Category Archives: Stem Cells

Durham, NC (PRWEB) April 16, 2013

Can stem cell therapy outperform a drug commonly considered the gold standard for treating rheumatoid arthritis? A new study in rodents published in the current issue of STEM CELLS Translational Medicine indicates perhaps so.

The findings could lead to a faster, safer, more effective way to bring relief to the up to 70 million people estimated to suffer from this disease worldwide.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic condition that causes pain, stiffness, swelling and limited motion and function of many joints. While it can affect any joint, RA tends to settle mainly in a patients hands and feet. The results can be debilitating.

People who have RA overproduce a protein called tumor necrosis factor (TNF), which causes the inflammation and damage to the bones, cartilage and tissue. Anti-TNF drugs can block the action of the protein and reduce inflammation. Etanercept (marketed under the trade name Enbrel) is a type of anti-TNF drug called a biologic that for years has been prescribed to treat RA. However, it cant be targeted specifically to the site of the arthritis and, thus, requires higher doses that can cause serious side effects including fatal infections, multiple sclerosis, seizures, heart failure, cancer and more.

Moreover, biologics in general require intense development and manufacturing processes that are challenging for reproducibility, even within the same company. So we wanted to see how delivering treatment through a very targeted system such as that which can be done using stem cells compared to a biologic drug such as Etanercept, said Joseph Mosca, Ph.D. He led the team of researchers from Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. Baltimore, Md., and the Novartis Research, Basel, Switzerland, in conducting the study.

The researchers began by genetically altering human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the lab to become vehicles for the cell-based anti-TNF delivery. They then injected the cells into mice that had been induced with RA and monitored them over a seven-day period, then compared the results to a group of animals treated with Etanercept. The results showed that the anti-TNF therapy delivered by stem cells reversed or attenuated the arthritis inflammation on par with the Etanercept except that it did it faster.

If this translates into fewer side-effects and/or lower compliance remains to be seen, Dr. Mosca said. In either case, these results illustrate the ability of stem cells to deliver proteins of therapeutic value and demonstrate their potential clinical utility in rheumatoid/osteoarthritis and other TNF-related diseases where anti-TNF biologic drugs have already shown promise.

The authors have shown the feasibility of a targeted approach to treatment using cells that are known to home to damaged tissue, said Anthony Atala, M.D., Editor of STEM CELLS Translational Medicine and director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine. The manuscript supports and demonstrates the potential of mesenchymal stem cells as a vehicle for cell-based gene delivery.

### The full article, Comparison of Drug and Cell-Based DeliveryEngineered Adult Mesenchymal Stem Cells Expressing Soluble Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-II Prevent Arthritis in Mouse and Rat Animal Models, can be accessed at http://www.stemcellstm.com.

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Stem Cells Might Beat Drugs in Delivering Relief Faster, More Effectively to Rheumatoid Arthritis Sufferers

Apr. 17, 2013 Stem cells and tissue-specific cells can be grown in abundance from mature mammalian cells simply by blocking a certain membrane protein, according to scientists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Their experiments, reported today in Scientific Reports, also show that the process doesn't require other kinds of cells or agents to artificially support cell growth and doesn't activate cancer genes.

Scientists hope lab-grown stem cells and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, which have the ability to produce specialized cells such as neurons and cardiac cells, could one day be used to treat diseases and repair damaged tissues, said co-author Jeffrey S. Isenberg, M.D., associate professor, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Pitt School of Medicine.

"Even though stem cells are able to self-renew, they are quite challenging to grow in the lab," he said. "Often you have to use feeder cells or introduce viral vectors to artificially create the conditions needed for these cells to survive and thrive."

In 2008, prior to joining Pitt, Dr. Isenberg was working in the National Cancer Institute (NCI) lab of senior author David D. Roberts, Ph.D., using agents that block a membrane protein called CD47 to explore their effects on blood vessels. He noticed that when cells from the lining of the lungs, called endothelium, had been treated with a CD47 blocker, they stayed healthy and maintained their growth and function for months.

Dr. Roberts' NIH team continued to experiment with CD47 blockade, focusing on defining the underlying molecular mechanisms that control cell growth.

