Stem cells may be more widespread and with greater potential than previously believed

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

30-Jun-2014

Contact: Cody Mooneyhan cmooneyhan@faseb.org 301-634-7104 Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology

With the plethora of research and published studies on stem cells over the last decade, many would say that the definition of stem cells is well established and commonly agreed upon. However, a new review article appearing in the July 2014 issue of The FASEB Journal , suggests that scientists have only scratched the surface of understanding the nature, physiology and location of these cells. Specifically, the report suggests that embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells may not be the only source from which all three germ layers in the human body (nerves, liver or heart and blood vessels) can develop. The review article suggests that adult pluripotent stem cells are located throughout the body and are able to become every tissue, provided these cells receive the right instructions.

"This study highlights the mutual role of stem cells both for regeneration and in tumor growth by featuring two sides of the same coin: stems cells in cancer and regenerative medicine," said Eckhard Alt, M.D., Ph.D., the article's lead author from the Center for Stem Cell and Developmental Biology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. "Our workprovides novel insight on why and how mature has provided us with one universal type of stem cell that is equally distributed throughout the whole body, every organ and every tissue. Small early pluripotent stem cells are ubiquitously located in and around the blood vessels throughout the whole body and serve as a reserve army for regeneration."

In the review, Alt and colleagues suggest that small early pluripotent stem cells are able to replace any kind of tissue in the body--independent of where they comes from in the body--given that these cells receive the correct instructions. When researchers extract these cells from fat tissue, concentrated them and then injected them into diseased or injured tissue, they delivered beneficial outcomes for ailments such as heart failure, osteoarthritis, non-healing wounds, soft tissue defects, muscle, bone and tendon injuries and neurodegenerative diseases. The review also discusses how this is basically the same process that occurs in tumors, except that instead of healing or regenerating tissue, the cells work toward building a tumor. Better understanding and manipulating how these cells communicate not only will open new therapies that heal injury (heart failure, wounds, etc.), but will allow researchers to stop many cancers before they become life-threatening.

"This article suggests that the countless hours spent researching cancer and progenitor cells are finally coming to a head," said Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB Journal. "As the intersection between cancer and stem cell research becomes closer and clearer, all of today's medical treatments will begin to look as crude as Civil War medicine."

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Receive monthly highlights from The FASEB Journal by e-mail. Sign up at http://www.faseb.org/fjupdate.aspx. The FASEB Journal is published by the Federation of the American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB). It is among the most cited biology journals worldwide according to the Institute for Scientific Information and has been recognized by the Special Libraries Association as one of the top 100 most influential biomedical journals of the past century.

FASEB is composed of 26 societies with more than 120,000 members, making it the largest coalition of biomedical research associations in the United States. Our mission is to advance health and welfare by promoting progress and education in biological and biomedical sciences through service to our member societies and collaborative advocacy.

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Stem cells may be more widespread and with greater potential than previously believed

Thermo Fisher Showcases New Product Innovations and Best Practices to Optimize Stem Cell Discoveries at ISSCR 2014

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The latest advances in innovative technologies designed to streamline the entire stem cell research workflow from pluripotent cell engineering, culturing, differentiation and characterization to cryopreservation and storage will be showcased this week during the 12thannual International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) meeting (Thermo Scientific booth #628, Life Technologies booth #829).

Thermo Fisher Scientific will host a series of customer and thought leader presentations on topics ranging from the use of Sendai virus reprogramming technology for rapid development of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) for drug development applications, to industrializing pluripotent stem cells and novel platforms for culturing cells in suspension. The speakers will share new innovations being applied in labs at Harvard University, Cedar-Sinai Medical Center and Saitama Medical University.

Access to leading-edge tools that are designed to seamlessly work in combination with each other is critical for our customers to drive new discoveries, said Chris Armstrong, Ph.D., vice president and general manager, cell biology, for Thermo Fisher. Were proud to offer a deep portfolio of technologies that addresses the entire pluripotent stem cell research continuum to enable novel applications in drug discovery and human disease studies.

