Mouse Skin Cells Reprogrammed to Act Like Embryonic Stem Cells
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New cells were coaxed into becoming three kinds of cardiac cells
-- Robert Preidt
Functioning cardiac cells have been created from mouse skin cells reprogrammed to have the same unlimited differentiation characteristics of embryonic stem cells, say researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles.
This is the first study to show that induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, which don't involve the use of embryos or eggs, can be directed to develop into the three types of cardiovascular cells needed to repair the heart and blood vessels, the researchers said.
The finding could help lead to new treatments for heart attack, heart failure and atherosclerosis.
The UCLA team also differentiated the iPS cells into several types of blood cells, something that may one day help in treating blood diseases and in bone marrow transplantation.
The study was published online in the May 1 issue of Stem Cells.
"I believe iPS cells address many of the shortcomings of human embryonic stem cells and are the future of regenerative medicine," senior author Dr. Robb MacLellan, a researcher at the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, said in a prepared statement.
"I'm hoping that these scientific findings are the first step towards one day developing new therapies that I can offer my patients. There are still many limitations with using iPS cells in clinical studies that we must overcome, but there are scientists in labs across the country working to address these issues right now," said MacLellan, an associate professor of cardiology and physiology.
While it's believed that iPS cells are very similar to embryonic stem cells, further research must be done to confirm the differentiation potential of iPS cells. This finding that iPS cells can become cardiovascular cells is an important step in that confirmation process.
"Theoretically, iPS cells are able to differentiate into 220 different cell types. For the first time, scientists from UCLA were able to induce the differentiation of mouse iPS cells into functional heart cells," Dr. Miodrag Stojkovic, co-editor of Stem Cells, said in a prepared statement.
For more information: The U.S. National Institutes of Health has more about stem cells click here stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics
The United States is the stem-cell research and regenerative medicine development of the earliest and most technologically advanced countries. However, the Bush administration insisted on embryonic stem cell research under limited circumstances, stirred up the scientific community and have expectations of this community discontent. At the same time, because the U.S. community on stem cell research in regenerative medicine and its application on the understanding of the enormous potential, coupled with the U.S. economy in promoting scientific research, technological development and applications on a wide range of features, making this area of development
Research entities diversification, diversification of research, sources of funds through multiple channels, the results of in-depth and meticulous characteristics.
First, stem cell research policy disputes
Embryonic stem cell research would be possible to produce many new treatment methods, in particular the effective treatment of various types of brain and cardiovascular disease. The brain and heart are the two engines of human life, but also the two Americans facing serious illness. 700,000 people a year die from heart disease, 200,000 people died of stroke, Alzheimer s disease, Parkinson s disease
Treatment of such diseases every year to spend 400 billion U.S. dollars less than was suspected, of which at least 15 billion U.S. dollars is not much used in the production of effective drugs.
As former President Reagan s death, a ruling and opposition parties support the wave of stem cell research. May, his wife, Nancy Reagan sent a letter to Bush, asked to relax the embryonic stem cell research restrictions. The previous two days, the two parties from the 206 Members of the House of Representatives sent a joint letter to Bush to modify his stem cell policy. They proposed that the existing policy on stem cell research in the United States had a negative effect, so that the funds could only be used for 19 types of stem cell line research. These stem cells in August 2001 before, may have been contaminated, and has been aging. Talented scientists because of policy restrictions, or lost to foreign countries, or to do other research. June, another 56 senators wrote to Bush to reconsider stem cell research policy.
Many researchers, patients and their relatives and friends believe that stem cell research to provide patients with the regeneration of the way, so strongly resist the Bush administration s policy of strictly limited, that the Americans lost a lot of time. According to the United States in March Diabetes Research Foundation, the youth survey, in the investigation of 600 is considered conservative voters, support for embryonic stem cell research accounting for 56 percent strongly against it accounted for 36 percent, 8 percent not sure. Of which 44 percent of the people that need to relax policy restrictions, only 23 percent of the people advocated maintaining the existing policy.
June 15, Bush called on the parties had responded to the clearly expressed on embryonic stem cell research is still adhere to strict restrictions on the policy, saying that life is created by God, not for human use goods. At the same time, he twice asked Congress the adoption of a comprehensive and effective ban on human cloning, the motion. Adhere to this policy of strict limits, has become George W. Bush and Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry s campaign strategy of one of the means by the widespread concern in the community.
Second, stem cell research and regenerative medicine diversification
In embryonic stem cell research under limited conditions, in addition to the existing embryonic stem cell lines for limited research, some research institutes and enterprises to develop the adult stem cell research, while others seek new ways of regenerative medicine, for example, may stimulate the human body within the Regeneration of the genes and proteins. Estimates of adult stem cell research in the treatment programme, in five years to enter the market. Several major pharmaceutical companies, such as large pharmaceutical (BigPharma), Johnson - Johnson (Johnson-Jhnson), Wyeth, EliLilly, has been in this area invest a lot of money. Innovative medical great potential, according to Decision Resources Inc. estimates that the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease market will double in 10 years, reaching 35.8 billion U.S. dollars.
In embryonic stem cell research, Geron biotechnology company in San Francisco laboratory, is being transformed into embryonic stem cells in regenerative medicine micro-factory. The company is one of the experimental products, spinal injuries due to the semi-paralyzed rats restore the majority, and thus can use four-legged walking. The mystery is that the force of embryonic stem cells can be divided into a phosphate ester into myeloid cells. Myeloid phosphorus ester is a protective membrane covering the brain signals from the transmission of nerve fibers on the surface. Myeloid phosphorus ester damage will be caused by several types of nerve disorders.
