Category Archives: Stem Cell Research

Inside the microscopic world of the mouse hair follicle, Yale Cancer Center researchers have discovered big clues about how stem cells regenerate and die. These findings, published April 6 in the journal Nature, could lead to a better understanding of how the stem cell pool is maintained or altered in tissues throughout the body. Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that replenish themselves and, based on their tissue location, can become specialized cells such as blood or skin cells. The hair follicle is an ideal site for exploring stem cell behavior because it has distinct and predictable oscillations in the number and behavior of stem cells, said the studys lead author, Kailin R. Mesa, a third-year doctoral student in the lab of Valentina Greco, associate professor of genetics, cell biology, and dermatology. Using live microscopic imaging to track stem cell behavior in the skin of living mice, researchers observed that the stem cell niche, or surrounding area, plays a critical role in whether stem cells grow or die. Prior to this, it wasnt clear whether stem cell regulation was intrinsic or extrinsic, and now we know it is external in that the niche instructs the stem cells, Mesa said. In terms … Continue reading →

HOUSTON - It's a debate that puts many people's religious beliefs at odds with science. Medical breakthroughs have allowed doctors to use human stem cells to treat chronic diseases with incredible results. But even patients who benefit have reservations about how stem cells are harvested. Multiple sclerosis is a debilitating, progressive disease that typically only gets worse once a patient is diagnosed. But much to the surprise of many doctors, patient Debbie Bertrand's symptoms have improved instead of regressing. "The last time I walked into this building, I had to use the wheelchair," Bertrand said. "I couldn't even walk, so this is a big day for me." Bertrand uses a walker to visit Celltex -- a Houston company that has been preserving her stem cells since 2011. She was one of the first patients to receive breakthrough treatments using stem cells taken from fat cells, which are then reinjected into her body. "I had pretty high expectations, but I think they've exceeded anything I could've ever hoped for," Bertrand said. "My doctors are still blown away because you're never supposed to get better when you have MS. But my quality of life is just so much better." Bertrand's experience is … Continue reading →

The impact of investing in stem cell research will be the topic at thenext Lincoln Science Caf at 7 p.m. on April 13. C. Randal Mills, Ph.D., president and CEO of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, will speak at Vega, 350 Canopy St. Prior to joiningthe institutein 2014, Mills was president and CEO of Osiris Therapeutics Inc., a biotechnology company specializing in stem cell science. Under his leadership, Osiris developed the worlds first approved stem cell drug, remestemcel-L, to treat graft versus host disease in children, a devastating complication of bone marrow transplantation that can be fatal. Science Cafsare face-to-face conversations with a scientist on a current topic. They are open to people21 and older, and take place in casual settings like pubs and coffeehouses. A scientist gives a brief presentation followed by a question-and-answer period. For more information about Science Cafes, go to unmc.edu/sciencecafe. Podcasts of previous Science Cafes also are available on the website or available for download on iTunes. See original here: Stem cell research is focus of April 13 Lincoln Science Caf … Continue reading →

Stem Cell Connectivity {Duke University Research} A Duke University team has discovered how stem cells build long, slender structures that may ferry signals from one place to another, connecting the stem cell to the critical information it... By: Duke University … Continue reading →

Contact Information Available for logged-in reporters only Newswise Stem cells hold great promise for treating a number of diseases, in part because they have the unique ability to differentiate, specializing into any one of the hundreds of cell types that comprise the human body. Harnessing this potential, though, is difficult. In some cases, it takes up to seven carefully orchestrated steps of adding certain growth factors at specific times to coax stem cells into the desired cell type. Even then, cells of the intestine, liver and pancreas are notoriously difficult to produce from stem cells. Writing in Cell Stem Cell April 2, researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have discovered why. It turns out that the chromosomes in laboratory stem cells open slowly over time, in the same sequence that occurs during embryonic development. It isnt until certain chromosomal regions have acquired the open state that they are able to respond to added growth factors and become liver or pancreatic cells. This new understanding, say researchers, will help spur advancements in stem cell research and the development of new cell therapies for diseases of the liver and pancreas, such as type 1 diabetes. Our ability to … Continue reading →