New product innovations at ISSCR this year include:

Thought Leader Presentations Join fellow ISSCR attendees for sponsored presentations, including: Wednesday, June 18, from 8:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. (West Ballroom C/D): Conquering Roadblocks Associated with Stem Cell Differentiation and Disease Modeling:

Thursday, June 19, from 11:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. (West Meeting Room) ISSCR Innovation Showcase

For more information on all Thermo Fisher activities during ISSCR, please visit Thermo Scientific ISSCR 2014 and Life Technologies ISSCR 2014.

About Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with revenues of $17 billion and 50,000 employees in 50 countries. Our mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We help our customers accelerate life sciences research, solve complex analytical challenges, improve patient diagnostics and increase laboratory productivity. Through our four premier brands Thermo Scientific, Life Technologies, Fisher Scientific and Unity Lab Services we offer an unmatched combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and comprehensive support. For more information, please visitwww.thermofisher.com.

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Thermo Fisher Showcases New Product Innovations and Best Practices to Optimize Stem Cell Discoveries at ISSCR 2014

The Adult Stem Cell Technology Center, LLC Announces Patent for Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Produced with a Single …

Valencia, Spain (PRWEB) June 24, 2014

Today at Cell Science-2014 in Valencia, Spain, Dr. James L. Sherley, Director of Bostons Adult Stem Cell Technology Center, LLC, announced the issue of another significant patent to the companys growing portfolio of adult tissue stem cell intellectual property. The new patent issued today (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office No. 8,759,098) protects a method for producing induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) with a single non-genetic agent.

Director Sherley made the announcement at the conclusion of his keynote address at the 4th Annual World Congress on Cell Science and Stem Cell Research. After discussing unique aspects of adult stem cells that are often overlooked, he highlighted a proposed connection between adult stem cells and iPSCs that was the basis for the newly patented biotechnology.

iPSCs are currently the subject of intense biological and biomedical research. These artificially produced stem cells provide the research capabilities of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). But since their production does not involve human embryos, iPSCs do not pose ethical concerns. However, because of their genetic defects and propensity for forming tumors, also like hESCs, it is unlikely that iPSCs will ever be of sufficient quality and safety for use in regenerative medicine therapies.

Despite the problems preventing direct application of iPSCs for medical therapies, their use to develop biological surrogate cells for difficult-to-obtain cells for diseased human tissues for research is unparalleled (e.g., living brain cells from children with autism). For this reason, new technologies, like those represented by the ASCTCs new patent, are important for leading the way to more efficient production of higher quality iPSCs.

Unlike the recently discredited reports of acidic conditions as a single non-genetic agent for producing iPSCs, the ASCTCs technology has a well-established historical record and biological rationale. The method was originally proposed in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Directors Pioneer Award research of ASCTC Director Sherley, when he was a research professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The active agent, xanthine, is a naturally occurring normal compound found in the bodys blood and tissues. In earlier ASCTC studies, xanthine was shown active for expanding adult tissue stem cells. Xanthine is a member of a class of compounds called purines that regulate the action of a well-known cancer-protective gene called p53. The p53 gene has also been shown by several laboratories to be an important factor in the efficiency of iPSC cell production.

For the ASCTC technology, xanthine-expanded adult tissue stem cells are placed in commonly used iPSC culture medium supplemented with xanthine as the only additive. The usual introduction of specific genes or their experimental manipulation is not required. The new single-agent technology yields iPSCs at efficiencies similar to methods that require direct genetic manipulation.

The ASCTCs iPSC production technology was described in an earlier issue of the Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology (Par, J.-F., and Sherley, J. L. 2011. Culture Environment-Induced Pluripotency of SACK-Expanded Tissue Stem Cells, J. Biomed. Biotechnol. vol. 2011, Article ID 312457, 12 pp., 2011. doi:10.1155/2011/312457). Thus far, the method has only been applied to purine-expanded mouse pancreatic tissue stem cells. It also has not been evaluated for combined effects with other iPSC production methods. Director Sherley notes that, wider evaluation of the new technology will help to establish its range as an advantageous new reagent for producing higher quality iPSCs more efficiently.

