or inflammation.
As they circulate, stem cells detect signals emitted from injured areas—essentially “help” cues—and are drawn to those locations.

This phenomenon is technically called the “homing (accumulation) effect,” and treatment begins as stem cells congregate where they are needed.
Once there, stem cells contribute to repair by differentiating into new cells to replace damaged ones and by releasing factors that stimulate surrounding cells to heal.

Mechanisms: Immunomodulation, Anti-inflammation, and Tissue Regeneration

The principal mechanisms by which stem cells act are threefold: immunomodulation, suppression of inflammation, and tissue regeneration.

• Immunomodulation:
  Stem cells help balance the immune system by calming excessive immune reactions or supporting weakened immunity. This moderates overactive responses in autoimmune diseases, reducing tissue damage.
• Anti-inflammation:
  Stem cells release anti-inflammatory mediators (such as anti-inflammatory cytokines) that ease swelling and pain. As inflammation subsides, the local environment improves and healing can progress more readily.
• Tissue Regeneration:
  When needed, stem cells themselves differentiate into cells such as muscle or nerve to replenish what has been lost. Growth factors secreted by stem cells also promote proliferation of nearby cells and new blood vessel formation, advancing tissue reconstruction. Through these actions, the damaged tissue itself can be regenerated and repaired.

Benefits of Stem Cell Therapy (Activation of Self-Healing, Potential for Fundamental Treatment, etc.)

Stem cell therapy offers several advantages not found in conventional treatments.

• Activates the Body’s Self-Healing:
  By supplementing stem cells from outside, the body’s intrinsic healing power is enhanced and natural recovery is promoted. Rather than merely suppressing symptoms like a drug might, it supports the body in repairing itself.
• Potential for Fundamental Treatment:
  Because stem cells can regenerate and repair the tissue itself, the approach targets the underlying tissue damage that causes disease or injury, not just pain or inflammation. For example, by regenerating worn cartilage in osteoarthritis, a fundamental improvement can be expected.
• Minimally Invasive and Safe:
  Most stem cell treatments are performed via injection or IV infusion, without large incisions or major surgery. This reduces physical burden and is considered relatively low risk. Many cases do not require hospitalization, easing the burden on patients.
• Applicable to Many Conditions:
  Because stem cell effects extend to many tissues throughout the body, applications are being explored across orthopedics, neurological and immune disorders, and even aesthetics. The ability to combine multiple effects—tissue repair, immunomodulation, etc.—in a single therapy is also a major advantage.

Types and Characteristics of Stem Cells

There are several types of stem cells, and their characteristics and clinical use vary depending on their source.
In regenerative medicine, the most commonly used are mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which are found in various tissues such as bone marrow, adipose (fat), and umbilical cord.

Bone Marrow–Derived Stem Cells

As the name suggests, these stem cells are harvested from bone marrow inside the bones. Historically, bone marrow–derived stem cells have been central to regenerative medicine.
Typically, a patient’s own stem cells are collected from the pelvis using a needle, cultured and expanded, then reintroduced into the body.

Bone marrow stem cells are considered to have a good balance of self-renewal and differentiation capacities, and they exhibit immunomodulatory effects, which is why they have been studied in autoimmune diseases (for example, rheumatoid arthritis).

However, collecting bone marrow—even under local anesthesia—can be relatively invasive and burdensome, and the number and activity of stem cells decline with age.
Consequently, the use of stem cells from more easily accessible sources has been increasing.

Adipose-Derived Stem Cells

Adipose-derived stem cells are harvested from subcutaneous fat.
A major advantage is that a large number of stem cells can be obtained from a small amount of fat (adipose contains stem cells at a higher density than bone marrow).

Because fat collection can be performed under local anesthesia, the burden on the body is small. As an autologous therapy using a patient’s own fat, applications have broadened in aesthetic medicine and for joint disorders.
Adipose-derived stem cells proliferate quickly and are relatively easy to culture, enabling the required cell numbers to be secured in a short time. They also show strong anti-inflammatory effects, making them promising for easing knee inflammation, promoting wound healing, and more.

That said, some reports suggest their differentiation range is somewhat narrower than bone marrow–derived cells, so choosing the right cell source for the indication is important.

Wharton’s Jelly Stem Cells (Umbilical Cord–Derived)

Wharton’s Jelly stem cells are harvested from the gelatinous tissue inside the newborn umbilical cord known as Wharton’s jelly.
Umbilical cord–derived stem cells are sometimes called “zero-year-old cells.” Because they come from newborns, they are very young and vigorous.

Their advantages are striking: they exhibit very high self-renewal capacity, making large-scale expansion in culture easier, and they are known to differentiate into a broad range of cell types.

They also tend to provoke less immune rejection (low immunogenicity), making them suitable for allogeneic use—administering donor cells to other patients.

The umbilical cord is normally discarded after birth, so using it raises few ethical issues and poses no burden on the donor.
For these reasons, Wharton’s Jelly–derived stem cells are attracting worldwide attention in clinical regenerative medicine as safe, high-quality stem cells.

