Category Archives: Mesenchymal Stem Cells

By Shane Huntington Pioneering stem cell researcher Prof Martin Pera discusses where stem cell research has been and where its going, the therapeutic potential of stem cell technologies, and what we should and shouldnt expect from this fast-developing research field. With host Dr Shane Huntington. SHANE HUNTINGTON Over the last couple of decades stem cells have been touted as the key to treating a wide range of diseases, with advantages that exceed surgical repair or even organ transplantation; but work on stem cells, especially those derived from human embryos, has drawn significant public scrutiny. In many countries embryonic stem cell research is tightly regulated, and researchers have been forced to explore other research options. Such restrictions are not present worldwide and, in some countries, regulation has yet to catch up with the science. This can make it especially challenging for patients trying to navigate through the world of therapeutic stem cell technologies, both in trial phase and on the consumer market. To explore these issues and the technology itself we are joined on Up Close by one of the pioneers of stem cell research: Professor Martin Pera, program leader of Stem Cells Australia, and professor of stem cell sciences at … Continue reading →

COULD we stem the tide of ageing by delaying the deterioration of stem cells? A new compound that appears to do just that could help us find ways to protect our organs from age-related wear and tear, experiments in mice suggest. As we age, so do our mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs): their numbers in our bone marrow decline, and those that are left lose the ability to differentiate into the distinct cell types - such as bone, cartilage, fat and possibly muscle cells - that help in the healing process. "We think this ageing of stem cells may be linked to the onset of some age-related disorders, such as osteoporosis," says Ilaria Bellantuono at the University of Sheffield in the UK. Earlier research in mice had suggested that the prion protein expressed by MSCs might play a role in holding back stem cell ageing. Mice lacking the prion protein were less able to regenerate blood cells. The study provided more evidence that correctly folded prions serve a useful purpose in the body, despite the role that misfolded prions play in BSE and vCJD. Bellantuono and her colleagues have now found that the prion protein performs a similar function in humans … Continue reading →

MANILA, Philippines Celebrity hairstylist Ricky Reyes, talent manager and host Lolit Solis, actress Lorna Tolentino and even former President Joseph Estrada are only among the prominent Filipinos who swear by the healing effects of fresh cell therapy, which involves the injection of live animal cells into the body. Reyes, who used to suffer from a rare disease which he called reading eye epilepsy, said he went to Germany last June for fresh cell therapy. After a number of sessions, the celebrity hairstylist can now read newspapers without suffering a seizure. It was gone immediately, he said. Pati arthritis ko. Naalis yung sakit, tapos gaganda at babata ka pa. Solis, 65, had fresh cell therapy after experiencing knee pain, and 75-year-old Estrada opted to undergo the procedure in Germany to keep healthy. Before them, several other well-known figures worldwide are said to have tried fresh cell treatments, among them the late English actor Charlie Chaplin. So how is this procedure done? Dr. Robert Janson-Muller, who runs a fresh cell therapy clinic in Germany, is in town to give Filipinos the lowdown on this decades-long treatment. Not stem cell treatment Before starting his lecture for members of the local media on Tuesday, … Continue reading →

Proteonomix Inc.Posted on:14 Aug 12 Proteonomix, Inc. (OTC/BB: PROT), a biotechnology company focused on developing therapeutics based upon the use of human cells and their derivatives, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted permission to the Company to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial with its mobilization technology UMK-121. The Proteonomix-sponsored trial will evaluate UMK-121 in patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD). Permission by the FDA marks an important milestone in our plans to initiate a Company-sponsored clinical trial with UMK-121, following years of research and investment to advance development of this drug candidate, said Proteonomix Chief Technology Officer Steven Byle. We hope and anticipate that this trial will demonstrate the potential of UMK-121 to mobilize stem cells in order to improve liver function in patients with ESLD. We consider ourselves fortunate to be involved with a development-stage therapy that could improve the life expectancy for this class of terminally ill patients awaiting liver transplants. Proteonomix CEO Michael Cohen added, This is a significant step for our Company as this is the first FDA IND to be held by Proteonomix and demonstrates the ability of the Company to move basic research projects into clinical trials. … Continue reading →

MOUNTAINSIDE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Proteonomix, Inc. (OTC/BB: PROT), a biotechnology company focused on developing therapeutics based upon the use of human cells and their derivatives, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted permission to the Company to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial with its mobilization technology UMK-121. The Proteonomix-sponsored trial will evaluate UMK-121 in patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD). Permission by the FDA marks an important milestone in our plans to initiate a Company-sponsored clinical trial with UMK-121, following years of research and investment to advance development of this drug candidate, said Proteonomix Chief Technology Officer Steven Byle. We hope and anticipate that this trial will demonstrate the potential of UMK-121 to mobilize stem cells in order to improve liver function in patients with ESLD. We consider ourselves fortunate to be involved with a development-stage therapy that could improve the life expectancy for this class of terminally ill patients awaiting liver transplants. Proteonomix CEO Michael Cohen added, This is a significant step for our Company as this is the first FDA IND to be held by Proteonomix and demonstrates the ability of the Company to move basic research projects into clinical trials. UMK-121 is … Continue reading →