************************************************************************************************************* The Adult Stem Cell Technology Center, LLC (ASCTC) is a Massachusetts life sciences company established in September 2013. ASCTC director and founder, James L. Sherley, M.D., Ph.D. is the foremost authority on the unique properties of adult stem cells. The companys patent portfolio contains biotechnologies that solve the two main technical problems production and quantification that have stood in the way of successful commercialization of human adult tissue stem cells for cell medicine and drug development. Currently, ASCTC is employing its technological advantage to pursue commercialization of mass-produced therapeutic human liver cells and facile assays for screening-out drug candidates that are toxic to adult tissue stem cells.

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Umbilical cord blood helps to save lives

SOUTH BEND, Ind.--- In the 1970's, researchers discovered that a newborn's umbilical cord blood contained special stem cells that could help fight certain diseases.

More than 30 years later doctors are still experimenting and learning more about the use of cord blood.

Amanda Canale doesn't take time with her daughter and niece for granted.

She's just happy to feel good.

"I've been in the hospital, and I've been sick my whole life," said Amanda.

Amanda was born with a rare blood disorder that required daily shots.

"Basically, I have no white blood cells. I have no immune system at all," said Amanda

At 23 she developed Leukemia and was given two weeks to live.

She desperately needed a Bone Marrow Transplant, but family members weren't matches.

Her doctor suggested an Umbilical Cord Blood Transplant.

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Umbilical cord blood helps to save lives

Children's Research Institute Finds Key to Identifying, Enriching Mesenchymal Stem Cells

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Newswise DALLAS June 20, 2014 The Childrens Medical Center Research Institute at UTSouthwestern (CRI) has identified a biomarker that enables researchers to accurately characterize the properties and function of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the body. MSCs are the focus of nearly 200 active clinical trials registered with the National Institutes of Health, targeting conditions such as bone fractures, cartilage injury, degenerative disc disease, and osteoarthritis.

The finding, published in the journal Cell Stem Cell on June 19, significantly advances the field of MSC biology, and if the same biomarker identified in CRIs studies with mice works in humans, the outlook for clinical trials that use MSCs will be improved by the ability to better identify and characterize the relevant cells.

There has been an increasing amount of clinical interest in MSCs, but advances have been slow because researchers to date have been unable to identify MSCs and study their normal physiological function in the body, said Dr. Sean Morrison, Director of the Childrens Research Institute, Professor of Pediatrics at UTSouthwestern Medical Center, and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator. We found that a protein known as leptin receptor can serve as a biomarker to accurately identify MSCs in adult bone marrow in vivo, and that those MSCs are the primary source of new bone formation and bone repair after injury.

In the course of their investigation, the CRI researchers found that leptin receptor-positive MSCs are also the main source of factors that promote the maintenance of blood-forming stem cells in the bone marrow.

Unfortunately, many clinical trials that are testing potential therapies using MSCs have been hampered by the use of poorly characterized and impure collections of cultured cells, said Dr. Morrison, senior author of the study and holder of the Mary McDermott Cook Chair in Pediatric Genetics at UTSouthwestern. If this finding is duplicated in our studies with human MSCs, then it will improve the characterization of MSCs that are used clinically and could increase the probability of success for well-designed clinical trials using MSCs.

Dr. Bo Zhou, a postdoctoral research fellow in Dr. Morrisons laboratory, was first author of the paper. Other CRI researchers involved in the study were Drs. Rui Yue and Malea Murphy, both postdoctoral research fellows. The research was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, and donors to the Childrens Medical Center Foundation.

About CRI

Childrens Medical Center Research Institute at UTSouthwestern (CRI) is a joint venture established in2011 to build upon the comprehensive clinical expertise of Childrens Medical Center of Dallas and the internationally recognized scientific excellence of UTSouthwestern Medical Center. CRIs mission is to perform transformative biomedical research to better understand the biological basis of disease, seeking breakthroughs that can change scientific fields and yield new strategies for treating disease. Located in Dallas, Texas, CRI is creating interdisciplinary groups of exceptional scientists and physicians to pursue research at the interface of regenerative medicine, cancer biology and metabolism, fields that hold uncommon potential for advancing science and medicine. More information about CRI is available on its website: cri.utsw.edu

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Children's Research Institute Finds Key to Identifying, Enriching Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Cedars-Sinai Medical Tipsheet for June

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Newswise Following is the June tipsheet of story ideas from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. To arrange interviews, please contact the individual listed.