Applications of Stem Cell Therapy

Conditions and Symptoms Suitable for Stem Cell Therapy

Leveraging both regenerative and immunomodulatory actions, stem cell therapy is being explored for many conditions.
Examples include the following:

• Neurological Disorders:
  Applications are being studied for Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injury, and post-stroke sequelae, aiming to regenerate lost neural tissue and restore function.
• Orthopedic Disorders:
  For osteoarthritis (worn cartilage in the knee/hip), delayed bone healing, and ligament or tendon injuries, stem cell therapy aims to regenerate cartilage and bone and reduce inflammation-related pain.
• Immune/Autoimmune Disorders:
  For rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Crohn’s disease, Sjögren’s syndrome, and others, stem cell–mediated immunomodulation is being investigated to curb runaway immune responses and improve symptoms.
• Cardiovascular Disorders:
  Research is advancing in cardiology and vascular medicine—for example, improving heart function after myocardial infarction and enhancing blood flow in severe limb ischemia via tissue regeneration and neovascularization.
• Metabolic/Endocrine Disorders:
  Studies are underway for type 1 diabetes (where the pancreas is attacked by autoimmunity), exploring differentiation toward insulin-secreting cells and immunomodulation to protect islets.
• Aesthetics & Anti-Aging:
  Beyond medical indications, some receive stem cell therapy for anti-aging—skin rejuvenation (improving wrinkles and scars) and hair restoration for thinning hair are areas of interest. The concept is to support youthful function at the cellular level.

Expected Therapeutic Benefits (Tissue Repair, Immunomodulation, Anti-Aging, etc.)

Across the areas above, stem cell therapy may provide the following tangible benefits:

• Tissue Repair & Functional Recovery:
  Regenerating the injured tissue itself can restore organ or limb function—for example, improved movement through regeneration of paralyzed muscle or nerve, or restored range of motion and reduced pain through cartilage regeneration.
• Reduction of Inflammation & Pain:
  Anti-inflammatory effects calm local inflammation, easing pain and swelling. Even in chronic inflammatory conditions, symptom relief may be achieved.
• Immune Balance:
  By acting on the immune system, abnormal immune responses may be suppressed in autoimmune diseases, helping prevent deterioration. In states of low immunity, activation of immune cells may enhance resistance to infection.
• Anti-Aging:
  By countering age-related cellular decline, stem cells may help maintain or improve function—for example, improving skin firmness and radiance, increasing hair volume, aiding recovery from fatigue, and boosting vitality.
• Improved Quality of Life (QOL):
  With the effects above, daily-life limitations may lessen and overall QOL can improve—for instance, being able to walk with less pain, or having stable symptoms that allow return to work and hobbies.

Methods of Stem Cell Therapy

Routes of Administration (IV Drip, Local Injection, Intra-Articular Injection, etc.)

Stem cell administration routes are selected according to the patient’s symptoms and diagnosis.
Main routes include:

• IV Drip (Intravenous Administration):
  Stem cells are slowly infused through a vein (e.g., in the arm). Because cells circulate systemically, this is often chosen when effects are desired across multiple sites or for whole-body immunomodulation/anti-aging. The procedure is relatively quick and minimally uncomfortable (similar to blood draw).
• Local Injection:
  Stem cells are injected near the target area. Examples include injecting stem cells into a skin scar to promote skin regeneration, or delivering cells directly to the heart muscle via catheter after myocardial infarction. Delivering a high concentration locally is well-suited to focused tissue repair.
• Intra-Articular Injection:
  Injection directly into a joint, commonly for knee or hip disorders. Stem cells are introduced into the joint space to encourage cartilage regeneration and improve joint fluid properties, easing pain. Most cases can be done with a syringe without arthroscopy and on an outpatient basis.
• Other Routes:
  Depending on the condition, specialized approaches may be used. For certain central nervous system disorders, intrathecal (into the spinal fluid) administration has been explored in clinical studies. For some organs (e.g., liver), catheter-based arterial delivery may be selected. Choosing the optimal route for each patient is essential.

* At our clinic, specialists determine the most appropriate route of administration and required cell dose for each patient and propose a personalized stem cell treatment plan.

On the Safety of Stem Cell Therapy

Core Safety Information

While stem cell therapy is advanced medicine, scientific evidence on safety is steadily accumulating.
Numerous clinical studies worldwide—particularly those using mesenchymal stem cells—report that serious adverse events are very rare.

For example, meta-analyses have found no acute toxic reactions, tumorigenesis, or severe allergic reactions, indicating that administration is safe.
Umbilical cord–derived stem cells (Wharton’s Jelly MSCs) in particular tend to be less prone to immune rejection and show strong anti-inflammatory effects, making them favorable in both safety and therapeutic potential.

In clinical practice, transient fever or fatigue soon after infusion is the most common reaction, and long-term problematic side effects have been rarely reported.
Taken together, when performed in a properly controlled setting, stem cell therapy can be considered a highly safe medical treatment.

Quality Control Measures

Ensuring cell quality is crucial for the safety of stem cell therapy.
If the administered stem cells are not of high quality, expected benefits may not be realized, and unexpected risks could arise.

In our program, cells are handled in cGMP-compliant cleanroom facilities with rigorous aseptic technique and viral/bacterial testing. Only cells confirmed safe are provided to patients.

Before clinical use, cultured stem cells also undergo third-party quality testing as part of a multi-layered review process.
For donor-derived cells, donor infectious disease screening and genetic testing of cells are conducted under strict criteria to maximize safety.

Details of these quality control processes are introduced on the page below.

Stem cell therapy is advanced medicine that draws out the body’s inherent power to heal, repairing damaged tissue and re-balancing immunity.
Unlike symptomatic treatments, it promotes regeneration and aims for fundamental recovery.

In particular, Wharton’s Jelly stem cells combine high proliferative capacity, youth, and safety, and are attracting global attention.
Because administration does not require surgery, patients can benefit from regenerative medicine while keeping physical burden low.

At our clinic, we provide stem cell therapy based on the latest research and rigorous quality control.
We propose optimal, individualized treatment plans and perform all procedures with safety as the top priority.