Navigation Links
Newly identified growth factor promotes stem cell growth, regeneration
Date:3/21/2010

DURHAM, N.C. -- Scientists at Duke University Medical Center have identified a new growth factor that stimulates the expansion and regeneration of hematopoietic (blood-forming) stem cells in culture and in laboratory animals. The discovery, appearing in the journal Nature Medicine, may help researchers overcome one of the most frustrating barriers to cellular therapy: the fact that stem cells are so few in number and so stubbornly resistant to expansion.

Researchers believe that umbilical cord blood could serve as a universal source of stem cells for all patients who need a stem cell transplant, but the numbers of stem cells in cord blood units are limited, so there is a clinical need to develop a method to expand cord blood stem cells for transplantation purposes. "Unfortunately, there are no soluble growth factors identified to date that have been proven to expand human stem cells for therapeutic purposes," said John Chute, M.D., a stem cell transplant physician and cell biologist at Duke and senior author of the paper.

Chute, working with Heather Himburg, a post-doctoral fellow in his laboratory, discovered that adding pleiotrophin, a naturally-occurring growth factor, stimulated a ten-fold expansion of stem cells taken from the bone marrow of a mouse.

They also found that pleiotrophin increased the numbers of human cord blood stem cells in culture that were capable of engraftment in immune-deficient mice. When they injected pleiotrophin into mice that had received bone marrow-suppressive radiation, they observed a 10-fold increase in bone marrow stem cells compared to untreated mice. "These results confirmed that pleiotrophin induces stem cell regeneration following injury," said Chute.

Chute says the finding could lead to broader application of cord blood transplants for the large numbers of patients who do not have an immune-matched donor "Perhaps more importantly, systemic treatment with pleiotrophin may
'/>"/>

Contact: Michelle Gailiun
michelle.gailiun@duke.edu
919-660-1306
Duke University Medical Center
Source:Eurekalert