Bone marrow is an important source of renewable treatment. Bone marrow stem cell treatment of various blood diseases a long time, has achieved great results. The new bone marrow stem cell research, focus on exploration of its multi-energy on. The scientific community tried to use it to treat heart disease and other diseases. For example, the University of Pittsburgh Institute for Regenerative Medicine MeGowan a study is the use of the patient s own bone marrow stem cell therapy for heart disease. This year, the research team from their own bone marrow in patients with heart failure to retrieve the two stem cells, doing heart bypass surgery, two types of stem cells into their heart. Six months later, to accept stem cell transplantation in patients with heart pulse function, only bypass surgery than patients with strong 24 percent.
Exploring new ways for Regenerative Medicine, the annual turnover of 1.7 billion U.S. dollars of the world s fourth-largest biotechnology company - Gene enzyme (Gengym) Company: is studying patients with heart disease the treatment of heart muscle. An experiment is induced removed from the patient s thigh muscle tissue into muscle cells, laboratory growth after its implantation in patients with the heart. Unlike muscle cells into stem cells, can not be transformed into myocardium. But the researchers believe, into heart muscle cells can protect the outer membrane will gradually become thinner over time, thus avoiding a heart attack, leading to congestive heart failure because of the serious consequences. France early in the trial, 10 patients with cardiac function improved 35 percent on average. However, genetic testing of some of those companies have emerged arrhythmia, may be due to a problem in itself. Moreover, all accepted into muscle cells in patients, has done a heart bypass operation. Therefore, we can not definitely improve heart function is derived from the operation, or cells.
Many scientists also noted that the bare stem cell protein repair. Regeneration is probably the key protein, or protein, chemical and cell therapy cocktails. Boston Children s Hospital in the laboratory, with 3,000 zebrafish heart in a medical experiment. Each fish will be in the heart of organizations with 20 percent, the scientists found that cutting wound in the heart cells around the beginning of growth and formation of myocardial regeneration. Soon, there is a zebra fish with the same heart at birth. The study s main goal is to trigger the automatic identification of all repair genes and proteins.
Large biotechnology companies Amgen (Amgen), known as GDNF is a test of macromolecules. It can stimulate the Parkinson s patients produce dopamine nerve growth. March, the company demonstrated on a wheelchair patients in the GDNF after injection, left his wheelchair walking the situation. However, the protein is macromolecules, is not easy in the brain penetration and spread through surgical implantation of the device will be directly injected into damaged parts, which also carried out extensive research before the application. Curis company is developing a renewable protein switch control of drugs. In animal tests, the drug molecule activated stem cells in the damaged tissue growth, in order to stimulate the body s own repair capacity.
The new venture Titan (Titan) pharmaceutical companies, are on the back of the eyeball. They will be purified after the cells so that growth in the laboratory, then put it up on the ball on the gel. - Gel implants in the brain, the cells continue to release dopamine. In its early trials, to accept this treatment of patients with Parkinson s disease, in motor function on a 48 percent improvement.
In short, in the heart and brain cell research and renewable variety of ways, it is arduous and long path of exploration. In this regard almost every progress are encountered setbacks, contradicting the findings of the trial, the dangerous side effects.
Third, to fill funding gap
As the United States only restrictions on the use of federal funds to study new embryonic stem cell lines, therefore, in order to promote the development of regenerative medicine, researchers
March 2004, Merton of Harvard University Professor Douglas announced that he has used private donations of funds created 17 embryonic stem cell lines, and in accordance with the human embryonic stem cells / material transfer agreement to the outside world the researchers provided free of charge. Then announced a used 100 million. Dollar private donors to establish stem cell research program.
States have tried to fill the funding gap. California in November to have the support of 59 per cent rate adopted a proposal that the state government to 3 billion U.S. dollars of bonds in the next 10 years to support embryonic stem cell research, the motion has been signed by Republican Gov. Schwarzenegger came into effect. Bill Gates is well-known entrepreneurs, one of the proponents, he has donated more than 10 million dollars to promote the motion. This initiative will allow California and the United Kingdom, Singapore and South Korea, like many other countries will be included in the stem cells the focus of the study, which ranks among the world s advanced level. At the same time, it encourages the United States in many other states have begun to take action.
On the current view, the innovative regenerative medicine is not without risk, the degenerative diseases of control can not be quickly successful. However, whether political factors or funding problems, it can not obstruct the field of regenerative medicine to the rapid growth of knowledge.
Related: Mouse Skin Cells Reprogrammed to Act Like Embryonic Stem Cells
Additional information:
From www.wxii12.com:
The project is aimed at developing unique educational programs focusing on regenerative medicine, health literacy and health.
The Center for Regenerative Biology and Medicine is a multidisciplinary collaboration between the School of Science and the School.
The Center for Regenerative Medicine at Mass General Hospital is working to cure chronic diseases through stem cell research and reparative.
The Center is providing a comprehensive and coordinated bench to bedside approach to regenerative medicine, including basic and clinical.
The emerging field of treatment called regenerative medicine or cell therapy refers to treatments that are founded on the concept of producing.
Regenerative medicine. As punishment for giving. fire to Humankind, Zeus ordered Prometheus. chained to a rock and sent an eagle to eat his liver each.
Educational materials and research resource for application to tissue repair. Based at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at the University.
Tissue Engineering, Official Journal of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society, has been receiving increasing.
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