December 24, 2006 Hair Follicles May Alleviate Stem Cell Ethics Debate
A report published in the medical journal Stem Cells: The International Journal of Cell Differentiation and Proliferation, has suggested that cells found in adult hair follicles may provide an alternative to embryonic stem cells in stem cell research. Similar to embryonic stem cells, epidermal neural crest stem cells (found in the bulge of hair follicles) have a high degree of plasticity, can be isolated at high levels of purity, and can be expanded in culture. Similar to other types of adult stem cells, they are readily accessible and could lead to using a patient's own hair as a source for therapy without the controversy or medical issues of embryonic stem cells. "We grafted the cells into mice that have spinal cord injuries and were encouraged by the results. The cells survived and integrated into the spinal cord, remaining at the site of transplantation and not forming tumors," says Dr. May Sieber-Blum, who co-authored the study. "We see the potential for cell replacement therapy in which patients can be their own donors, which would avoid ethical issues and reduce the possibility of tissue incompatibility," Dr. Sieber-Blum says.
MedicalNewsToday.comDecember 14, 2006 Human Brain Cancers Blocked by Natural Protein
American and Italian scientists have proven that potentially deadly human brain cancers can be inhibited in mice by using a protein that creates positive changes in cells behaving like cancer stem cells. Indeed, the most common type of brain cancer is distinguished by these stem-cell like brain cells that form cancer tissue. They conducted their study by pretreating human brain cancer cells with bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4), and then injected these treated cells into mouse brains. What they found was that the mice who had the pretreated cells, no cancer grew at all, while nearly all of the mice that received untreated cells were dead within a few months. Dr Alessandro Olivi, a contributor to the study, had this to say: "Our idea is to treat patients with BMP4 or something like it right after surgery to remove [brain cancer cells] in hopes of preventing the regrowth of the cancer and improving survival time.” Clinical studies for BMP4 could begin within the next year, although the treatment itself would not become for another three to four years. If successful, the treatment could be a major breakthrough. According to Olivi, "This opens exciting doors to future research into treatments and therapies for such a devastating disease." MedicalNewsToday.comDecember 12, 2006 Australia Lifts Ban on Controversial Stem Cell Research
Australian lawmakers have sided with medical researchers and rejected the wishes of Prime Minister John Howard, in their decision to reverse a ban on embryonic cloning for stem cell research. The Prime Minister had opposed the lift, stating that the sanctity of human life should take precedence over any potential benefits of the research, including cures for diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. The new law will permit the cloning of DNA to produce stem cells, although cloned embryos will not be allowed to be implanted in the womb and must be destroyed within 14 days. "We don't have a whole lot of stem cell research centers in Australia, but what I think we've done now is stemmed the tide of people leaving and enabling people to come back," said Health Minister Kay Patterson, who drafted the bill. She added "We're not going to see a slather of experiments and research," Patterson said. "We're going to see steady, incremental work in this area both here and overseas." Rod McGuirk, Boston.comDecember 8, 2006 UK Biotech Company Applies to FDA for Controversial Stem Cell Trials
British biotechnology company, ReNeuron, has applied to the Federal Department of Agriculture (FDA) for permission to begin trails involving stem cells of unborn fetuses. The trials are designed to test treatments for stroke patients that would potentially reverse brain damage. Already the company has successful extracted stem cells – know as ReN001, from a 12-week-old aborted fetus. Preclinical trials show that the procedure in rats was successful, as many regained movement lost from suffering a stroke. Although the application will no doubt spark controversy in seemingly endless embryonic stem cell debate, the scientists hope to persuade their critics by highlighting that one fetus is enough to produce multiple stem cells. If it is approved, the trials could begin as early as next year. Pharmaceutical-Business-Review.com
