World Stem Cell Summit

ATLANTA, GEORGIA, USA!

11th World Stem Cell Summit 2nd RegMed Capital Conference Hyatt Regency Atlanta

Collect Opportunities Expand Knowledge Forge Collaborations Deliver Cures

The mandatory, big-picture conference with one-on-one partnering

EXPAND KNOWLEDGE FORGE COLLABORATIONS DELIVER CURES

RegMed Capital Conference

Connecting companies to investors, bringing start-up angel capital and new money into the field. Advancing investment and commercialization, with the overarching purpose of accelerating cures. Investment bankers, analysts, venture groups, angel networks, family funds are attending.

Numerous networking events to make the best connections to advance your goals

7 Tracks- COMPREHENSIVE, TIMELY & DIRECT

ATLANTA, GEORGIA, USA! 11th World Stem Cell Summit 2nd RegMed Capital Conference Hyatt Regency Atlanta

Collect Opportunities Expand Knowledge Forge Collaborations Deliver Cures

Anthony Atala, MD

Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine

Scott Gottlieb, MD

T.R Winston & Company

Outi Hovatta, MD, PhD

Karolinska Institutet

Paul Knoepfler, PhD

UC Davis School of Medicine

Joanne Kurtzberg, MD

Carolinas Cord Blood Bank at Duke

Jeanne F. Loring, PhD

Center for Regenerative Medicine The Scripps Research Institute

Chris Mason, MBBS, PhD, FRCS

University College London

Michael H. May, PhD

Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine (CCRM)

Todd C. McDevitt, PhD

Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease

C. Randal Mills, PhD

California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM)

Linda Myers

BioBridge Global

Norio Nakatsuji, DSc

Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Science (iCeMS) Kyoto University

Jan A. Nolta, PhD

Stem Cell Program and Institute for Regenerative Cures University of California, Davis

J. Peter Rubin, MD

University of Pittsburgh

Steven L. Stice, PhD

University of Georgia

Susan L. Solomon

New York Stem Cell Foundation

Johnna Temenoff, PhD

Georgia Institute of Technology

Andre Terzic, MD, PhD

Center for Regenerative Medicine Mayo Clinic

Yuzo Toda

FUJIFILM Corporation

Karl Tryggvason, MD, PhD

Karolinska Institutet

Edmund K. Ned Waller, MD, PhD

Emory School of Medicine

Paul Wolpe, PhD

Emory University

Claudia Zylberberg, PhD

Akron Biotechnology, LLC

The 2014 World Stem Cell Summit and REGMED Capital Conference in San Antonio were a bonanza for StemBioSys. As a growing company in the stem cell space, preparing to launch our first product in 2015, the connections and ongoing collaborations that we made at these meetings has already exhibited a multifold return on investment in spreading the word about SBS and uncovering several new opportunities for business and product development.

-Bob Hutchens, President & CEO

Mayo Clinic has embraced regenerative medicine as a strategic investment in the future of healthcare. The World Stem Cell Summit brings together the regenerative medicine community, and sets the stage for global collaboration. Our team at Mayo Clinic is honored to lead it as an organizer again this year.

"The World Stem Cell Summit is a meeting of the stem cell minds, bringing Policy, science, industry, advocates and clinicians together in a unique and powerful forum. The Summit is of great value to researchers by providing a context for stem cell science that is not found at other meetings."

The 2014 World Stem Cell Summit and REGMED Capital Conference in San Antonio were a bonanza for StemBioSys. As a growing company in the stem cell space, preparing to launch our first product in 2015, the connections and ongoing collaborations that we made at these meetings has already exhibited a multifold return on investment in spreading the word about SBS and uncovering several new opportunities for business and product development. We are looking forward to the 2015 meetings in Atlanta.

- Bob Hutchens,President & CEO

Mayo Clinic has embraced regenerative medicine as a strategic investment in the future of healthcare. The World Stem Cell Summit brings together the regenerative medicine community, and sets the stage for global collaboration. Our team at Mayo Clinic is honored to lead it as an organizer again this year.

- Dr. Andre Terzic

The World Stem Cell Summit is a meeting of the stem cell minds, bringing Policy, science, industry, advocates and clinicians together in a unique and powerful forum. The Summit is of great value to researchers by providing a context for stem cell science that is not found at other meetings.

- Sally Temple,Ph.D.

The World Stem Cell Summit and the RegMed Capital Conference offers a number of key opportunities to advance progress for sponsors, exhibitors, and advertisers of all sizes, while we collectively support the advancement of the field.

Request a sponsorship kit today.

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World Stem Cell Summit

Embryonic stem cell – ScienceDaily

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are stem cells derived from the undifferentiated inner mass cells of a human embryo.

Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, meaning they are able to grow (i.e. differentiate) into all derivatives of the three primary germ layers: ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm.

In other words, they can develop into each of the more than 200 cell types of the adult body as long as they are specified to do so.

Embryonic stem cells are distinguished by two distinctive properties: their pluripotency, and their ability to replicate indefinitely.

ES cells are pluripotent, that is, they are able to differentiate into all derivatives of the three primary germ layers: ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm.

These include each of the more than 220 cell types in the adult body.

Pluripotency distinguishes embryonic stem cells from adult stem cells found in adults; while embryonic stem cells can generate all cell types in the body, adult stem cells are multipotent and can produce only a limited number of cell types.

Additionally, under defined conditions, embryonic stem cells are capable of propagating themselves indefinitely.

This allows embryonic stem cells to be employed as useful tools for both research and regenerative medicine, because they can produce limitless numbers of themselves for continued research or clinical use.

Because of their plasticity and potentially unlimited capacity for self-renewal, ES cell therapies have been proposed for regenerative medicine and tissue replacement after injury or disease.

Diseases that could potentially be treated by pluripotent stem cells include a number of blood and immune-system related genetic diseases, cancers, and disorders; juvenile diabetes;

Parkinson's; blindness and spinal cord injuries.

Besides the ethical concerns of stem cell therapy, there is a technical problem of graft-versus-host disease associated with allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

However, these problems associated with histocompatibility may be solved using autologous donor adult stem cells, therapeutic cloning, stem cell banks or more recently by reprogramming of somatic cells with defined factors (e.g. induced pluripotent stem cells).

Other potential uses of embryonic stem cells include investigation of early human development, study of genetic disease and as in vitro systems for toxicology testing.

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Embryonic stem cell - ScienceDaily

1. Embryonic Stem Cells [Stem Cell Information]

by Junying Yu* and James A. Thomson**

Human embryonic stem (ES) cells capture the imagination because they are immortal and have an almost unlimited developmental potential (Fig. 1.1: How hESCs are derived). After many months of growth in culture dishes, these remarkable cells maintain the ability to form cells ranging from muscle to nerve to bloodpotentially any cell type that makes up the body. The proliferative and developmental potential of human ES cells promises an essentially unlimited supply of specific cell types for basic research and for transplantation therapies for diseases ranging from heart disease to Parkinson's disease to leukemia. Here we discuss the origin and properties of human ES cells, their implications for basic research and human medicine, and recent research progress since August 2001, when President George W. Bush allowed federal funding of this research for the first time. A previous report discussed progress prior to June 17, 2001 (/info/scireport/.)