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. MSU scientists unlock key enzyme using newly created cool method
2. Parasitic wasps newly sequenced genomes reveal new avenues for pest control
3. Newly identified enzymes help plants sense elevated CO2 and could lead to water-wise crops
4. Newly discovered mechanism allows cells to change state
5. Newly discovered fat molecule: An undersea killer with an upside
6. Newly found DNA catalysts cleave DNA with water molecule
7. Newly discovered gene fusion may lead to improved prostate cancer diagnosis
8. Newly discovered snow roots are evolutionary phenomenon
9. Newly discovered reactions from an old drug may lead to new antibiotics
10. Newly discovered epidermal growth factor receptor active in human pancreatic cancers
11. Newly discovered gene plays vital role in cancer
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:6/19/2013)... published in the journal Polar Biology, researchers report using DNA ... be a new type of killer whale ( Orcinus orca ... killer whales stranded on a New Zealand beach and a ... also taken but it was almost 50 years before this ... white eye-patch and bulbous forehead, was documented alive in the ...
(Date:6/19/2013)... the most potent physiological anabolic agent for tissue-building ... of lipids, protein and carbohydrates, and inhibiting their ... also plays a major role in stimulating glucose ... metabolized and removed from the blood following meals. ... mechanisms by which insulin regulates glucose uptake in ...
(Date:6/19/2013)... Midwest are expected to contribute to a very large ... according to a University of Michigan ecologist and colleagues ... for the Chesapeake Bay. , The Gulf forecast, one ... Administration, calls for an oxygen-depleted, or hypoxic, region of ... it among the 10 largest on record. , The ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Breakthrough research of essential molecule reveals important targets in diabetes and obesity 2U-M researcher and colleagues predict possible record-setting Gulf of Mexico 'dead zone' 2U-M researcher and colleagues predict possible record-setting Gulf of Mexico 'dead zone' 3U-M researcher and colleagues predict possible record-setting Gulf of Mexico 'dead zone' 4
... their exposure to molds or dampness in their bedroom, and ... or smaller beneficial effect against asthma, according to a study ... C might be beneficial in the treatment of asthma date ... have been conflicting., Drs Mohammed Al-Biltagi from the Tanta University ...
... swine flu, virus outbreaks can be unpredictable and devastating. ... site Facebook, developed in a Tel Aviv University lab, is ... spread among populations. Dr. Gal Almogy and Prof. ... at TAU,s George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences have ...
... From the boiling depths of undersea hydrothermal vents to ... freezing cold of Antarctic glacial icemicroorganisms known as extremophiles ... on Earth. The unique biology of these microorganisms has ... help solve the problem of efficient and cost-effective processing ...
Cached Biology News:Watching viruses 'friend' a network 2Watching viruses 'friend' a network 3UGA symposium explores extreme microbes’ bioenergy potential 2
(Date:6/19/2013)... New programme aims to ... pharmaceutical and chemical sectors Pfizer Asia ... and Siemens Pte. Ltd, have signed on as ... Programme - Innovative Processing of Specialties and Pharmaceuticals ... Engineering Sciences (ICES), the consortium offers a platform ...
(Date:6/19/2013)... 2013 For an eco-friendly selection for ... Baths using metallic beads instead of water. The ... not require germicides. Yet, the bead bath delivers exceptional ... is always ready unlike a water bath, no warm-up ... bath, which eliminates the contamination and maintenance issues related ...
(Date:6/19/2013)... June 19, 2013 Bellevue city ... hall of technology solutions for people with disabilities ... Hyatt Regency Bellevue. , The exhibit hall, ... on Saturday and Sunday, will feature leading manufacturers ... wheelchairs, communication devices, eyegaze technologies, computer applications, and ...
(Date:6/19/2013)... June 19, 2013 An article posted earlier ... the increasing number of uses for probiotics. The article stated ... and the associate benefits may beeb listed, the actual ... and helping clear skin conditions. While the total uses of ... on the the uses of these “miracle” bacterium, and debunked ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Pfizer, GSK, and Siemens Form R&D Consortium With A*STAR's Institute of Chemical & Engineering Sciences 2Pfizer, GSK, and Siemens Form R&D Consortium With A*STAR's Institute of Chemical & Engineering Sciences 3Pfizer, GSK, and Siemens Form R&D Consortium With A*STAR's Institute of Chemical & Engineering Sciences 4Cole-Parmer Introduces Eco-Friendly Waterless Bead Baths 2City of Bellevue, Wash., Welcomes Assistive Technology Exhibit Hall 2Natural Acne Remedy, Probiotic Action Explains the Science behind Using Probiotics for Better Health 2
... CV Therapeutics,Inc. (Nasdaq: CVTX ) announced ... has approved new language for the product labeling ... ranolazine to inhibit the late sodium current at ... suggests that during ischemic,episodes excess sodium can flow ...
... GAITHERSBURG, Md., Dec. 18 Panacea Pharmaceuticals, ... named one of Time Magazine,s,Ten Biggest Medical ... URL, please cut,and paste into browser:, http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/top10/article/0,30583,1686204_1686252_1690390, ... test to facilitate the identification,of lung cancer, ...
... WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 Trust for America,s,Health (TFAH) ... Protecting the,Public,s Health from Disease, Disasters, and Bioterrorism" ... made, critical areas of the,nation,s emergency health preparedness ... of annual cuts in federal funding for state,and ...
Cached Biology Technology:FDA Approves New Mechanism of Action Labeling for Ranexa(R) 2Panacea Pharmaceuticals' Lung Cancer Diagnostic Test, LC Detect(SM), Named One of Time Magazine's Ten Biggest Medical Breakthroughs of 2007 2Panacea Pharmaceuticals' Lung Cancer Diagnostic Test, LC Detect(SM), Named One of Time Magazine's Ten Biggest Medical Breakthroughs of 2007 3Panacea Pharmaceuticals' Lung Cancer Diagnostic Test, LC Detect(SM), Named One of Time Magazine's Ten Biggest Medical Breakthroughs of 2007 4Significant Progress Made in Nation's Preparedness to Respond to Public Health Emergencies; But Gaps in Critical Areas Threaten Overall Readiness 2Significant Progress Made in Nation's Preparedness to Respond to Public Health Emergencies; But Gaps in Critical Areas Threaten Overall Readiness 3Significant Progress Made in Nation's Preparedness to Respond to Public Health Emergencies; But Gaps in Critical Areas Threaten Overall Readiness 4Significant Progress Made in Nation's Preparedness to Respond to Public Health Emergencies; But Gaps in Critical Areas Threaten Overall Readiness 5