Enzyme Used in Antidepressants Could Help Researchers Develop Prostate Cancer Treatments An international team of scientists including researchers at the Cedars-Sinai Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute and the University of Southern California found that an enzyme commonly used as a target for antidepressants may also promote prostate cancer growth. The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, found that suppressing the enzyme monoamine oxidase A, or MAOA, may reduce or even eliminate prostate tumor growth and metastasis in laboratory mice. The finding could open the door for physicians to use antidepressants to fight prostate cancer. Currently, drugs that inhibit MAOA enzymes are used to treat patients with mental illnesses like depression. CONTACT: Cara Martinez, 310-423-7798; Email cara.martinez@cshs.org

Cedars-Sinai Science and Medicine Graduate Program Awards PhDs to Second Graduating Class Cedars-Sinais Graduate Program in Biomedical Science and Translational Medicine will confer doctoral degrees on six students during a commencement ceremony June 12. The students -- whose research focused on heart disease, cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, neurodegenerative disease and protective immunities against bacterial infections comprise the medical centers second graduating class. Seven doctoral students were the first to graduate from the program in 2013. CONTACT: Duke Helfand, 310-248-6608; Email duke.helfand@cshs.org

Cedars-Sinai Physician Groups Receive Highest Rating for Fifth Consecutive Year For the fifth year in a row, Cedars-Sinai Medical Group and Cedars-Sinai Health Associates have been awarded the highest possible designation for quality care by a leading national organization representing managed care physician groups. CAPG, formerly known as the California Association of Physician Groups, rated both Cedars-Sinai groups as excelling in all six of the criteria used in the 2014 Standards of Excellence survey. Both CSMG and CSHA groups voluntarily participated in the annual survey that rated 86 medical groups, representing 11.1 million patients nationwide. CONTACT: Sally Stewart, 310-248-6566; Email sally.stewart@cshs.org

Stem Cell Expert Explains How Experimental Regenerative Medicine Therapies Can Regrow Damaged Heart Muscle Stem cell therapy for cardiovascular disease isnt a medical pipe dream its a reality today, although patients need to better understand the complex science behind these experimental treatments, according to the chief of Cardiology for the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute. In a 17-minute TEDxGrandForks talk now available on YouTube.com, Timothy D. Henry, MD, known for his innovative work in developing stem cell treatments for advanced heart disease patients, said he understands why so many are confused about the latest scientific findings. CONTACT: Sally Stewart, 310-248-6566; Email sally.stewart@cshs.org

Arthur J. Ochoa Receives Mexican American Bar Foundation Professional Achievement Award The Mexican American Bar Foundation named Arthur J. Ochoa, Cedars-Sinais senior vice president of Community Relations and Development, the 2014 recipient of the legal organizations Professional Achievement Award. The award was presented at the Mexican American Bar Foundations Annual Scholarship and Awards Gala June 14 at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. CONTACT: Sally Stewart, 310-248-6566; Email sally.stewart@cshs.org

For Patients With Sickle Cell Disease, Blood Donors Are a Matter of Life and Death Every six weeks for the past nine years, Mawasi Belle has been donating blood at Cedars-Sinais Blood Donor Services, totaling nearly 80 trips to the medical institution and thousands of pints of blood collected. But for Belle, this selfless act is merely a part of her lifestyle. My decision to give is easy. If I do not donate, patients with serious blood diseases, like sickle cell anemia, will die. And Belle is right: Patients with sickle cell disease and other serious blood conditions rely on donors to keep their blood flowing and hearts beating. CONTACT: Cara Martinez, 310-423-7798; Email cara.martinez@cshs.org

Hypertension Expert Awarded $8.5 Million to Enlist African-American Barbers in Fight Against Hypertension A Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute physician has been awarded an $8.5 million grant aimed at enlisting African-American barbers in the fight against hypertension, a deadly condition that can cause strokes, heart attacks and organ failure, and which is particularly devastating to African-American men. CONTACT: Sally Stewart, 310-248-6566; Email sally.stewart@cshs.org

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Cedars-Sinai Medical Tipsheet for June

Endonovo Therapeutics to Develop Next Generation, Off-The-Shelf, Cell Free Regenerative Products

SOURCE: Endonovo Therapeutics, Inc.

