Posted: December 31, 2014 at 1:44 pm
[ Japan ] RIKEN: STAP cells were ES cells
An investigative panel under Japan #39;s RIKEN institute says samples of so-called STAP stem cells were actually embryonic stem cells. The independent panel has been investigating the claims by...
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[ Japan ] RIKEN: STAP cells were ES cells - Video
Posted: December 31, 2014 at 5:46 am
A new study has shown that reprogramming stem cells could help prevent cancer post radiation.A University of Colorado Cancer Centre study showed that one of the ways to get rid of such stem cells is a "program" that makes stem cells damaged by radiation differentiate into other cells that can no longer survive forever.
The study also showed that this same safeguard of "programmed mediocrity" that weeds out stem cells damaged by radiation allows blood cancers to grow in cases when the full body is irradiated. And by reprogramming this safeguard, it was possible to prevent cancer in the aftermath of full body radiation.
James DeGregori, PhD, the paper's senior author, who along with his colleagues explored the effects of full body radiation on the blood stem cells of mice, said that the body didn't evolve to deal with leaking nuclear reactors and CT scans. It evolved to deal with only a few cells at a time receiving dangerous doses of radiation or other insults to their DNA.
DeGregori found that mutations and other genetic alterations resulting in inhibition of the C/EBPA gene were associated with acute myeloid leukaemia in humans. Thus, it wasn't mutations caused by radiation but a blood system re-engineered by faulty stem cells that created cancer risk in people who had experienced radiation.
The studies show that by activating a stem cell maintenance pathway, it was possible to keep it from happening. Even months after irradiation, artificially activating the NOTCH signalling pathway of irradiated HSCs lets them act "stemmy" again - restarting the blood cell assembly line in these HSCs that would have otherwise differentiated in response to radiation.
When DeGregori, Fleenor and colleagues activated NOTCH in previously irradiated HSCs, it kept the population of dangerous, C/EBPA cells at bay. Competition from non-C/EBPA-mutant stem cells, with their fitness restored by NOTCH activation, meant that there was no evolutionary space for C/EBPA-mutant stem cells.
The study is published in the journal Stem Cells.
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Reprogrammed stem cells may stop cancer post radiation :Study
Posted: December 31, 2014 at 5:46 am
A new study has shown that reprogramming stem cells could help prevent cancer post radiation.
A University of Colorado Cancer Center study showed that one of the ways to get rid of such stem cells is a "program" that makes stem cells damaged by radiation differentiate into other cells that can no longer survive forever.
The study also showed that this same safeguard of "programmed mediocrity" that weeds out stem cells damaged by radiation allows blood cancers to grow in cases when the full body is irradiated. And by reprogramming this safeguard, it was possible to prevent cancer in the aftermath of full body radiation.
James DeGregori, PhD, the paper's senior author, who along with his colleagues explored the effects of full body radiation on the blood stem cells of mice, said that the body didn't evolve to deal with leaking nuclear reactors and CT scans. It evolved to deal with only a few cells at a time receiving dangerous doses of radiation or other insults to their DNA.
DeGregori found that mutations and other genetic alterations resulting in inhibition of the C/EBPA gene were associated with acute myeloid leukemia in humans. Thus, it wasn't mutations caused by radiation but a blood system reengineered by faulty stem cells that created cancer risk in people who had experienced radiation.
The studies show that by activating a stem cell maintenance pathway, it was possible to keep it from happening. Even months after irradiation, artificially activating the NOTCH signaling pathway of irradiated HSCs lets them act "stemmy" again - restarting the blood cell assembly line in these HSCs that would have otherwise differentiated in response to radiation.
When DeGregori, Fleenor and colleagues activated NOTCH in previously irradiated HSCs, it kept the population of dangerous, C/EBPA cells at bay. Competition from non-C/EBPA-mutant stem cells, with their fitness restored by NOTCH activation, meant that there was no evolutionary space for C/EBPA-mutant stem cells.
The study is published in the journal Stem Cells.
(Posted on 31-12-2014)
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Reprogrammed stem cells may stop cancer post radiation
Posted: December 31, 2014 at 5:45 am
Tampa, FL (PRWEB) December 30, 2014
In February 2015, Regenerative Medicine Solutions (RMS) will open a new clinic in Scottsdale, AZ under the Lung Institute brand. This expansion of the Lung Institute marks its third location in the country. With locations in both Tampa and Nashville, the Lung Institute has made a positive impact in the lives of their patients and the surrounding communities.
RMS started as a single treatment center in 2012 in Tampa with a goal of providing progressive therapies for debilitating diseases. At inception, RMS began its mission with fewer than 10 employees. Through dedication and a focus on its mission, RMS expanded the Lung Institute successfully to a second location in Nashville, TN in October 2014. The immediate success of the Nashville location has driven plans for continued growth westward into Scottsdale, AZ.
