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Scientists Found a Way to Create Embryo-Like Stem Cells from Other Sources
Stem cells that have the ability to cure many disorders and diseases are widely considered as the future of medicine. Until recently, only embryonic stem cells have shown such potentials. Since production of embryonic stem cells requires destruction of the embryo, the technique has been criticized by many people despite the fact that the embryonic stem cells derived from embryos that would be destroyed anyway. For that reason the medical world was very excited after the scientists announced that they have found a way to produce embryo-like stem cells from other sources.
The CEO and President of the Coriell Institute, Dr. Mike Christman has stated that he is thrilled about the revolutionary discovery which enables creation of stem cells with potentials of embryonic stem cells from other sources such as the skin. The scientists have developed a procedure that allows them to turn skin cells into embryo-like stem cells. Dr. Christman has explained that this is achieved by reprogramming skin cell into embryo-like stem cells which are then added certain chemicals that turn them into virtually any cells including heart cells, pancreas cells and liver cells.
Scientists believe that this will allow the doctors to treat a large number of diseases including heart disease, diabetes and degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease with patients’ own cells. For example, patients with type 1 diabetes whose pancreas cells are unable to produce adequate amounts of insulin could be cured from the disease completely if receiving pancreas cells. Another advantage of embryo-like stem cells produced from the patient’s own cells is the fact that there is no risk of body to reject newly implanted cells.
In addition to their potentials in treatment of a large number of health problems, the embryo-like stem cells will also allow the scientist to test the safety and efficacy of new drugs.
Subscribe to the comments for this postCerebral Palsy Treated with Stem Cells Derived from Umbilical Cord Blood
Cryo-Save Group N.V., the leading stem cell bank in Europe has announced a release of another sample of umbilical cord blood on December 15, 2010. A boy with cerebral palsy from Portugal, aged 6, has traveled to the Duke University in the United States to take part in a clinical trial for cerebral palsy treatment which has been approved by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Cerebral palsy is a serious disease characterized by brain injury that causes permanent physical disability which cannot be cured. On the other hand, many parents with children suffering from this disease report that they have noticed improvement after their children received a stem cell therapy involving the use of the patients’ own stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood. Clinical trial that will take place at the Duke University and many other research centers worldwide hope to discover enough data to prove that stem cell therapy can help people suffering from cerebral palsy.
The FDA approved clinical trial at the Duke University can be participated only by people who have their umbilical cord blood stored at a bank such as Cryo-Save since birth. In this clinical trial, participants will went through a simple and safe treatment. They will receive a transfusion of their own stem cells from their umbilical cord blood. Then, the researchers will monitor the response of participants to the treatment and hopefully, get enough evidence to support benefits of stem cell therapy for cerebral palsy.
The CEO at Cryo-Save, Arnoud van Tulder has said that the stem cell bank is pleased for being able to support clinical trials like the one at the Duke University by saving and releasing the highest quality samples of umbilical cord blood. He also noted that the number of requests for release of samples they store has been increasing.
A 4 Year Old Girl that was Blind Can See after Receiving Stem Cell Therapy
Izabelle Evans, a 4 year old girl from UK suffering from a rare condition that causes blindness can see after receiving stem cell therapy performed in China. Her parents, James Evans and Hollie McHugh, have said that the moment when she could finally look into their eyes saying mummy and daddy is indescribable.
Izabelle suffers from septo-optic dysplasia, also known as de Morsier syndrome since birth. It is a very rare condition affecting five in one million newborns. Before receiving stem cell therapy, Izabelle was blind, and had hormone deficiency and mobility problems. Her parents were raising 31,000 pounds needed for the stem cell therapy for one year. Much of the needed funds were raised through concerts organized by their friends and private donations.
Due to the fact that the stem cell therapy is not available in the UK, the family travelled to Qingdao, China, at the end of October. Izabelle’s therapy started on November 1 and lasted until November 24. The treatment involved transplantation of stem cells derived from umbilical cords from healthy babies into Izabelle’s spinal canal in order to create new optic nerves. Before the treatment, Izabelle had only few hundred optic nerves instead of millions that are needed for sight. On the day of Izabelle’s birthday, December 3, the family returned to the UK.
Today, Izabelle can see three feet in front thanks to the stem cell therapy. Her parents said that she is doing very well. They also said that they have noticed improvement in speech. Izabelle will be monitored over the following six months and the family will then decide whether they will return to China to receive another stem cell therapy. If they do, they will need to raise more money. But at the moment the family enjoys Izabelle’s ability to see.
Scientists Discovered a Type of Stem Cells that Protect Bacteria causing Tuberculosis
Scientists at the International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biology in New Delhi, India, have discovered that the human body produces a type of stem cells that prevent the immune system from destroying the bacteria causing tuberculosis. The study that was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on December 14, 1010, explains how the tuberculosis bacteria can survive in the human body for years.