IMAGE:Human mammary stem-like cell apportions aged mitochondria asymmetrically between daughter cells. Mitochondria were labeled age-selectively red 51 hours prior to imaging, leaving mitochondria that are younger unlabelled. The daughter cell... view more Credit: Julia Dhla Tissue stem cells, that continuously renew our tissues, can divide asymmetrically to produce two types of daughter cells. One will be the new stem cell, where as the other will give rise to the differentiating cells of the tissue. A study jointly lead by laboratories in the Institute of Biotechnology and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) investigated whether stem cells may also use asymmetric cell division to reduce accumulation of cellular damage. Damage buildup can cause stem cell exhaustion that results in reduced tissue renewal and aging. Researchers developed a novel approach to follow cellular components, such as organelles, age-selectively during cell division. "We found that stem cells segregate their old mitochondria to the daughter cell that will differentiate, whereas the new stem cell will receive only young mitochondria" says Pekka Katajisto, a Group leader and Academy research fellow at BI. Mitochondria appear to be particularly important for stem cells, as other analyzed organelles were not similarly age-discriminated, and since inhibition of normal mitochondrial quality … Continue reading →

Brazilian researchers at D'OR Institute for Research and Education (IDOR) and Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) have taken what they describe as an important step toward using the implantation of stem cell-generated neurons as a treatment for Parkinson's disease. Using an FDA approved substance for treating stomach cancer, Rehen and colleagues were able to grow dopamine-producing neurons derived from embryonic stem cells that remained healthy and functional for as long as 15 months after implantation into mice, restoring motor function without forming tumors. Parkinson's, which affect as many 10 million people in the world, is caused by a depletion of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain. Current treatments include medications and electrical implants in the brain which causes severe adverse effects over time and fail to prevent disease progression. Several studies have indicated that the transplantation of embryonic stem cells improves motor functions in animal models. However, until now, the procedure has shown to be unsafe, because of the risk of tumors upon transplantation. To address this issue, the researchers tested for the first time to pre-treat undifferentiated mouse embryonic stem cells with mitomycin C, a drug already prescribed to treat cancer. The substance blocks the DNA replication and … Continue reading →

IMAGE:Images are of mitochondria from iPSC-derived dopaminergic neurons. The neuron on the left is from a "normal " or control iPSC line; the neuron on the right was derived from... view more Based on research in fruit flies, it has long been suspected that the most common mutation linked to both sporadic and familial Parkinson's disease (PD) wreaks its havoc by altering the function of mitochondria in neurons that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine. Using stem cells derived from patients who have PD, scientist at the Buck Institute have confirmed that finding in human cells for the first time. In research published in the April 2nd early online edition of Stem Cell Reports, Buck researchers also provide a valuable tool for testing potential treatments for the progressive, incurable neurodegenerative disease. "If we can find existing drugs or develop new ones that prevent damage to the mitochondria we would have a potential treatment for PD," said Buck faculty Xianmin Zeng, PhD, lead scientist on the study. "This is the first time we can show a real and observable change in mitochondria in human cells affected by a PD mutation," she said. Mitochondria are energy-producing organelles found in large numbers in most cells … Continue reading →

Hailing the advancements in stem cell research that led to production of insulin-secreting beta cells in the pancreas as one of the major breakthroughs in science during 2014, former President and scientist A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has expressed hope of a permanent cure for diabetes in the next three years. Delivering the valedictory address of Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineerings (SJCE) Golden Jubilee celebrations here, Dr. Kalam said scientists had successfully found a way to turn human embryonic stem cells into beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. The destruction of the insulin producing cells in the pancreas causes Type-1 diabetes. Presently, persons suffering from diabetes inject the required dozes of insulin into their body to keep the sugar level in the blood under check. Dr. Kalam was referring to the research by a team of scientists from Harvard that had appeared in scientific journals. However, he said studies were still continuing to find out the reasons for the pancreatic cells to stop producing insulin. I am hopeful that a permanent cure for diabetes can be found in the next three years, he said. Please Wait while comments are loading... 1. Comments will be moderated by The Hindu editorial team. … Continue reading →

Madisons biotech community and its supporters cheered the news Monday that Cellular Dynamics International (CDI) founded by UW-Madison stem cell pioneer James Thomson in 2004 will be purchased by Fujifilm Holdings Corp., of Tokyo, for $307 million. I wish every Monday was like this. This is a really nice surprise, said Carl Gulbrandsen, managing director of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation. WARF owns a small percentage of CDI stock and holds patents on some of Thomsons technology, drawing licensing fees and royalties from Cellular Dynamics. The cash deal calls for the Japanese company to buy publicly traded CDIs stock at $16.50 a share, or more than double the stocks closing price last Friday at $7.94 a share. The stock closed Monday at $16.42. When the purchase is final, sometime in the next three months if regulators approve, CDI will keep running its headquarters in Madison and branch in Novato, California, as a subsidiary of Fujifilm, the companies said. CDI had 155 employees, as of December 2014, and annual revenue of $16.7 million. CDI, 525 Science Drive, makes human stem cells in industrial quantities. Using tissue from adults, CDI creates induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) that can be reprogrammed into virtually … Continue reading →