Which type of cells are typically harvested for regenerative medicine?

In regenerative medicine, stem cells are highly sought after due to their unique properties, including the ability to differentiate into various specialized cell types and their capacity for self-renewal. This makes stem cells pivotal in the development of treatments for a wide range of diseases and injuries. They can be derived from various sources, such as embryonic tissues or adult tissues, and their versatility enables them to be used in tissue engineering to regenerate damaged or diseased tissues and organs.

The other cell types mentioned, such as myoblasts, adipocytes, and fibroblasts, have specific roles but do not possess the same level of regenerative potential as stem cells. Myoblasts are specifically involved in muscle repair, adipocytes are fat cells that have a primary function in energy storage, and fibroblasts are essential for the formation of connective tissue. While these cells can contribute to regenerative processes, they do not offer the same broad applicability and versatility found in stem cells, which is fundamentally why stem cells are often the focus in regenerative medicine practices.