Figure 1.1. How Human Embryonic Stem Cells are Derived.

( 2006 Terese Winslow)

Embryonic stem cells are derived from embryos at a developmental stage before the time that implantation would normally occur in the uterus. Fertilization normally occurs in the oviduct, and during the next few days, a series of cleavage divisions occur as the embryo travels down the oviduct and into the uterus. Each of the cells (blastomeres) of these cleavage-stage embryos are undifferentiated, i.e. they do not look or act like the specialized cells of the adult, and the blastomeres are not yet committed to becoming any particular type of differentiated cell. Indeed, each of these blastomeres has the potential to give rise to any cell of the body. The first differentiation event in humans occurs at approximately five days of development, when an outer layer of cells committed to becoming part of the placenta (the trophectoderm) separates from the inner cell mass (ICM). The ICM cells have the potential to generate any cell type of the body, but after implantation, they are quickly depleted as they differentiate to other cell types with more limited developmental potential. However, if the ICM is removed from its normal embryonic environment and cultured under appropriate conditions, the ICM-derived cells can continue to proliferate and replicate themselves indefinitely and still maintain the developmental potential to form any cell type of the body (quot;pluripotencyquot;; see Fig. 1.2: Characteristics of ESCs). These pluripotent, ICM-derived cells are ES cells.

Figure 1.2.Characteristics of Embryonic Stem Cells.

( 2006 Terese Winslow)

The derivation of mouse ES cells was first reported in 1981,1,2 but it was not until 1998 that derivation of human ES cell lines was first reported.3 Why did it take such a long time to extend the mouse results to humans? Human ES cell lines are derived from embryos produced by in vitro fertilization (IVF), a process in which oocytes and sperm are placed together to allow fertilization to take place in a culture dish. Clinics use this method to treat certain types of infertility, and sometimes, during the course of these treatments, IVF embryos are produced that are no longer needed by the couples for producing children. Currently, there are nearly 400,000 IVF-produced embryos in frozen storage in the United States alone,4 most of which will be used to treat infertility, but some of which (~2.8%) are destined to be discarded. IVF-produced embryos that would otherwise have been discarded were the sources of the human ES cell lines derived prior to President Bush's policy decision of August 2001. These human ES cell lines are now currently eligible for federal funding. Although attempts to derive human ES cells were made as early as the 1980s, culture media for human embryos produced by IVF were suboptimal. Thus, it was difficult to culture single-cell fertilized embryos long enough to obtain healthy blastocysts for the derivation of ES cell lines. Also, species-specific differences between mice and humans meant that experience with mouse ES cells was not completely applicable to the derivation of human ES cells. In the 1990s, ES cell lines from two non-human primates, the rhesus monkey5 and the common marmoset,6 were derived, and these offered closer models for the derivation of human ES cells. Experience with non-human primate ES cell lines and improvements in culture medium for human IVF-produced embryos led rapidly to the derivation of human ES cell lines in 1998.3

Because ES cells can proliferate without limit and can contribute to any cell type, human ES cells offer an unprecedented access to tissues from the human body. They will support basic research on the differentiation and function of human tissues and provide material for testing that may improve the safety and efficacy of human drugs (Figure 1.3: Promise of SC Research).7,8 For example, new drugs are not generally tested on human heart cells because no human heart cell lines exist. Instead, researchers rely on animal models. Because of important species-specific differences between animal and human hearts, however, drugs that are toxic to the human heart have occasionally entered clinical trials, sometimes resulting in death. Human ES cell-derived heart cells may be extremely valuable in identifying such drugs before they are used in clinical trials, thereby accelerating the drug discovery process and leading to safer and more effective treatments.911 Such testing will not be limited to heart cells, but to any type of human cell that is difficult to obtain by other sources.

Figure 1.3: The Promise of Stem Cell Research.

( 2006 Terese Winslow)

Human ES cells also have the potential to provide an unlimited amount of tissue for transplantation therapies to treat a wide range of degenerative diseases. Some important human diseases are caused by the death or dysfunction of one or a few cell types, e.g., insulin-producing cells in diabetes or dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease. The replacement of these cells could offer a lifelong treatment for these disorders. However, there are a number of challenges to develop human ES cell-based transplantation therapies, and many years of basic research will be required before such therapies can be used to treat patients. Indeed, basic research enabled by human ES cells is likely to impact human health in ways unrelated to transplantation medicine. This impact is likely to begin well before the widespread use of ES cells in transplantation and ultimately could have a more profound long-term effect on human medicine. Since August 2001, improvements in culture of human ES cells, coupled with recent insights into the nature of pluripotency, genetic manipulation of human ES cells, and differentiation, have expanded the possibilities for these unique cells.

Mouse ES cells and human ES cells were both originally derived and grown on a layer of mouse fibroblasts (called quot;feeder cellsquot;) in the presence of bovine serum. However, the factors that sustain the growth of these two cell types appear to be distinct. The addition of the cytokine, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), to serum-containing medium allows mouse ES cells to proliferate in the absence of feeder cells. LIF modulates mouse ES cells through the activation of STAT3 (signal transducers and activators of transcription) protein. In serum-free culture, however, LIF alone is insufficient to prevent mouse ES cells from differentiating into neural cells. Recently, Ying et al. reported that the combination of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and LIF is sufficient to support the self-renewal of mouse ES cells.12 The effects of BMPs on mouse ES cells involve induction of inhibitor of differentiation (Id) proteins, and inhibition of extracellular receptor kinase (ERK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK).12,13 However, LIF in the presence of serum is not sufficient to promote the self-renewal of human ES cells,3 and the LIF/STAT3 pathway appears to be inactive in undifferentiated human ES cells.14,15 Also, the addition of BMPs to human ES cells in conditions that would otherwise support ES cells leads to the rapid differentiation of human ES cells.16,17

Several groups have attempted to define growth factors that sustain human ES cells and have attempted to identify culture conditions that reduce the exposure of human ES cells to non human animal products. One important growth factor, bFGF, allows the use of a serum replacement to sustain human ES cells in the presence of fibroblasts, and this medium allowed the clonal growth of human ES cells.18 A quot;feeder-freequot; human ES cell culture system has been developed, in which human ES cells are grown on a protein matrix (mouse Matrigel or Laminin) in a bFGF-containing medium that is previously quot;conditionedquot; by co-culture with fibroblasts.19 Although this culture system eliminates direct contact of human ES cells with the fibroblasts, it does not remove the potential for mouse pathogens being introduced into the culture via the fibroblasts. Several different sources of human feeder cells have been found to support the culture of human ES cells, thus removing the possibility of pathogen transfer from mice to humans.2023 However, the possibility of pathogen transfer from human to human in these culture systems still remains. More work is still needed to develop a culture system that eliminates the use of fibroblasts entirely, which would also decrease much of the variability associated with the current culture of human ES cells. Sato et al. reported that activation of the Wnt pathway by 6-bromoindirubin3'-oxime (BIO) promotes the self-renewal of ES cells in the presence of bFGF, Matrigel, and a proprietary serum replacement product.24 Amit et al. reported that bFGF, TGF, and LIF could support some human ES cell lines in the absence of feeders.25 Although there are some questions about how well these new culture conditions will work for different human ES cell lines, there is now reason to believe that defined culture conditions for human ES cells, which reduce the potential for contamination by pathogens, will soon be achieved*.

