An experimental procedure that dramatically strengthens stem cells' ability to regenerate damaged tissue could offer new hope to sufferers of muscle-wasting diseases such as myopathy and muscular dystrophy, according to researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW).
The world-first procedure has been successfully used to regrow muscles in a mouse model, but it could be applied to all tissue-based illnesses in humans such as in the liver, pancreas or brain, the researchers say.
The research team, which is based at UNSW and formerly from Sydney's Westmead Children's Hospital, adapted a technique currently being trialled in bone marrow transplantation. Adult stem cells are given a gene that makes them resistant to chemotherapy, which is used to clean out damaged cells and allow the new stem cells to take hold.
A paper detailing the breakthrough appears in the prestigious journal Stem Cells this week.
The ability of adult stem cells to regenerate whole tissues opens up a world of new possibilities for many human diseases, according to the lead authors of the paper, Professor Peter Gunning, Professor Edna Hardeman and Dr Antonio Lee, from UNSW's School of Medical Sciences.
"The beauty of this technique is that chemotherapy makes space for stem cells coming into muscle and also gives the stem cells an advantage over the locals. It's the first strategy that gives the good guys the edge in the battle to cure sick tissues," Professor Gunning said.
"What has been the realm of science fiction is looking more and more like the medicine of the future," he said.
The procedure solves one of the major hurdles involving stem cell therapy getting the cells to survive for more than an hour or so after inserting them into damaged tissue.
"In muscle, most stem cells die in the first hour or are present in such low numbers that they are not much help," Professor Gunning said. "Until now, the
'/>"/>
| Contact: Steve Offner s.offner@unsw.edu.au 61-293-858-107 University of New South Wales Source:Eurekalert |
Related biology news :
1. Mount Sinai Hospital researcher makes stem cell breakthrough
2. World breakthrough in treating premature babies
3. Key to future medical breakthroughs is systems biology, say leading European scientists
4. Researchers make breakthrough in the production of double-walled carbon nanotubes
5. Fly guy makes memory breakthrough
6. A scientific breakthrough on the control of the bad cholesterol
7. Adult stem cell breakthrough
8. NC State finds new nanomaterial could be breakthrough for implantable medical devices
9. Sandia, SES win Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Innovator Award
10. Breakthrough optical technology to assess colon cancer risk, accuracy
11. Chips are down as Manchester makes protein scanning breakthrough
| Copyright © 2003-2012 Bio-Medicine. All rights reserved. ABOUT | CONTACT US | DISCLAIMER | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS AND CONDITIONS |  |