They found that endothelial cells obtained from mice lacking CD47 multiplied readily and thrived in a culture dish, unlike those from control mice. Lead author Sukhbir Kaur, Ph.D., discovered that this resulted from increased expression of four genes that are regarded to be essential for formation of iPS cells. When placed into a defined growth medium, cells lacking CD47 spontaneously formed clusters characteristic of iPS cells. By then introducing various growth factors into the culture medium, these cells could be directed to become cells of other tissue types. Despite their vigorous growth, they didn't form tumors when injected into mice, a major disadvantage when using existing iPS cells.

"Stem cells prepared by this new procedure should be much safer to use in patients," Dr. Roberts noted. "Also, the technique opens up opportunities to treat various illnesses by injecting a drug that stimulates patients to make more of their own stem cells."

According to Dr. Isenberg, "These experiments indicate that we can take a primary human or other mammalian cell, even a mature adult cell, and by targeting CD47 turn on its pluripotent capability. We can get brain cells, liver cells, muscle cells and more. In the short term, they could be a boon for a variety of research questions in the lab."

In the future, blocking CD47 might make it possible to generate large numbers of healthy cells for therapies, such as alternatives to conventional bone marrow transplantation and complex tissue and organ bioengineering, he added.

"These exciting findings provide a rationale for using CD47 blocking therapies to increase stem cell uptake and survival in transplanted organs, matrix grafts, or other applications," said Mark Gladwin, M.D., professor and chief, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Pitt School of Medicine. "This continues a strong and productive collaboration between investigators at the NCI and the University of Pittsburgh's Vascular Medicine Institute."

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Recipe for large numbers of stem cells requires only one ingredient

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

On April 18, 2013, Roetzel Partner Michael J. Keller will moderate the seminar Stem Cells: Revitalizing Medicine presented by BioFlorida.

The seminar, to be held at the University of Miami Life Science & Technology Park from 5:30 p.m. through 8:00 p.m., will feature discussions on The 5 Biggest Hurdles to Translating Stem Cells into Medicine, presented by Bernard Siegel, J.D., Cell Therapy for Chronic Ischemic Heart Disease from Concept to Clinic, presented by Joshua M. Hare, M.D. and The State of The Stem Cell Industry: Clinical Development, presented by Stephanie Finnegan, President of bioRASI.

Routinely asked to speak at industry functions, Mr. Keller's practice focuses on patent prosecution, counseling and licensing in the fields of therapeutic, diagnostic and medical device products. He has more than 20 years of experience in biomedical drug, diagnostic and device patents, and prosecuted and managed patents for large corporations and small inventors. He routinely handles domestic and international patent and trademark portfolios and due diligence studies for clients and the negotiation and drafting of complex agreements relating to the acquisition and development of biomedical products. Mr. Keller earned his B.S. from the University of Georgia and his J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law.

About BioFlorida

As the statewide trade association for the bioscience industry, BioFlorida provides companies with the necessary resources to succeed, and a strong marketing presence both locally and internationally. BioFlorida serves its membership by providing a network to exchange information and discuss issues related to the field. For more information, visit bioflorida.com.

About Roetzel

Roetzel is a full-service law firm that provides comprehensive, integrated legal counsel to national and international clients. For more information, visit ralaw.com.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20130417005985/en/

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Roetzel Attorney Michael J. Keller to Host BioFlorida’s “Stem Cells: Revitalizing Medicine” Seminar

Newswise Scientists have overcome a major impediment to the development of effective stem cell therapies by studying mice that lack CD47, a protein found on the surface of both healthy and cancer cells. Researchers at the National Cancer Institute discovered that cells obtained from the lungs of CD47-deficient mice, but not from ordinary mice that have the CD47 gene, multiplied in a culture dish and spontaneously converted into stem cells. By adding specific growth factors, these stem cells could then be directed to become cells of any tissue type. More tests in animals are needed, but if they pan out it appears that injecting a drug that blocks CD47 in humans could stimulate patients to make more of their own stem cells, which could be used for regeneration of injured tissues and organs. This strategy would also bypass the rejection problems associated with using donor stem cells for therapy. David D. Roberts, Ph.D., chief of the Biochemical Pathology Section in the Center for Cancer Research, NCI, headed the study that appeared online in Scientific Reports on April 17, 2013.