Once a set of defined culture conditions is established for the derivation and culture of human ES cells, challenges to improve the medium will still remain. For example, the cloning efficiency of human ES cellsthe ability of a single human ES cell to proliferate and become a colonyis very low (typically less than 1%) compared to that of mouse ES cells. Another difficulty is the potential for accumulation of genetic and epigenetic changes over prolonged periods of culture. For example, karyotypic changes have been observed in several human ES cell lines after prolonged culture, and the rate at which these changes dominate a culture may depend on the culture method.26,27 The status of imprinted (epigenetically modified) genes and the stability of imprinting in various culture conditions remain completely unstudied in human ES cells**. The status of imprinted genes can clearly change with culture conditions in other cell types.28,29 These changes present potential problems if human ES cells are to be used in cell replacement therapy, and optimizing medium to reduce the rate at which genetic and epigenetic changes accumulate in culture represents a long-term endeavor. The ideal human ES cell medium, then, (a) would be cost-effective and easy to use so that many more investigators can use human ES cells as a research tool; (b) would be composed entirely of defined components not of animal origin; (c) would allow cell growth at clonal densities; and (d) would minimize the rate at which genetic and epigenetic changes accumulate in culture. Such a medium will be a challenge to develop and will most likely be achieved through a series of incremental improvements over a period of years.

Among all the newly derived human ES cell lines, twelve lines have gained the most attention. In March 2004, a South Korean group reported the first derivation of a human ES cell line (SCNT-hES-1) using the technique of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Human somatic nuclei were transferred into human oocytes (nuclear transfer), which previously had been stripped of their own genetic material, and the resultant nuclear transfer products were cultured in vitro to the blastocyst stage for ES cell derivation.30*** Because the ES cells derived through nuclear transfer contain the same genetic material as that of the nuclear donor, the intent of the procedure is that the differentiated derivatives would not be rejected by the donor's immune system if used in transplantation therapy. More recently, the same group reported the derivation of eleven more human SCNT-ES cell lines*** with markedly improved efficiency (16.8 oocytes/line vs. 242 oocytes/line in their previous report).31*** However, given the abnormalities frequently observed in cloned animals, and the costs involved, it is not clear how useful this procedure will be in clinical applications. Also, for some autoimmune diseases, such as type I diabetes, merely providing genetically-matched tissue will be insufficient to prevent immune rejection.

Additionally, new human ES cell lines were established from embryos with genetic disorders, which were detected during the practice of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). These new cell lines may provide an excellent in vitro model for studies on the effects that the genetic mutations have on cell proliferation and differentiation.32

* Editor's note: Papers published since this writing report defined culture conditions for human embryonic stem cells. See Ludwig et al., Nat. Biotech 24: 185187, 2006; and Lu et al., PNAS 103:56885693, 2006.08.14.

** Editor's note: Papers published since the time this chapter was written address this: see Maitra et al., Nature Genetics 37, 10991103, 2005; and Rugg-Gunn et al., Nature Genetics 37:585587, 2005.

*** Editor's note: Both papers referenced in 30 and 31 were later retracted: see Science 20 Jan 2006; Vol. 311. No. 5759, p. 335.

To date, more than 120 human ES cell lines have been established worldwide,33* 67 of which are included in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Registry. As of this writing, 21 cell lines are currently available for distribution, all of which have been exposed to animal products during their derivation. Although it has been eight years since the initial derivation of human ES cells, it is an open question as to the extent that independent human ES cell lines differ from one another. At the very least, the limited number of cell lines cannot represent a reasonable sampling of the genetic diversity of different ethnic groups in the United States, and this has consequences for drug testing, as adverse reactions to drugs often reflect a complex genetic component. Once defined culture conditions are well established for human ES cells, there will be an even more compelling need to derive additional cell lines.

* Editor's note: One recent report now estimates 414 hESC lines, see Guhr et al., http://www.StemCells.com early online version for June 15, 2006: quot;Current State of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research: An Overview of Cell Lines and their Usage in Experimental Work.quot;

The ability of ES cells to develop into all cell types of the body has fascinated scientists for years, yet remarkably little is known about factors that make one cell pluripotent and another more restricted in its developmental potential. The transcription factor Oct4 has been used as a key marker for ES cells and for the pluripotent cells of the intact embryo, and its expression must be maintained at a critical level for ES cells to remain undifferentiated.34 The Oct4 protein itself, however, is insufficient to maintain ES cells in the undifferentiated state. Recently, two groups identified another transcription factor, Nanog, that is essential for the maintenance of the undifferentiated state of mouse ES cells.35,36 The expression of Nanog decreased rapidly as mouse ES cells differentiated, and when its expression level was maintained by a constitutive promoter, mouse ES cells could remain undifferentiated and proliferate in the absence of either LIF or BMP in serum-free medium.12 Nanog is also expressed in human ES cells, though at a much lower level compared to that of Oct4, and its function in human ES cells has yet to be examined.

By comparing gene expression patterns between different ES cell lines and between ES cells and other cell types such as adult stem cells and differentiated cells, genes that are enriched in the ES cells have been identified. Using this approach, Esg-1, an uncharacterized ES cell-specific gene, was found to be exclusively associated with pluripotency in the mouse.37 Sperger et al. identified 895 genes that are expressed at significantly higher levels in human ES cells and embryonic carcinoma cell lines, the malignant counterparts to ES cells.38 Sato et al. identified a set of 918 genes enriched in undifferentiated human ES cells compared with their differentiated counterparts; many of these genes were shared by mouse ES cells.39 Another group, however, found 92 genes, including Oct4 and Nanog, enriched in six different human ES cell lines, which showed limited overlap with those in mouse ES cell lines.40 Care must be taken to interpret these data, and the considerable differences in the results may arise from the cell lines used in the experiments, methods to prepare and maintain the cells, and the specific methods used to profile gene expression.

Since establishing human ES cells in 1998, scientists have developed genetic manipulation techniques to determine the function of particular genes, to direct the differentiation of human ES cells towards specific cell types, or to tag an ES cell derivative with a certain marker gene. Several approaches have been developed to introduce genetic elements randomly into the human ES cell genome, including electroporation, transfection by lipid-based reagents, and lentiviral vectors.4144 However, homologous recombination, a method in which a specific gene inside the ES cells is modified with an artificially introduced DNA molecule, is an even more precise method of genetic engineering that can modify a gene in a defined way at a specific locus. While this technology is routinely used in mouse ES cells, it has recently been successfully developed in human ES cells (See chapter 4: Genetically Modified Stem Cells), thus opening new doors for using ES cells as vehicles for gene therapy and for creating in vitro models of human genetic disorders such as Lesch-Nyhan disease.45,46 Another method to test the function of a gene is to use RNA interference (RNAi) to decrease the expression of a gene of interest (see Figure 1.4: RNA interference). In RNAi, small pieces of double-stranded RNA (siRNA; small interfering RNA) are either chemically synthesized and introduced directly into cells, or expressed from DNA vectors. Once inside the cells, the siRNA can lead to the degradation of the messenger RNA (mRNA), which contains the exact sequence as that of the siRNA. mRNA is the product of DNA transcription and normally can be translated into proteins. RNAi can work efficiently in somatic cells, and there has been some progress in applying this technology to human ES cells.4749

Figure 1.4. How RNAi Can Be Used To Modify Stem Cells.