The RMS model of combining innovative technology and advanced stem cell treatments has led to the successful care of hundreds of patients. RMS is paving the way for future integration of revolutionary processes in the field of regenerative medicine. The Lung Institute is specifically committed to providing patients with an effective way to treat pulmonary conditions, rather than just manage their symptoms.
An official ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at the new Scottsdale facility, with the medical staff, RMS corporate team, and members of the Scottsdale and Phoenix Chambers of Commerce and community representatives in attendance.
We are excited to be expanding the Lung Institute to Arizona, says Lynne Flaherty, Executive Vice President of RMS. Patients from this region of the country will now have access to a clinic closer to home.
About Regenerative Medicine Solutions Regenerative Medicine Solutions (RMS) is a leading global provider of innovative regenerative technologies that treat an array of debilitating medical conditions. In addition, the company is the owner and operator of the Sleep Apnea Institute and the Lung Institute. Committed to an individualized patient-centric approach, RMS consistently provides the highest quality of care while producing positive outcomes. By applying modern-day best practices to the growing field of regenerative medicine, RMS is changing lives. For more information, visit our website at myregenmed.com, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or call us today at (877) 867-4551.
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Regenerative Medicine Solutions to Open New Lung Institute Clinic in 2015
Posted: December 31, 2014 at 5:41 am
Abstract: Adipose tissue is an abundant source of mesenchymal stem cells, which have shown promise in the field of regenerative medicine. Furthermore, these cells can be readily harvested in large numbers with low donor-site morbidity. During the past decade, numerous studies have provided preclinical data on the safety and efficacy of adipose-derived stem cells, supporting the use of these cells in future clinical applications. Various clinical trials have shown the regenerative capability of adipose-derived stem cells in subspecialties of medical fields such as plastic surgery, orthopedic surgery, oral and maxillofacial surgery, and cardiac surgery. In addition, a great deal of knowledge concerning the harvesting, characterization, and culture of adipose-derived stem cells has been reported. This review will summarize data from in vitro studies, pre-clinical animal models, and recent clinical trials concerning the use of adipose-derived stem cells in regenerative medicine.
Introduction
In the field of regenerative medicine, basic research and preclinical studies have been conducted to overcome clinical shortcomings with the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSCs are present in adult tissues, including bone marrow and adipose tissue. For many years, bone marrow-derived stem cells (BSCs) were the primary source of stem cells for tissue engineering applications (Caplan, 1991; Pittenger et al., 1999; Caplan, 2007). However, recent studies have shown that subcutaneous adipose tissue provides a clear advantage over other stem cell sources due to the ease with which adipose tissue can be accessed as well as the ease of isolating stem cells from harvested tissue (Schffler et al., 2007). Initial enzymatic digestion of adipose tissue yields a mixture of stromal and vascular cells referred to as the stromal-vascular fraction (SVF) (Traktuev et al., 2008). A putative stem cell population within this SVF was first identified by Zuk et al. and named processed lipoaspirate (PLA) cells (Zuk et al., 2001; Zuk et al., 2002).
There is no consensus when it comes to the nomenclature used to describe progenitor cells from adipose tissue-derived stroma, which can sometimes lead to confusion. The term PLA refers to adipose-derived stromal cells and adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) and describes cells obtained immediately after collagenase digestion. Accordingly, the term ASC will be used throughout this review.
ASCs exhibit stable growth and proliferation kinetics and can differentiate toward osteogenic, chondrogenic, adipogenic, myogenic, or neurogenic lineages in vitro (Zuk et al., 2002; Izadpanah et al., 2006; Romanov et al., 2005). Furthermore, a group has recently described the isolation and culture of ASCs with multipotent differentiation capacity at the single-cell level (Rodriguez, et al., 2005).
Using these attractive cell populations, recent studies have explored the safety and efficacy of implanted/administrated ASCs in various animal models. Furthermore, clinical trials using ASCs have been initiated in some medical subspecialties. This review summarizes the current preclinical data and ongoing clinical trials and their outcomes in a variety of medical fields.
Characterization and Localization
ASCs express the mesenchymal stem cell markers CD10, CD13, CD29, CD34, CD44, CD54, CD71, CD90, CD105, CD106, CD117, and STRO-1. They are negative for the hematopoietic lineage markers CD45, CD14, CD16, CD56, CD61, CD62E, CD104, and CD106 and for the endothelial cell (EC) markers CD31, CD144, and von Willebrand factor (Zuk et al., 2002; Musina et al., 2005; Romanov et al., 2005). Morphologically, they are fibroblast-like and preserve their shape after expansion in vitro (Zuk et al., 2002; Arrigoni et al., 2009; Zannettino et al., 2008).