The use of engineered viruses to deliver four specific genes, known as Yamanaka factors, into normal cells to stimulate their conversion into stem cells is a promising approach for developing new medical treatments. However, practical application has been limited by the tendency of these stem cells to be rejected by the body and, most importantly, to cause cancer. Roberts and colleagues found that expression of Yamanaka factors could be stimulated in normal cells by simply decreasing CD47 expression. The resulting stem cells thrived in culture but did not form tumors when injected into mice. As part of this study, the researchers also found that c-Myc, one of the Yamanaka factors and a gene that is mutated in many cancers, is regulated by CD47 in healthy cells but not in cancer cells. This may be one reason that CD47-targeted drugs can selectively protect healthy tissues from adverse side effects of radiation therapy, while enhancing tumor shrinkage. Insights into the relationship between c-Myc and CD47 provided in this publication may take scientists another step toward improved treatments for patients with cancer.

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A Drug Target That Stimulates Development of Healthy Stem Cells

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. It seems as though some student/athletes will do just about anything to get out of spring drills even if it means saving a life.

Actually, David Marrs, a rising forth-year student at the University of Virginia, took a page out of his head coachs personal playbook, and traveled to the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Wake Forest University on March 25, to donate stem cells to an elderly female patient with leukemia in an effort to save her life.

The process was really easy, Marrs, a history major at UVA said. Ive been extremely fortunate and blessed to live a happy and healthy life. If I have a chance to do anything to help anyone live a better life, Ill do it.

I try to encourage as many people as possible to get them involved in the program, Marrs, 20, said. My job is to let people know how easy it is. Anybody can register. All they have to do is to take a cheek swab and send it in. Its amazing.

Marrs was a star on the Graham High School G-Men football team where he played quarterback, punted and played linebacker. After he graduated in 2010, he enrolled at UVA, and tried out for the football team as a walk-on and made the squad. A pair of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries to the same knee limited his playing time, but hes still on the team.

I get cleared to hit in about two weeks, Marrs said during a telephone interview from the UVA campus. Im looking forward to that.

Marrs was inspired to sign up for the Be a Match Donor Program by UVA head football coach Mike London, who became head coach in 2010. Coach London donated stem cells to save his daughters life, Marrs said. The likelihood that a parent would be a match for a daughter wasnt very good, but he turned out to be a perfect match. We run a donor program here at school in honor of coach.

Marrs has a rare blood type O negative and was a selected as a match in the fall of 2012, but a perfect match came along, and Marrs wasnt selected to be a donor. This spring, Marrs was a perfect match for the patient that needed his help, and he was equally proud to participate.

I get a lot of support from the guys on the team, Marrs said. I tell them that it was easy.

This is a new way to collect stem cells, Marrs mother, Karen (Shields) Marrs said. David is a son of Rick and Karen Marrs of Bluefield, Va. The National Marrow Donor Program is facilitated through the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Wake Forest University. David traveled to Wake the last week in March and donated peripheral blood stem cells to this unknown and unrelated cancer patient.

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UVA football player from Bluefield donates stem cells to save a life

April 15, 2013

Lawrence LeBlond for redOrbit.com Your Universe Online

The painful, debilitating symptoms associated with myelin disorders, such as multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy, may one day be avoided if new breakthroughs in medical science have anything to say about it. One such breakthrough by a team of scientists at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine (CaseMed) has discovered a technique that directly converts skin cells into a type of brain cells destroyed in patients with these myelin disorders.

The breakthrough, revealed in a paper published in todays issue of the journal Nature Biotechnology, enables on demand production of myelinating cells, which insulate and protect neurons and also enables delivery of brain impulses to the body. In patients with multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and other similar disorders, these myelinating cells are destroyed and cannot be replaced.

In the research lab, Paul Tesar, PhD, assistant professor of genetics and genome sciences at CaseMed, and his colleagues used a new technique involving converting fibroblasts an abundant structural cell in the skin and most organs into oligodendrocytes, the type of cell responsible for myelinating the neurons of the brain.