( 2006 Terese Winslow)

The pluripotency of ES cells suggests possible widespread uses for these cells and their derivatives. The ES cell-derived cells can potentially be used to replace or restore tissues that have been damaged by disease or injury, such as diabetes, heart attacks, Parkinson's disease or spinal cord injury. The recent developments in these particular areas are discussed in detail in other chapters, and Table 1 summarizes recent publications in the differentiation of specific cell lineages.

The differentiation of ES cells also provides model systems to study early events in human development. Because of possible harm to the resulting child, it is not ethically acceptable to experimentally manipulate the postimplantation human embryo. Therefore, most of what is known about the mechanisms of early human embryology and human development, especially in the early postimplantation period, is based on histological sections of a limited number of human embryos and on analogy to the experimental embryology of the mouse. However, human and mouse embryos differ significantly, particularly in the formation, structure, and function of the fetal membranes and placenta, and the formation of an embryonic disc instead of an egg cylinder.5052 For example, the mouse yolk sac is a well-vascularized, robust, extraembryonic organ throughout gestation that provides important nutrient exchange functions. In humans, the yolk sac also serves important early functions, including the initiation of hematopoiesis, but it becomes essentially a vestigial structure at later times or stages in gestation. Similarly, there are dramatic differences between mouse and human placentas, both in structure and function. Thus, mice can serve in a limited capacity as a model system for understanding the developmental events that support the initiation and maintenance of human pregnancy. Human ES cell lines thus provide an important new in vitro model that will improve our understanding of the differentiation of human tissues, and thus provide important insights into processes such as infertility, pregnancy loss, and birth defects.

Human ES cells are already contributing to the study of development. For example, it is now possible to direct human ES cells to differentiate efficiently to trophoblast, the outer layer of the placenta that mediates implantation and connects the conceptus to the uterus.17,53 Another use of human ES cells is for the study of germ cell development. Cells resembling both oocytes and sperm have been successfully derived from mouse ES cells in vitro.5456 Recently, human ES cells have also been observed to differentiate into cells expressing genes characteristic of germ cells.57 Thus it may also be possible to derive oocytes and sperm from human ES cells, allowing the detailed study of human gametogenesis for the first time. Moreover, human ES cell studies are not limited to early differentiation, but are increasingly being used to understand the differentiation and functions of many human tissues, including neural, cardiac, vascular, pancreatic, hepatic, and bone (see Table 1). Moreover, transplantation of ES-derived cells has offered promising results in animal models.5867

Although scientists have gained more insights into the biology of human ES cells since 2001, many key questions remain to be addressed before the full potential of these unique cells can be realized. It is surprising, for example, that mouse and human ES cells appear to be so different with respect to the molecules that mediate their self-renewal, and perhaps even in their developmental potentials. BMPs, for example, in combination with LIF, promote the self-renewal of mouse ES cells. But in conditions that would otherwise support undifferentiated proliferation, BMPs cause rapid differentiation of human ES cells. Also, human ES cells differentiate quite readily to trophoblast, whereas mouse ES cells do so poorly, if at all. One would expect that at some level, the basic molecular mechanisms that control pluripotency would be conserved, and indeed, human and mouse ES cells share the expression of many key genes. Yet we remain remarkably ignorant about the molecular mechanisms that control pluripotency, and the nature of this remarkable cellular state has become one of the central questions of developmental biology. Of course, the other great challenge will be to continue to unravel the factors that control the differentiation of human ES cells to specific lineages, so that ES cells can fulfill their tremendous promise in basic human biology, drug screening, and transplantation medicine.

We thank Lynn Schmidt, Barbara Lewis, Sangyoon Han and Deborah J. Faupel for proofreading this report.

Notes:

* Genetics and Biotechnology Building, Madison, WI 53706, Email: jyu@primate.wisc.edu.

** John D. MacArthur Professor, Department of Anatomy, University of WisconsinMadison Medical School, The Genome Center of Wisconsin, and The Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, Madison, WI 53715, Email: thomson@primate.wisc.edu.

Introduction|Table of Contents|Chapter 2

More here:
1. Embryonic Stem Cells [Stem Cell Information]

Stem Cells to Treat Blindness – Understanding Stem Cell …

Author: Ian Murnaghan BSc (hons), MSc - Updated: 18 August 2015 | Comment

For people who are blind, the thought of a treatment to restore their sight may seem like an impossible dream. But it may eventually become a reality after scientists last year were able to restore the eyesight of a blind person. The treatment works by replacing those cells in the eye know as retinal cells that have been damaged or worn out from diseases such as macular degeneration. For the elderly in particular, macular degeneration is a common concern as it can lead to enormous loss of vision in one or both eyes.

When macular degeneration strikes, it affects the area of the eye that is important for allowing us to see fine details. The disease may progress very slowly so that a person barely notices any changes at all. Or, it might progress rapidly, causing significant vision loss.

Interestingly enough, previous studies using stem cells had failed to restore sight. One reason for the problem relates to the choice of stem cells. In the most recent study, researchers used stem cells that were more mature than the ones previous researchers had used. The choice proved successful as the stem cells developed into photoreceptors and were able to join with the nerves that lead to the brain.

Researchers hope to see these kinds of transplants happening on a greater scale in approximately ten years. With many patients suffering from diseases in the eye that cause photoreceptors to die, this research offers a way to provide photoreceptor transplantation, helping to restore eyesight for many people around the world. The use of a patient's own cells also avoids the potential for immunological rejection, a threat that comes with other types of treatment.

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avi - Your Question:

My daughter problem is optic nerve damages by birth she is 11 yrars. Kindly advise as per given details. in possible stem cell therapy.

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avi - 18-Aug-15 @ 4:09 PM

Creative Animodel - 12-Aug-15 @ 10:02 AM

aman - Your Question:

My dougter has cojenital flicum fold in retina, can stem cell cure her vission

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david and son - 7-Aug-15 @ 1:47 AM

There is no one doing this in the UK currently, as it is still very much at the research stage of development. You may find certain other countries advertising fee-paying stem cell treatments for specific conditions. However, please be aware these treatments are not backed or endorsed by scientific evidence.

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Stem Cells to Treat Blindness - Understanding Stem Cell ...