After the infection with tuberculosis bacteria, the human body starts to produce T-cells that kill the bacteria. However, the scientists in New Delhi have discovered that the body also starts producing a type of stem cells that actually protect the tuberculosis bacteria from being destroyed by the T-cells. The research led by Gobardhan Das that was conducted on mice infected with tuberculosis has shown presence of these stem cells in areas where they discovered presence of the tuberculosis bacteria. Presence of stem cells that prevent the T-cells from fighting the tuberculosis bacteria was also found in infected human patients.
These stem cells trigger the release of nitric oxide but in insufficient amounts to kill the tuberculosis bacteria. But what is even more important is the fact that nitric oxide blocks the T-cells resulting in establishment of a balance between the tuberculosis bacteria and cells that destroy them. The scientist from New Delhi believe that the mentioned stem cells explain why tuberculosis incubation period lasts so long and why some people who are infected with the tuberculosis bacteria never get ill. Only about 10 percent of infected people develops illness at a certain point of their lives, most often when having a weakened immune system.
Tuberculosis remains one of the leading causes of death, especially in developing countries killing about 1,8 million people in 2009 alone. The scientists from New Delhi believe that suppression of the release of stem cells that enable the tuberculosis bacteria to survive could be the key to treatment of the infection.
Research on Embryonic Stem Cells in US mostly Funded by States
A study that was conducted by Aaron Levine who is an assistant professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology reveals that the research on embryonic stem cells in US is primarily funded by the states rather than the federal government. The result of the study which includes an online database of research on stem cells in six states – New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Connecticut, Maryland and California also reveals that the level of financial support of research on embryonic stem cells varies from one state to another. In addition, the author of the study concludes that most of these researches probably could be funded by the federal government according to its guidelines from 2001.
Levine’s study that was issued in the journal Nature Biotechnology on December 7, 2010, has shown that the above mentioned six states have funded a larger number of research on embryonic stem cells than the federal government although contribution of the federal government to research on stem cells is overall larger. The main reason for relatively small support of federal government to research on embryonic stem cells probably lays in the fact that it requires destruction of human embryos which remains a controversial topic although the research is conducted on embryos which are destroyed anyway. The author of the study also noted that he believes that there is only a small percentage of researches funded by the states which are not eligible for federal government funding.
The funding of research on embryonic stem cells also varies from one state to another. For example, Connecticut funded 97% of studies between December 2005 and December 2009, while New York financially supported only 21% researches. The author of the study has said that is probably due to the fact that some states including New York are more focused on the so-called iPS cells that are derived from adult tissue.
Biopharmaceutical Company from South Korea Not Guilty for Deaths after Stem Cell Treatment
The International Cellular Medicine Society stated that RNL Bio, a biopharmaceutical company from South Korea is not guilty for death of two patients after receiving stem cell treatment. Last month, the media in South Korea reported about two people dying – one in Japan and one in China after receiving stem cell treatment and implied that the company is encouraging patients to travel overseas to avoid the country’s laws that ban the use of stem cells for therapeutic purposes.
A group consisting from international physicians that studies the use of stem cells and keeps track on patients who receive stem cell treatment worldwide has concluded that there is no evidence that stem cells were cause of death of the two patients reported last month. The first patient, a 61 years old man who received stem cell treatment for diabetes and some other health problems in China died two months after treatment. The cause of death remains unknown but the International Cellular Medicine Society has concluded that the stem cells provided by biopharmaceutical company from South Korea were most likely not the cause of death. The second patient, a 73 years old man who traveled to Japan died from a blood clot that caused pulmonary embolism within 24 hours. However, the patient already have had blood clot upon receiving stem cell treatment and the treatment might stimulated the detachment of the blood clot. The International Cellular Medicine Society concluded that blood clot formation by the stem cells is less probable.
The International Cellular Medicine Society that investigated the reported deaths after receiving stem cell treatment has also emphasized that the risk of cancer due to stem cells treatment as often reported by the media is not related to treatments involving the use of stem cells derived from adult tissue that were received by both deceased patients.
Spinal Cord Injury Successfully Treated with Stem Cell Therapy
The San Diego based company Medistem has announced it has successfully treated spinal cord injury with stem cells derived from menstrual blood. This is the first known use of stem cell technology for treatment of spinal cord injury. The technique and the results of the treatment were issued in peer-reviewed publication International Archives of International Medicine.
The 29 years old patient who received stem cell therapy suffered severe spinal cord injury in a plane crash. The injury has caused walking inability, sexual disfunction and constant pain. The patient received stem cell therapy from an adult donor about 6 months after the injury in November 2008, and then two more therapies in January 2009 and July 2009. He experienced gradual improvement of symptoms with each therapy and today, he is able to walk, recovered his sexual function and has less pain than before the treatment.