This is alchemy on the cellular level, Tesar noted. We are taking a readily accessible and abundant cell and completely switching its identity to become a highly valuable cell for therapy.

Using cellular reprogramming, the team manipulated the levels of three naturally occurring proteins to induce fibroblast cells to become precursors of oligodendrocytes (oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, or OPCs). With the new method, the team was able to rapidly generate billions of these induced OPCs, and then show that they could regenerate new myelin coatings around nerves after being transplanted in mice.

Tesar and his colleagues, co-first authors Fadi Najm and Angela Lager, report that this new technique, effectively conducted in mice, could hopefully be used someday to treat human myelin disorders. Currently, cures require the myelin coating to be regenerated by replacement oligodendrocytes. But previously, OPCs and oligodendrocytes could only be obtained from fetal tissue or pluripotent stem cells, which were costly procedures and only offered limited benefits.

The myelin repair field has been hampered by an inability to rapidly generate safe and effective sources of functional oligodendrocytes, explained study co-author and myelin expert Robert Miller, PhD, professor of neurosciences at CaseMed and the universitys vice president for research. The new technique may overcome all of these issues by providing a rapid and streamlined way to directly generate functional myelin producing cells.

The next critical step in the research will be to effectively demonstrate the efficacy and safety of using human cells in the lab setting for myelin research. If the technique can prove successful, it will undoubtedly have widespread consequences for those suffering from debilitating myelin disorders. Therapeutic applications could be far-reaching.

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Turning Stem Cells Into Brain Cells To Cure Multiple Sclerosis And Cerebral Palsy

Unusual, versatile cells hold the key to regrowing lost tissues

By Alison Pearce Stevens

Web edition: April 15, 2013

Neurons created from induced stem cells in Iqbal Ahmads lab glow red with fluorescent dye. Scientists are using stem cells to try to help restore sight to patients with glaucoma, and more.

Credit: Courtesy of Iqbal Ahmad

Inside your body, red blood cells are constantly on the move. They deliver oxygen to every tissue in every part of your body. These blood cells also cart away waste. So their work is crucial to your survival. But all that squeezing through tiny vessels is tough on red blood cells. Thats why they last only about four months.

Where do their replacements come from? Stem cells.

These unusual cells also show promise in curing a host of diseases, scientists report. And their source can be your skin and other tissues.

Visit the newScience News for Kidswebsiteand read the full story:Stem cells: The secret to change

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FOR KIDS: Stem cells: The secret to change

Vatican City

Finding safe and effective cures to disease and illness does not have to go against moral and ethical principles; that was the message of a three-day conference at the Vatican on adult stem-cell therapies.

"To address global suffering, one does not have to choose between faith and science. ... These two ideas fit together symbiotically," said Dr. Robin Smith, chairman and CEO of the for-profit NeoStem biopharmaceutical company and president of its nonprofit Stem for Life Foundation.

The two groups helped sponsor the April 11-13 conference together with the Pontifical Council for Culture and its foundation -- STOQ International, which is an acronym for Science, Theology and the Ontological Quest.

The groups' second "International Vatican Adult Stem Cell Conference" focused on regenerative medicine and how new discoveries are being made for treatments of multiple sclerosis, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and organ and tissue repair.

Smith told journalists before the conference that the main aim was educating the public about the promises offered by adult stem-cell therapies, "which come with no ethical blemishes."

She said, "the political arguments that erupted over the last 20 years" over embryonic stem-cell science, "have created great confusion" and "ultimately clouded global awareness of the ethical research" found in adult stem cells.

The Catholic church opposes any research that harms the human embryo. However, the church supports research and therapies utilizing adult stem cells, which can develop into a variety of specialized cells, alleviating degenerative illnesses by repairing damaged tissues.

Msgr. Tomasz Trafny, head of the Pontifical Council for Culture's science and faith department, said the conference aimed to help inform the general public about the new therapies since "modern science increasingly appears inscrutable and impenetrable to non-experts."

Among the dozens of speakers invited to help translate the new developments into layman's terms were Nobel Prize winner John B. Gurdon -- a pioneer of adult stem-cell research -- and Tommy G. Thompson -- former U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services and former governor of Wisconsin.

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Adult stem cells offer ethical, effective cures, speakers say