Adult Stem Cells – Research – Stem Cell Biology and …

Researchers are expanding their understanding of identified adult stem cells, which include blood-forming, brain, skin and skeletal muscle stem cells, while working to isolate stem cells for the lung, liver, kidney, heart and other tissues. This work is providing the basis for ongoing preclinical and clinical trials of organ and tissue regeneration from healthy adult stem cells.

By identifying adult stem cells from other tissues such as lungs or liver, researchers at the institute are working to understand how those tissues develop and what goes wrong when those tissues become diseased. For example, having already identified adult stem cells in the brains of mice and humans, researchers can now use those stem cells to understand how cells of the developing brain differentiate into the many different cell types found in the adult brain. By working out the molecular mechanisms by which adult stem cells self-renew or differentiate, researchers may be able to understand what processes go awry in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

The study of adult stem cells could also lead to insights into cancer cell biology. Recent studies indicate that cancers are continually replenished by a small population of cancer stem cells that are capable of self-renewal. By studying adult stem cells to learn more about the genes involved in self-renewal, it may be possible to identify new molecular targets for drug and immune therapies that destroy the self-renewing cancer stem cells.

Drawing on its increasing understanding of tissue or organ-specific stem cells , the institute is exploring the ability of these cells to replenish or repair damaged or congenitally abnormal tissues or organs. Tissue-specific stem cells may one day be used to replenish cells damaged by Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis or diabetes.

One example of tissue regeneration is in bone marrow transplants, where blood-forming stem cells regenerate the blood of transplant recipients who receive otherwise lethal doses of chemotherapy to destroy all the cancer cells in the body. Stanford was the first institution in the United States to use purified blood-forming stem cells rather than whole bone marrow transplants to regenerate the bone marrow in chemotherapy patients. By using purified stem cells rather than whole bone marrow taken from the patient before chemotherapy, doctors avoid re-injecting patients with their own cancer cells.

Isolating adult stem cells from a variety of tissues in addition to the blood and brain stem cells could also help in other areas of cancer treatment. Doctors could then give high doses of radiation to destroy tumors in tissues such as brain, lungs or liver, and inject tissue-specific stem cells to replace radiation-damaged cells.

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Adult Stem Cells - Research - Stem Cell Biology and ...

History of Stem Cell Research

Author: Ian Murnaghan BSc (hons), MSc - Updated: 6 July 2015 | Comment

Stem cells have an interesting history that has been somewhat tainted with debate and controversy. In the mid 1800s it was discovered that cells were basically the building blocks of life and that some cells had the ability to produce other cells.

Attempts were made to fertilise mammalian eggs outside of the human body and in the early 1900s, it was discovered that some cells had the ability to generate blood cells.

In 1968, the first bone marrow transplant was performed to successfully treat two siblings with severe combined immunodeficiency. Other key events in stem cell research include:

More recently, in 2005, scientists at Kingston University in England were purported to have found another category of stem cells. These were named cord blood embryonic-like stem cells, which originate in umbilical cord blood. It is suggested that these stem cells have the ability to differentiate into more cell types than adult stem cells, opening up greater possibilities for cell-based therapies. Then, in early 2007, researchers led by Dr. Anthony Atala claimed that a new type of stem cell had been isolated in amniotic fluid. This finding is particularly important because these stem cells could prove to be a viable alternative to the controversial use of embryonic stem cells.

Over the last few years, national policies and debate amongst the public as well as religious groups, government officials and scientists have led to various laws and procedures regarding stem cell harvesting, development and treatment for research or disease purposes. The goals of such policies are to safeguard the public from unethical stem cell research and use while still supporting new advancements in the field.

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History of Stem Cell Research

Glossary [Stem Cell Information]

Adult stem cellSee somatic stem cell.

AstrocyteA type of supporting (glial) cell found in the nervous system.

BlastocoelThe fluid-filled cavity inside the blastocyst, an early, preimplantation stage of the developing embryo.

BlastocystApreimplantationembryo consisting of a sphere made up of an outer layer of cells (thetrophoblast), a fluid-filled cavity (theblastocoel), and a cluster of cells on the interior (theinner cell mass).

Bone marrow stromal cellsA population of cells found in bone marrow that are different from blood cells.

Bone marrow stromal stem cells (skeletal stem cells)A multipotent subset of bone marrow stromal cells able to form bone, cartilage, stromal cells that support blood formation, fat, and fibrous tissue.

Cell-based therapiesTreatment in which stem cells are induced to differentiate into the specific cell type required to repair damaged or destroyed cells or tissues.

Cell cultureGrowth of cells in vitro in an artificial medium for research or medical treatment.

Cell divisionMethod by which a single cell divides to create two cells. There are two main types of cell division depending on what happens to the chromosomes: mitosis and meiosis.

ChromosomeA structure consisting of DNA and regulatory proteins found in the nucleus of the cell. The DNA in the nucleus is usually divided up among several chromosomes.The number of chromosomes in the nucleus varies depending on the species of the organism. Humans have 46 chromosomes.

Clone (v) To generate identical copies of a region of a DNA molecule or to generate genetically identical copies of a cell, or organism; (n) The identical molecule, cell, or organism that results from the cloning process.

CloningSee Clone.

Cord blood stem cellsSee Umbilical cord blood stem cells.

Culture mediumThe liquid that covers cells in a culture dish and contains nutrients to nourish and support the cells. Culture medium may also include growth factors added to produce desired changes in the cells.

DifferentiationThe process whereby an unspecialized embryonic cell acquires the features of a specialized cell such as a heart, liver, or muscle cell. Differentiation is controlled by the interaction of a cell's genes with the physical and chemical conditions outside the cell, usually through signaling pathways involving proteins embedded in the cell surface.

Directed differentiationThe manipulation of stem cell culture conditions to induce differentiation into a particular cell type.

DNADeoxyribonucleic acid. DNA is the chemical name for the molecule that carries genetic instructions in all living things.

EctodermThe outermost germ layer of cells derived from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst; gives rise to the nervous system, sensory organs, skin, and related structures.

EmbryoIn humans, the developing organism from the time of fertilization until the end of the eighth week of gestation, when it is called a fetus.

Embryoid bodiesRounded collections of cells that arise when embryonic stem cells are cultured in suspension. Embryoid bodies contain cell types derived from all threegerm layers.

Embryonic germ cellsPluripotent stem cells that are derived from early germ cells (those that would become sperm and eggs). Embryonic germ cells (EG cells) are thought to have properties similar to embryonic stem cells.

Embryonic stem cellsPrimitive (undifferentiated) cells that are derived from preimplantation-stageembryos, are capable of dividing without differentiating for a prolonged period in culture, and are known to develop into cells and tissues of the three primary germ layers.

Embryonic stem cell lineEmbryonic stem cells, which have been cultured under in vitro conditions that allow proliferation without differentiation for months to years.

EndodermThe innermost layer of the cells derived from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst; it gives rise to lungs, other respiratory structures, and digestive organs, or generally "the gut."

EnucleatedHaving had its nucleus removed.

EpigeneticHaving to do with the process by which regulatory proteins can turn genes on or off in a way that can be passed on during cell division.