The results of the treatment are encouraging but the Chairman and President of Medistem, Dr. Bogin emphasizes that it is too early to make any conclusions although everyone in the company are very excited about the dramatic improvement the patient has experienced after receiving stem cell therapy. Vice President, Dr. Sablin has said that they wish to start clinical trials in 2011 in order to gain the necessary data for the FDA to approve their therapy which bases on use of stem cells from menstrual blood.
In addition to successful treatment of spinal cord injury, the company has also published encouraging results in patients with multiple sclerosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy and even heart failure after receiving stem cell therapy. Vice President and Board Member of Medistem, Mr. Zaharchook who said that the company is searching for a strategic partner also stated that they remain focused on treatment limb ischemia although they do not exclude the use of stem cells obtained from menstrual blood for other health problems.
HIV Cured with Stem Cell Therapy
The case with the so-called Berlin patient, an HIV positive man with leukemia who has been cured of HIV infection after receiving a bone marrow transplant was first revealed at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infection in Boston in 2008. More extensive report on the case was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in early 2009, while the newly published results of follow-up tests have shown that the Berlin patient has been cured of HIV infection with stem cell therapy.
The Berlin patient who has later revealed his identity has received stem cells from a donor with a rare genetic mutation which reduces the risk of HIV and is estimated to be present in about 1% of northern and western Europeans. Before the stem cell therapy, the Berlin patient went through chemotherapy and radiation therapy in oder to destroy the immune system cells. He was also given immunosuppressive medications to prevent rejection of transplanted stem cells. Antiretroviral therapy which is used for treatment of HIV has been halted after the patient has received the bone marrow transplant.
The case has attracted a lot of attention worldwide and many scientists started to investigate the use of stem cell therapy for treatment of HIV in other patients. So far, they have found two possible solutions – a transplant from a donor who is immune to HIV or engineering of HIV-resistant stem cells. The first option would require great efforts to find individuals with rare genetic mutation that makes them immune to HIV, while the development of a technique for engineering HIV-resistant stem cells may take years. In addition, both treatments will most likely be very expensive if they prove to be effective and will probably be reserved for patients without other treatment options at least in the initial period.
Testes Stem Cells Might Cure Type 1 Diabetes in Men
The researchers at the Georgetown University Medical Center have announced to present the results of their study which implies that testes stem cells could cure Type 1 diabetes in men. They will present their study at the American Society of Cell Biology 50th annual meeting that will be held in Philadelphia on December 12, 2010.
Type 1 diabetes is known as an incurable disease because the immune system destroys the pancreas cells that produce the hormone insulin which is why the body is unable to process glucose. G. Ian Gallicano from the Georgetown University Medical Center has stated that he and his team managed to lower blood sugar levels in mice by using testes stem cells.
Many different methods have been tried to cure Type 1 diabetes including stem cells. According to the National Institutes of Health, the scientists have used stem cells both from embryonic and adult tissue to create pancreas cells that produce insulin. However, stem cells derived from embryos remain a controversial topic because they require destruction of an embryo. Stem cells from adult tissue have potential to differentiate as well but not as high as embryonic cells. In addition, a method that enabled differentiation of adult stem cells into pancreas cells producing insulin has been shown to cause cancer.
The researchers at the Georgetown University Medical Center discovered that testes stem cells produce less cancer if using the same method that has been shown problematic in adult stem cells. Due to the fact that the new pancreas cells producing insulin originate from the patient’s own body there is no risk of the immune system perceiving them as harmful invaders but it remains unknown whether the immune system will destroy them because they act like pancreas cells that produce insulin. Gallicano also emphasized that his team still needs to determine the amount of insulin that needs to be produced by the cells to be able to cure Type 1 diabetes in men.
Scientist Created Mice with Two Fathers
Scientists under leadership of Richard R. Behringer at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Texas, revealed that they have created male and female mice with two fathers by using stem cells. Their study was published in the journal Biology of Reproduction on December 8, 2010.
Dr. Behtringer and his team created iPS cells (induced pluripotent stem cells) by manipulation of male mouse fetus fibroblasts. A small percentage of these iPS cells then lost the Y chromosome and turned into XO cells which were inserted into a donor female mice blastocysts. These blastocysts were then implanted into surrogate mice giving birth to female chimeras with one X chromosome from the male mouse fetus fibroblasts. After being mated with a normal male mice, these female chimeras gave birth to male and female mice with genetic traits of two fathers.
The study of Dr. Behringer and his team has shown that iPS cells can be used to create genetic traits of two fathers without the need of outcrossing the females. Their method could be very useful in agriculture to improve livestock genetic breeding. The authors of the study also believe that one male can produce both the eggs and semen required for self-fertilization which could help preserve endangered species. Even more, the scientist suggests that the method they have used could be possibly used in humans, which if combined with in vitro fertilization would not require a female chimera.
This means that iPS cells may enable the same-sex couples to have children although male couples would still need a surrogate mother. The team also speculates that a variation of the method they have used could produce offspring with two mothers as well. However, the scientists have emphasized that their method requires further studies and tests before it will be possible to create human iPS cells.