Dr. Leonard Makowka, a Leading Authority in Hepatic Science, Joins Endonovo Therapeutics as Its Chief Medical Officer

LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwired - Jun 11, 2014) - Endonovo Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCQB: ENDV) ("Endonovo" or the "Company"), a biotechnology company developing innovative regenerative therapies, announced today that it has created technologies to pursue the development and manufacturing of next generation regenerative products that no longer require the administration of stem cells. Endonovo's "Cell Free" products will harness the biological molecules secreted by cells to create truly "off-the-shelf" therapeutics that can be delivered to patients in a much timelier manner than is possible with autologous and allogeneic stem cell therapies.

There are currently more than 300 mesenchymal stem cell clinical trials underway to treat a wide range of pathological conditions listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov database. These clinical trials are still based on the transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells. Endonovo is developing therapies that may mitigate many of the current drawbacks of cell-based therapies, such as the low survival and engraftment rate of transplanted stem cells, the risk of occlusion in microvasculature, and unregulated growth, such as hyper-innervation or ossification and/or calcification in the body.

"Cell Free" regenerative products may also mitigate many of the limitations to the commercialization of stem cell therapies, such as the manufacturing, storage and delivery of viable cells. "Cell Free" regenerative products are commercially more attractive because they are simpler to manufacture, easier to store and maintain their therapeutic potency for longer periods of time when compared to stem cells.

Additionally, Endonovo Therapeutics announced that it has appointed Dr. Leonard Makowka, M.D., Ph.D., to serve as the Company's Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Makowka was formerly the Chairman of the Department of Surgery and Director of Transplantation Services at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA, and served as Professor of Surgery at the UCLA School of Medicine. He was also Executive Director of the Comprehensive Liver Disease Center, which used a multiple disciplinary approach to the treatment of liver disease, at St. Vincent's Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA. He has published over 400 articles and chapters in both clinical and basic scientific research and has been regarded as a leading authority in hepatic science. Dr. Makowka has also served as a board member of various public and private healthcare and life science companies.

"We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Makowka to the Endonovo team," said Endonovo Therapeutics CEO, Alan Collier. "His experience and expertise will be a tremendous asset in the development of 'cell-free' therapeutics that can promote the regeneration of tissues without the need to inject stem cells into the body, which would result in safer, more effective therapies, lower costs and the saving of lives."

"I am excited to join Endonovo Therapeutics and help the company develop its 'cell-free' therapeutic platform," stated Dr. Leonard Makowka, Chief Medical Officer at Endonovo Therapeutics. "Although it is early in the developmental lifecycle, we are excited about the development of first-in-class, 'cell free' regenerative products that can protect and stimulate the regeneration of tissues. These products would be truly 'off-the-shelf' therapies that could be quickly administered following organ injuries, such as a heart attack, a stroke, acute and/or chronic liver disease and the 'aging' of organs, in order to protect the organ and begin healing it."

About Endonovo Therapeutics

Endonovo Therapeutics, Inc. is a publicly traded biotechnology company developing off-the-shelf, cell free regenerative products and non-invasive, bioelectronic therapies designed to extend and enhance the human life by regenerating tissues and organs that have become injured or damaged due to disease and age. The Company is developing therapies for various inflammatory, autoimmune and degenerative diseases using biomolecules secreted from cells and Time-Varying Electromagnetic Fields (TVEMF).

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Endonovo Therapeutics to Develop Next Generation, Off-The-Shelf, Cell Free Regenerative Products

Umbilical cord transplants saving lives

LOS ANGELES (KABC) --

Amanda Canale doesn't take time with her daughter and niece for granted. She's just happy to feel good.

"I've been in the hospital, and I've been sick my whole life," Amanda said.

Amanda was born with a rare blood disorder that required daily shots.

"Basically, I have no white blood cells," Amanda said. "I have no immune system at all."

At 23, she developed leukemia and was given two weeks to live. She desperately needed a bone marrow transplant, but family members weren't matches. Her doctor suggested an umbilical cord blood transplant.

"The cord was a perfect match and it was available, so it was the right solution for her," Edward Agura, MD, Medical Director of Bone Marrow Transplantation, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, said.