Feeder layerCells used in co-culture to maintain pluripotent stem cells. For human embryonic stem cell culture, typical feeder layers include mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) or human embryonic fibroblasts that have been treated to prevent them from dividing.

FertilizationThe joining of the male gamete (sperm) and the female gamete (egg).

FetusIn humans, the developing human from approximately eight weeks after conception until the time of its birth.

GameteAn egg (in the female) or sperm (in the male) cell. See also Somatic cell.

GastrulationThe process in which cells proliferate and migrate within the embryo to transform the inner cell mass of the blastocyst stage into an embryo containing all three primary germ layers.

GeneA functional unit of heredity that is a segment of DNA found on chromosomes in the nucleus of a cell. Genes direct the formation of an enzyme or other protein.

Germ layersAfter the blastocyst stage of embryonic development, the inner cell mass of the blastocyst goes through gastrulation, a period when the inner cell mass becomes organized into three distinct cell layers, called germ layers. The three layers are the ectoderm, the mesoderm, and the endoderm.

Hematopoietic stem cellA stem cell that gives rise to all red and white blood cells and platelets.

Human embryonic stem cell (hESC)A type of pluripotent stem cells derived from early stage human embryos, up to and including the blastocyststage, thatare capable of dividing without differentiating for a prolonged period in culture, and are known to develop into cells and tissues of the three primary germ layers.

Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)A type of pluripotent stem cell, similar to an embryonic stem cell, formed by the introduction of certain embryonic genes into a somatic cell.

In vitroLatin for "in glass;" in a laboratory dish or test tube; an artificial environment.

In vitro fertilizationA technique that unites the egg and sperm in a laboratory instead of inside the female body.

Inner cell mass (ICM)The cluster of cells inside the blastocyst. These cells give rise to the embryo and ultimately the fetus. The ICM may be used to generate embryonic stem cells.

Long-term self-renewalThe ability of stem cells to replicate themselves by dividing into the same non-specialized cell type over long periods (many months to years) depending on the specific type of stem cell.

Mesenchymal stem cellsA term that is currently used to define non-blood adult stem cells from a variety of tissues, although it is not clear that mesenchymal stem cells from different tissues are the same.

MeiosisA specialized cell division in which a single diploid cell undergoes two nuclear divisions following a single round of DNA replication in order to produce four daughter cells that contain half the number of chromosomes as the diploid cell. Meiosis occurs during the formation of gametes, to ensure that fertilization produces an embryo carrying the normal number of chromosomes.

MesodermMiddle layer of a group of cells derived from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst; it gives rise to bone, muscle, connective tissue, kidneys, and related structures.

MicroenvironmentThe molecules and compounds such as nutrients and growth factors in the fluid surrounding a cell in an organism or in the laboratory, which play an important role in determining the characteristics of the cell.

MitosisThe type of cell division that allows a population of cells to increase its numbers or to maintain its numbers. The number of chromosomes remains the same in this type of cell division.

MultipotentHaving the ability to develop into more than one cell type of the body. See also pluripotent and totipotent.

Neural stem cellA stem cell found in adult neural tissue that can give rise to neurons and glial (supporting) cells. Examples of glial cells include astrocytes and oligodendrocytes.

NeuronsNerve cells, the principal functional units of the nervous system. A neuron consists of a cell body and its processesan axon and one or more dendrites. Neurons transmit information to other neurons or cells by releasing neurotransmitters at synapses.

OligodendrocyteA supporting cell that provides insulation to nerve cells by forming a myelin sheath (a fatty layer) around axons.

ParthenogenesisThe artificial activation of an egg in the absence of a sperm; the egg begins to divide as if it has been fertilized.

PassageIn cell culture, the process in which cells are disassociated, washed, and seeded into new culture vessels after a round of cell growth and proliferation. The number of passages a line of cultured cells has gone through is an indication of its age and expected stability.

PluripotentThe state of a single cell that is capable of differentiating into all tissues of an organism, but not alone capable of sustaining full organismal development.

Scientists demonstrate pluripotency by providing evidence of stable developmental potential, even after prolonged culture, to form derivatives of all three embryonic germ layers from the progeny of a single cell and to generate a teratoma after injection into an immunosuppressed mouse.

Polar bodyA polar body is a structure produced when an early egg cell, or oogonium, undergoes meiosis. In the first meiosis, the oogonium divides its chromosomes evenly between the two cells but divides its cytoplasm unequally. One cell retains most of the cytoplasm, while the other gets almost none, leaving it very small. This smaller cell is called the first polar body. The first polar body usually degenerates. The ovum, or larger cell, then divides again, producing a second polar body with half the amount of chromosomes but almost no cytoplasm. The second polar body splits off and remains adjacent to the large cell, or oocyte, until it (the second polar body) degenerates. Only one large functional oocyte, or egg, is produced at the end of meiosis.

PreimplantationWith regard to an embryo, preimplantation means that the embryo has not yet implanted in the wall of the uterus. Human embryonic stem cells are derived from preimplantation-stage embryos fertilized outside a woman's body (in vitro).

ProliferationExpansion of the number of cells by the continuous division of single cells into two identical daughter cells.

Regenerative medicineA field of medicine devoted to treatments in which stem cells are induced to differentiate into the specific cell type required to repair damaged or destroyed cell populations or tissues. (See also cell-based therapies).

Reproductive cloningThe process of using somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) to produce a normal, full grown organism (e.g., animal) genetically identical to the organism (animal) that donated the somatic cell nucleus. In mammals, this would require implanting the resulting embryo in a uterus where it would undergo normal development to become a live independent being. The firstmammal to be created by reproductive cloning was Dolly the sheep, born at the Roslin Institute in Scotland in 1996. See also Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT).

SignalsInternal and external factors that control changes in cell structure and function. They can be chemical or physical in nature.

Somatic cellAny body cell other than gametes (egg or sperm); sometimes referred to as "adult" cells. See also Gamete.

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT)A technique that combines an enucleated egg and the nucleus of a somatic cell to make an embryo. SCNT can be used for therapeutic or reproductive purposes, but the initial stage that combines an enucleated egg and a somatic cell nucleus is the same. See also therapeutic cloning and reproductive cloning.

Somatic (adult) stem cellA relatively rare undifferentiated cell found in many organs and differentiated tissues with a limited capacity for both self renewal (in the laboratory) and differentiation. Such cells vary in their differentiation capacity, but it is usually limited to cell types in the organ of origin. This is an active area of investigation.

Stem cellsCells with the ability to divide for indefinite periods in culture and to give rise to specialized cells.

Stromal cellsConnective tissue cells found in virtually every organ. In bone marrow, stromal cells support blood formation.

SubculturingTransferring cultured cells, with or without dilution, from one culture vessel to another.

Surface markersProteins on the outside surface of a cell that are unique to certain cell types and that can be visualized using antibodies or other detection methods.

TeratomaA multi-layered benign tumor that grows from pluripotent cells injected into mice with a dysfunctional immune system. Scientists test whether they have established a human embryonic stem cell (hESC) line by injecting putative stem cells into such mice and verifying that the resulting teratomas contain cells derived from all three embryonic germ layers.