EPALINGES, Switzerland, Aug. 14, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via PRWEB - Stemedica International, SA (Epalinges, Switzerland), a wholly owned subsidiary of Stemedica Cell Technologies, Inc. ("Stemedica"), a leader in adult stem cell research and manufacturing, announced today that it has been granted a series of licenses by Swissmedic (the Swiss equivalent of the United States Food and Drug Administration). These licenses specifically authorize the Company to import and export its Stemedyne(TM) stem cell products worldwide for human use in approved clinical trials. Granting of the license by Swissmedic marks the culmination of a two-year inspection process of Stemedica's United States and Swiss operations. The Swiss government's rigorous inspection and approval process has included: (1) a comprehensive, in-depth audit of Stemedica's processes and procedures; (2) the examination of Stemedica's quality systems; and (3) interviews with facility management and onsite inspections of the facilities. Stemedica currently produces two lines of ischemia-tolerant adult allogeneic stem cell products. These include Stemedyne(TM)-MSC, bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells and Stemedyne(TM)-NSC, neural stem cells. A third product, Stemedyne(TM) Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) stem cells is currently in development. Stemedica now has full regulatory approval from the Swiss government to provide these cells to countries that can … Continue reading →

TORONTO To arthritis patients, they still seem like wonders of modern medicine: artificial hip and knee implants that curb chronic pain. In fact, 14,000 Canadians a year receive hip replacements and more than 21,000 undergo knee replacements, the numbers soaring over the last decade. If Dr. Nizar Mahomed and colleagues at the University Health Network (UHN) in Toronto succeed with fascinating new research, however, such surgery will eventually become a thing of the past. The operations are, in fact, anything but panaceas, never really restoring people to their healthiest state, and often requiring replacement when the implant wears out, acknowledges Dr. Mahomed, head of orthopedics at the UHNs Toronto Western Hospital. With those limitations in mind, the UHN is pursuing research that aims to find a biological cure for joints decimated by osteo-arthritis, the most common form of the disease. Most dazzling among several experiments is a project that uses stem cells to create bone and cartilage, which researchers hope can be turned into a sort of organic joint implant that would fuse with existing tissue and regenerate diseased knees and hips. Theoretically, the limits imposed on artificial joint-replacement patients would be forgotten. If we can find biological repair options, … Continue reading →

Boca Raton, FL (PRWEB) August 10, 2012 The Institute of Regenerative and Molecular Orthopedics announced this week that it is one of the few centers performing stem cell harvesting and isolation of adipose mesenchymal stem cells. The procedure could lead to the newest frontier in tissue engineering and stem cell treatment. Offering a unique hybrid of traditional orthopedics and cutting-edge innovations in regenerative medicine, IRMO is a pioneer in developing minimally-invasive an non-surgical solutions for many common orthopedic problems. Addressing issues from tennis elbow injuries to degenerative arthritis, the revolutionary treatments have earned IRMO a reputation for innovation and discovery. The institutes recent work with mesenchymal cells is part of its ongoing commitment to research and discovery. Mesenchymal cells are multipotent stem cells that can differentiate themselves into a number of different cells including osteoblasts, chondrocytes and myocytes. More recent discoveries have indicated that MSCs can also differentiate into beta-pancreatic islets cells. Such characteristics could mean that these cells could point the way towards new advances in tissue re-engineering, potentially facilitating the regrowth and repair of damaged tissue and the treatment of mesenchymal tissue disorders. Those interested in learning more about the Institutes work in this area can learn more … Continue reading →

Public release date: 10-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Mary Jane Gore mary.gore@duke.edu 919-660-1309 Duke University Medical Center DURHAM, N.C.-- Duke researchers may have found a promising stem cell therapy for preventing osteoarthritis after a joint injury. Injuring a joint greatly raises the odds of getting a form of osteoarthritis called post-traumatic arthritis, or PTA. There are no therapies yet that modify or slow the progression of arthritis after injury. Researchers at Duke University Health System have found a very promising therapeutic approach to PTA using a type of stem cell, called mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), in mice with fractures that typically would lead to them developing arthritis. Their findings could lead to a therapy that would be used after joint injury and before signs of significant osteoarthritis. The scientists thought the stem cells would work to prevent PTA by altering the balance of inflammation and regeneration in knee joints, because these stem cells have beneficial properties in other regions of the body. "The stem cells were able to prevent post-traumatic arthritis," said Farshid Guilak, Ph.D., director of orthopaedic research at Duke and senior author of the study. The study was published on August 10 in Cell Transplantation. … Continue reading →

TUCSON, Ariz., Aug. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Doctors at the University of Oklahoma reported the first successful procedure for growing new blood vessels from adipose, or 'fat derived,' stem cells. These newly formed blood vessels can be used in heart bypass surgery and other complicated procedures requiring healthy vessels, according to the researchers, who presented their findings at the American Heart Association's 2012 Scientific Sessions. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120809/LA54820) Through liposuction, doctors can collect hundreds of millions of stem cells that can be used to generate blood vessels. The cells were "seeded" onto a 'bio-scaffold' and as they multiplied, researchers rolled them into tubes with the diameter of small blood vessels. Within weeks, new, healthy tissue began to grow into usable blood vessels. And since the cells are 'autologous', or from the same patient, there is no risk of adverse reactions or rejection. But one of the key considerations is the age of the patient and thus the age of the stem cells. Young stem cells are much more active and potent than older cells. And young blood vessels are much more functional than older vessels. One potential downside is that these blood vessels take time to grow in the lab. "They … Continue reading →