Cord blood contains stem cells that regenerate. Mothers of newborns can save their child's own blood or donate it. More than 30,000 transplants have been performed worldwide. However, because the blood comes from a tiny newborn, there's not much of it.

"The cord blood is rare, precious and few, and yet is more potent in its ability to grow," Dr. Agura said.

Now, doctors at Baylor are treating patients by combining cord blood from multiple donors. They've found this increases the number of stem cells and provides faster recovery. Amanda's transfusion was from a baby whose mother donated six years earlier. The procedure completely cured her cancer and blood disorder.

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Umbilical cord transplants saving lives

University of Michigan Stem Cell Research | Overview

The University of Michigan has recently emerged as a national leader in the three main types of stem cell research: embryonic, adult, and reprogrammed cells known as iPS cells.

A long-time leader in the study of adult stem cells, U-M has bolstered its human embryonic stem cell program, and added a complementary iPS cell research effort, since the passage of Proposal 2 in November 2008. The state constitutional amendment eased onerous restrictions on the types of embryonic stem cell research allowed in Michigan.

Recent milestones include:

In addition to the work underway by the Consortium for Stem Cell Therapies, hubs for U-M stem cell research also exist at the Life Science Institutes Center for Stem Cell Biology and at the U-M Health Systems Comprehensive Cancer Center. Other groundbreaking stem cell work is being pursued at other units across campus.

The Center for Stem Cell Biology was established in 2005 with $10.5 million provided by the U-M Medical School, the Life Sciences Institute, and the Molecular and Behavioral Neurosciences Institute.

The centers main goal is to determine the fundamental mechanisms that regulate stem cell function. That knowledge, in turn, provides new insights into the origins of disease and suggests new approaches to disease treatment. Most of the work involves adult stem cells including blood-forming and nervous system stem cells but human embryonic stem cells also are studied.

The U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center is one of the few places in North America that has made an institutional commitment to cancer stem cell research. Cancer stem cells are responsible for triggering the uncontrolled cell growth that leads to malignant tumors.

U-M researchers were the first to identify stem cells in solid tumors, finding them in breast cancer in 2003. They were also the first to find pancreatic and head-and-neck stem cells. At the U-M cancer center, scientists are investigating how these cells mutate, causing unregulated growth that ultimately leads to cancer.

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University of Michigan Stem Cell Research | Overview

Stem Cells Successfully Transplanted And Grown In Pigs

June 5, 2014

Nathan Hurst, University of Missouri

One of the biggest challenges for medical researchers studying the effectiveness of stem cell therapies is that transplants or grafts of cells are often rejected by the hosts. This rejection can render experiments useless, making research into potentially life-saving treatments a long and difficult process. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have shown that a new line of genetically modified pigs will host transplanted cells without the risk of rejection.

The rejection of transplants and grafts by host bodies is a huge hurdle for medical researchers, said R. Michael Roberts, Curators Professor of Animal Science and Biochemistry and a researcher in the Bond Life Sciences Center. By establishing that these pigs will support transplants without the fear of rejection, we can move stem cell therapy research forward at a quicker pace.

In a published study, the team of researchers implanted human pluripotent stem cells in a special line of pigs developed by Randall Prather, an MU Curators Professor of reproductive physiology. Prather specifically created the pigs with immune systems that allow the pigs to accept all transplants or grafts without rejection. Once the scientists implanted the cells, the pigs did not reject the stem cells and the cells thrived. Prather says achieving this success with pigs is notable because pigs are much closer to humans than many other test animals.

Many medical researchers prefer conducting studies with pigs because they are more anatomically similar to humans than other animals, such as mice and rats, Prather said. Physically, pigs are much closer to the size and scale of humans than other animals, and they respond to health threats similarly. This means that research in pigs is more likely to have results similar to those in humans for many different tests and treatments.

Now that we know that human stem cells can thrive in these pigs, a door has been opened for new and exciting research by scientists around the world, Roberts said. Hopefully this means that we are one step closer to therapies and treatments for a number of debilitating human diseases.

Roberts and Prather published their study, Engraftment of human iPS cells and allogeneic porcine cells into pigs with inactivated RAG2 and accompanying severe combined immunodeficiency in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Source: Nathan Hurst, University of Missouri

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Stem Cells Successfully Transplanted And Grown In Pigs