Therapeutic cloningThe process of using somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) to produce cells that exactly match a patient. By combining a patient's somatic cell nucleus and an enucleated egg, a scientist may harvest embryonic stem cells from the resulting embryo that can be used to generate tissues that match a patient's body. This means the tissues created are unlikely to be rejected by the patient's immune system. See also Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT).

TotipotentThe state of a cell that is capable of giving rise to all types of differentiated cells found in an organism, as well as the supporting extra-embryonic structures of the placenta. A single totipotent cell could, by division in utero, reproduce the whole organism. (See also Pluripotent and Multipotent).

TransdifferentiationThe process by which stem cells from one tissue differentiate into cells of another tissue.

TrophoblastThe outer cell layer of the blastocyst. It is responsible for implantation and develops into the extraembryonic tissues, including the placenta, and controls the exchange of oxygen and metabolites between mother and embryo.

Umbilical cord blood stem cellsStem cells collected from the umbilical cord at birth that can produce all of the blood cells in the body (hematopoietic). Cord blood is currently used to treat patients who have undergone chemotherapy to destroy their bone marrow due to cancer or other blood-related disorders.

UndifferentiatedA cell that has not yet developed into a specialized cell type.

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Glossary [Stem Cell Information]

Platelet-rich plasma – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Platelet-rich plasma (Abbreviation: PRP) is blood plasma that has been enriched with platelets. As a concentrated source of autologous platelets, PRP contains (and releases through degranulation) several different growth factors and other cytokines that stimulate healing of bone and soft tissue.

PRP was first developed in the 1970s and first used in Italy in 1987 in an open heart surgery procedure. PRP therapy began gaining popularity in the mid 1990s. It has since been applied to many different medical fields such as cosmetic surgery, dentistry, sports medicine and pain management.[citation needed]

The efficacy of certain growth factors in healing various injuries and the concentrations of these growth factors found within PRP are the theoretical basis for the use of PRP in tissue repair.[1] The platelets collected in PRP are activated by the addition of thrombin and calcium chloride, which induces the release of the mentioned factors from alpha granules. The growth factors and other cytokines present in PRP include:[1][2]

There are, at present, two methods of PRP preparation approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.[3] Both processes involve the collection of the patient's whole blood (that is anticoagulated with citrate dextrose) before undergoing two stages of centrifugation (TruPRP) (Harvest) designed to separate the PRP aliquot from platelet-poor plasma and red blood cells.[3] In humans, the typical baseline blood platelet count is approximately 200,000 per L; therapeutic PRP concentrates the platelets by roughly five-fold.[4] There is, however, broad variability in the production of PRP by various concentrating equipment and techniques.[5][6][7]

In humans, PRP has been investigated and used as a clinical tool for several types of medical treatments, including nerve injury,[2]tendinitis,[8][9]osteoarthritis,[10]cardiac muscle injury,[11] bone repair and regeneration,[12]plastic surgery,[13] and oral surgery.[14] PRP has also received attention in the popular media as a result of its use in treating sports injuries in professional athletes.[15][16][17][18]

PRP may be used as a treatment for hair regrowth caused by Androgenic Alopecia.[19][20] A 2013 review stated more evidence is needed to determine the effectiveness of PRP for hair regrowth.[21]

Results of basic science and preclinical trials have not yet been confirmed in large-scale controlled clinical trials. For example, clinical use of PRP for nerve injury and sports medicine has produced "promising" but "inconsistent" results in early trials.[2][22] A 2009 systematic review of the scientific literature stated that there are few controlled clinical trials that have adequately evaluated the safety and efficacy of PRP treatments and concluded that PRP is "a promising, but not proven, treatment option for joint, tendon, ligament, and muscle injuries".[22]

Proponents of PRP therapy argue that negative clinical results are associated with poor quality PRP produced by inadequate single spin devices. The fact that most gathering devices capture a percentage of a given thrombocyte count is a bias, since there is significant inter-individual variability in the platelet concentration of human plasma. More is not necessarily better in this case.[4] The variability in platelet concentrating techniques may alter platelet degranulation characteristics that could affect clinical outcomes.[2]

A 2010 Cochrane analysis found no evidence that PRP offered any benefit when used for sinus lifts during dental implant placement.[14]

A 2014 Cochrane analysis found very weak (very low quality) evidence for a decrease in pain in those treated with platlet-rich therapies (PRT) from musculoskeletal injuries in the short term (up to three months). However, pooled data did not show a difference in function in the short, medium or long term. There was weak evidence that suggested that adverse events (harms) occurred at comparable, low rates in people treated with PRT and people not treated with PRT.[23]

Platelet-rich plasma is used in horses for treatment of equine lameness. Uses include tendon and ligament injury, wounds, fractures, bone cysts, and osteoarthritis.

Some concern exists as to whether PRP treatments violate anti-doping rules, such as those maintained by the World Anti-Doping Agency.[1] It is not clear if local injections of PRP can have a systemic impact on circulating cytokine levels, in turn affecting doping tests; it is also not clear whether PRP treatments have systemic anabolic effects or affect performance.[1] In January 2011, the World Anti-Doping Agency removed intramuscular injections of PRP from its prohibitions after determining that there is a "lack of any current evidence concerning the use of these methods for purposes of performance enhancement".[24] In April 2014, Orioles first baseman Chris Davis, 28, underwent two PRP injections to speed the healing and recovery of an oblique injury. Left-hander Zach Britton had the procedure in his left shoulder in March 2012, according to the Baltimore Sun, and right-hander Dylan Bundy had the procedure last April before undergoing Tommy John surgery in June.

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Platelet-rich plasma - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy (Vampire Facelift)

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy Sub Menu Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy background information

Platelet Rich Plasma or PRP therapy, also known as autologous rejuvenation therapy, is a revolutionary new treatment. It is often also referred to, by the media, as a Vampire Facelift or Dracula Therapy.

PRP therapy works on the basis that the bodys own natural healing powers may slow and even reverse the ageing process its a revolutionary repair system that places growth factors in the exact location where we want the skin to repair and rejuvenate itself.

Blood (a small amount) is taken from the patient during the treatment, then treated (in a centrifuge) to harvest the platelet rich plasma and re-injected into the desired area. The therapy is said to plump skin, fill out fine lines and wrinkles, and give an overall more radiant appearance.

Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy has been used for a number of years in urology, ophthalmology, dentistry, neurosurgery, orthopaedics and sports medicine, to treat muscle and ligament injuries, pain problems, skin lesions and more. Due to the success of Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy in medicine, the procedure was then developed into a cosmetic procedure.

Platelets contain a high content of growth factors proteins that help to heal injured tissue or damaged skin. Upon re-injection the platelets release their growth factors which trigger surrounding cells to proliferate, in turn stimulating repair, increasing volume and rejuvenating the skin.

If you are considering Platelet Rich Plasma therapy the following information will give you a basic understanding of the procedure. It can't answer all your questions, since a lot depends on the individual patient and the practitioner. Please ask a practitioner about anything you don't understand.

