Studeo
14th June 2010, 13:34
Obstacles to Stem Cell Therapy Cleared
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100608211604.htm
ScienceDaily (June 13, 2010) — Researchers at Lund University have
come up with a new technique to prevent tumours developing in
connection with stem cell transplantations.
The results have been published in the scientific journal Proceedings
of the National Academy of Sciences.
"When you develop, for example, nerve cells for transplantation, you
always get a small contamination of immature stem cells," explains
Johan Jakobsson, head of research group at the Department of
Experimental Medical Science.
These immature stem cells can lead to tumours -- an unacceptable side-effect.
"We have developed a technique that enables us to eliminate immature
stem cells and thus create safer stem cell transplantations."
The researchers have transplanted the stem cells into mice with
Parkinson's disease. The results are very promising: there are far
fewer tumours and the cells that survive are the correct type of nerve
cells.
The technique uses a specially designed virus.
"We use the virus to genetically modify the cells, which means that we
can see which ones we want and which ones we don't want. You could say
that we hijack one of the cell's gene regulation systems, microRNA.
The cell itself tells us when it is mature; it is black when it is
immature and turns green when it has completed its development."
It is relatively simple to isolate, cultivate, preserve and
genetically modify stem cells. If transplanted into humans they could
replace damaged tissue in the nervous system and support other cells
that work to heal a brain injury.
"For us this is a major step. Previously tumours have always developed
with this type of transplantation. Now we have shown that this can be
avoided," says Johan Jakobsson.
At Lund University collaborations are underway on stem cell therapy,
for example, for Parkinson's disease, diabetes, stroke, leukaemia and
breast cancer. The research community has set the goal of making
stem-cell based treatment effective and safe for at least one of the
diseases within the next 10 years.
"Our technique could in theory be used for all these diseases," says
Johan Jakobsson. The next step is to conduct experiments on human cell
lines.
This project is a collaboration within the Bagadilico research network.
Story Source:
The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by
ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by Lund University
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100608211604.htm
ScienceDaily (June 13, 2010) — Researchers at Lund University have
come up with a new technique to prevent tumours developing in
connection with stem cell transplantations.
The results have been published in the scientific journal Proceedings
of the National Academy of Sciences.
"When you develop, for example, nerve cells for transplantation, you
always get a small contamination of immature stem cells," explains
Johan Jakobsson, head of research group at the Department of
Experimental Medical Science.
These immature stem cells can lead to tumours -- an unacceptable side-effect.
"We have developed a technique that enables us to eliminate immature
stem cells and thus create safer stem cell transplantations."
The researchers have transplanted the stem cells into mice with
Parkinson's disease. The results are very promising: there are far
fewer tumours and the cells that survive are the correct type of nerve
cells.
The technique uses a specially designed virus.
"We use the virus to genetically modify the cells, which means that we
can see which ones we want and which ones we don't want. You could say
that we hijack one of the cell's gene regulation systems, microRNA.
The cell itself tells us when it is mature; it is black when it is
immature and turns green when it has completed its development."
It is relatively simple to isolate, cultivate, preserve and
genetically modify stem cells. If transplanted into humans they could
replace damaged tissue in the nervous system and support other cells
that work to heal a brain injury.
"For us this is a major step. Previously tumours have always developed
with this type of transplantation. Now we have shown that this can be
avoided," says Johan Jakobsson.
At Lund University collaborations are underway on stem cell therapy,
for example, for Parkinson's disease, diabetes, stroke, leukaemia and
breast cancer. The research community has set the goal of making
stem-cell based treatment effective and safe for at least one of the
diseases within the next 10 years.
"Our technique could in theory be used for all these diseases," says
Johan Jakobsson. The next step is to conduct experiments on human cell
lines.
This project is a collaboration within the Bagadilico research network.
Story Source:
The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by
ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by Lund University