PRP therapy involves harvesting platelets from the patients own blood in order to inject them into problem skin areas, giving it the nicknames Vampire Facelift and Dracula Therapy. Before the procedure, a small amount of blood is taken from the patient and put into a centrifuge, where the blood is spun in order to separate the red blood cells from the platelet plasma. The platelet plasma, which is the component of the blood that is known for being highly effective in treating burns and skin injuries, is then injected into the chosen area, where it plumps up the skin, reducing fine lines and wrinkles.

When the platelet plasma is injected into the skin, the platelets release their growth factors. The growth factors stimulate other cells surrounding the injection site, plumping them up and causing them to increase in volume. The platelet plasma sends out signals to other cells in the body when it is injected, telling them to rush forward to the injection site. One cell that is stimulated during the process is the fibroblast cell, which is the cell type that creates collagen. Collagen is what gives skin a youthful appearance. As we age, collagen is produced less and less, causing wrinkles and fine lines in the skin, and therapies such as PRP therapy that stimulate collagen production can counteract this. Another cell stimulated during the process is the pre-adipocyte cell, which is a cell type that can convert into a fat cell, which is especially important in the face to fill out lines and to contour the face.

PRP therapy can be used on the face, particularly around the eyes, mouth and nose, the backs of the hands, and all over the body, more commonly the dcolletage and even the knees to give skin a more youthful and radiant appearance.

There are now many brands of Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy for use in cosmetic enhancement including Regen, Selphyl, GLOPRP, Angel Lift and Tropocells (also known by the brand MyCells in other countries outside of the UK), which all offer a different method or process for refining and creating the PRP product from the original blood source.

Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy can be used to treat numerous cosmetic problems, such as fine lines and wrinkles or crepey skin around the mouth and nose, crows feet around the eyes and mild drooping or sagging skin around the eyes or on the cheeks. PRP therapy can also be used to improve the appearance of dehydrated or mildly sagging skin on the backs of the hands, on the tops of the feet, elbows and knees. It can be used all over the body.

In terms of medical treatment rather than cosmetic treatment, PRP therapy can be used to treat a multitude of problems, including osteoarthritis and ligament and muscle injuries. It has been used widely in medicine for a number of years.

During your first visit to a clinic, you should explain what you expect from PRP Therapy and how you would like to look afterwards. Your practitioner should discuss any potential problems connected with the treatment based on your medical history.

The practitioner should take a medical history to make sure that there are no reasons why you shouldnt have the treatment. Then you will usually be asked to read detailed information and sign a consent form which means that you have understood what the treatment may do, along with any potential side effects. Photographs may also be taken by the practitioner for a before and after comparison of the treatment.

10 to 20 minutes before your procedure, your practitioner will draw 10-20ml of blood. This is done in a similar way to when you have blood taken for testing at the doctors office.

The blood will then be spun in a centrifuge to separate the platelet plasma from the red blood cells using one of the branded systems described.

Any makeup on the skin will be removed using a wipe, and antiseptic will be applied to the injection site. Depending on your practitioner, a topical local anaesthetic will then be applied to the skin of the injection site. The PRP will then be injected into the skin in the desired area using a very fine needle. Injections will be given multiple times in multiple locations in order to give an overall improvement to the area.

An ice pack may then be pressed onto the treated site to reduce any swelling. You will then be free to leave and go about your daily business. The whole procedure usually takes about 30 minutes.

It may take a few weeks for the results of the PRP therapy to become visible, but with two to three top-up treatments, you can expect the results of PRP therapy to last for up to one and a half years.

Recovery time is minimal with Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy, much like a visit to the doctor for a blood test. The actual procedure of reinjection of the PRP involves the use of topical anaesthetic, although not always depending on the patient and area being treated, rather than local or general anaesthetic, meaning that most patients feel comfortable returning to their normal activities straight after the treatment or within a short while.

There are few side effects associated with Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy. Immediately after the procedure, you can expect some bruising, swelling and redness at the injection sites. You may also experience some tenderness and pain at the injection sites. However, any side effects should dissipate within a few days following the procedure.

It is very important that you follow the advice of your physician following treatment. Post-treatment advice could include:

Most patients will be able to go straight back to their normal regime following treatment, but if you experience any tenderness or pain at the treatment site, you should take extra care when washing and caring for your skin in the days following the PRP therapy.

To undergo PRP therapy, you should be in general good health and you should have realistic expectations of the outcome. Most people are suitable candidates for PRP therapy, and it is recommended as a safe treatment for individuals who are unable to undergo more invasive procedures such as a full face lift, due to the risks associated with general anaesthetic (although it will not achieve the same results as a surgical face lift).

Individuals with platelet dysfunction syndrome, critical thrombocytopenia, hypofibrinogenaemia, haemodynamic instability, sepsis, acute & chronic infections and chronic liver pathology are not suitable candidates for PRP therapy.

Those undergoing anti-coagulant therapy are also not suitable candidates.

Only fully trained and qualified medical practitioners (nurses, doctors or cosmetic surgeons) should perform PRP therapy.

It is unlikely that anyone considering PRP Therapy for cosmetic indications would be able to access this free of charge on the National Health Service (NHS).

Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy costs between 350 and 500 per session, depending on the practitioner. Generally, you need two to three top-up sessions after your first treatment, so you could pay between 700 and 1500, depending on how many top-up sessions you have. Further maintenance may be required.

PRP therapy is a revolutionary new therapy that is a safe and alternative treatment to various other non-invasive cosmetic treatments such as botulinum toxins and dermal fillers. Its considered to be a natural treatment, as it uses the bodys own cells (blood plasma) rather than a synthetic substance.

Following PRP therapy, your skin will look more smooth, radiant and youthful.

There are very few risks associated with PRP therapy if it is administered by a fully trained physician.

Coming soon.

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Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy (Vampire Facelift)

The Stem Cell Center at Texas Heart Institute

Welcome

The Stem Cell Center Texas Heart Institute is dedicated to the study of adult stem cells and their role in treating diseases of the heart and the circulatory system. Through numerous clinical and preclinical studies, we have come to realize the potential of stem cells to help patients suffering from cardiovascular disease.We are actively enrolling patients in studies using stem cells for the treatment of heart failure, heart attacks, and peripheral vascular disease.

Whether you are a patient looking for information regarding our research, or a doctor hoping to learn more about stem cell therapy, we welcome you to the Stem Cell Center. Please visit our Clinical Trials page for more information about our current trials.

Emerson C. Perin, MD, PhD, FACC Director, Clinical Research for Cardiovascular Medicine Medical Director, Stem Cell Center McNair Scholar

You may contact us at:

E-mail: stemcell@texasheart.org Toll free: 1-866-924-STEM (7836) Phone: 832-355-9405 Fax: 832-355-9440

We are a network of physicians, scientists, and support staff dedicatedto studying stem cell therapy for treating heart disease. Thegoals of the Network are to complete research studies that will potentially lead to more effective treatments for patients with cardiovasculardisease, and to share knowledge quickly with the healthcare community.

Websitein Spanish (En espaol)

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The Stem Cell Center at Texas Heart Institute