The similarities between ASCs and BSCs may indicate that ASCs are derived from circulating BSCs, which infiltrate into the adipose compartment through vessel walls (Zuk et al., 2002; Zannettino et al., 2008; Brighton et al., 1992; Canfield et al., 2000; Bianco et al., 2001). On the other hand, according to a recent theory, these stem cells are actually pericytes (Traktuev et al., 2008; Chen et al., 2009; Crisan et al., 2008; Zannettino et al., 2008; Tintut et al., 2003; Abedin et al., 2004; Amos et al., 2008). Pericytes around microvessels express alpha-smooth muscle actin (-SMA) as well as certain MSC markers (CD44, CD73, CD90, CD105); however, they do not express endothelial or hematopoietic cell markers (Chen et al., 2009). Pericytes adhere, proliferate in culture, sustain their initial antigenic profile, and can differentiate into bone, cartilage and fat cells (Chen et al., 2009). Moreover, injected MSCs migrate to the blood vessels in vivo and become pericytes (Chen et al., 2009). Considering the above-mentioned data, it can be speculated that pericytes are the ancestors of MSCs, but this does not mean that all MSCs are descendants of pericytes (Chen et al., 2009) or that all pericytes are necessarily stem cells (Lin et al., 2008; Traktuev et al., 2008; da Silva et al., 2008; Abedin et al., 2004; Tintut et al., 2003; Zannettino et al., 2008; Amos et al., 2008).
Traktuev et al. (2008) defined a periendothelial pericyte-like subpopulation of ASCs. These cells were CD34+, CD31-, CD45-, and CD144- and expressed mesenchymal cell markers, smooth muscle antigens, and pericytic markers, including chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (NG2), CD140a, and CD140b (PDGF receptor and , respectively) (Traktuev et al., 2008; Amos et al., 2008). However, Lin et al. (2008) could not co-localize CD34 and CD104b, and thus concluded that CD34+/CD31- cells of adipose vasculature are not pericytes.
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Adipose-derived Stem Cells: Current Findings and Future ...
Posted: December 31, 2014 at 5:40 am
When Pearland residents Todd and Linsey Hyatts son, Tucker Beau, received a diagnosis of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis when he was just two years old, the future looked agonizing for the previously precocious little boy. His parents refused to lose hope, however, and took a chance on stem cell therapy to improve Tuckers quality of life.
Now at age six, Tucker Beau looks and acts like any other normal boy his age, save for taking rests more often. He has had two separate stem cell infusions in August and November that have turned his slow, painful decline into a fading memory.
Celltex Therapeutics Corp., a Houston-based biotechnology company located in the Galleria area, uses proprietary technology to isolate, multiply and store their clients own stem cells to be used for regenerative therapy. This therapy has been proven effective with many conditions, including vascular (e.g. Raynauds Disease, kidney artery disease), autoimmune (e.g. arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus) and degenerative (e.g. Parkinsons, Alzheimers) diseases.
To get stem cells for a client, fat is extracted from the abdomen in a minimally invasive process that takes 15 30 minutes with no recovery time. This fat is then taken to Celltex, where the components of the fat are separated.
Celltex isolates the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and places them in a nutrient-rich environment to grow. The initial extraction contains about 250,000 stem cells. Celltexs methods can produce one billion cells from that original extraction in as little as 5 weeks, making it unnecessary for clients to have a second extraction in most cases. The cells are frozen and banked at Celltexs lab, ready if and when the client needs another infusion, whether that is in three months or 30 years.
Adult [as opposed to embryonic] MSCs have the remarkable potential of migrating to different parts of the body, recognizing sites of injury and inflammation, and are then able to transform into many different types of cells, says Celltex Chairman and CEO David Eller.
Celltex takes great care in providing safe, pure cells to their clients. The Quality Control Dept,, headed up by QC Manager Kathy Gohlke, tests the cells at different stages throughout the process to ensure that no contaminants are present and that the cells are healthy and viable. Should contaminants be found at some point, which has only happened once out of about 500 clients served since 2011, a second fat extraction may be required.
Erik Eller, Head of Operations, explained that Celltex is also prepared for all kinds of negative scenarios so that the banked cells will stay safe. In the event of a long-term power failure, large generators located on site automatically provide electricity for up to two weeks. An even longer-term solution is in the works. The actual vats that the cells are stored in do not require electricity at all.
The labs at Celltex contain two clean rooms; one for manufacturing and another for Quality Control. These rooms are kept at a constant and optimal temperature, are pressure controlled and the air is continuously filtered through hospital-grade HEPA filters to reduce the chances of contamination. Employees who work in the clean rooms must be covered from head to toe in protective gear to keep the stem cells as healthy as possible.
When a client is ready for treatment, Celltex ships that persons harvested stem cells to either Guadalajara or Cancun Mexico, where the client will receive the infusion in a top-of-the-line hospital by a licensed physician.
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Houston-based company leads nation in medical wave of the future
Posted: December 30, 2014 at 4:56 am
December 29, 2014
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Chuck Bednar for redOrbit.com Your Universe Online
Pregnant women who are obese or eating a diet high in fatty foods could unwittingly be harming their unborn child, according to new research published by the journal Molecular Metabolism.
In the study, researchers from the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) Doernbecher Childrens Hospital found that a high-fat diet and obesity during pregnancy could damage the hematopoietic (blood-forming) stem cells of the fetal liver that are responsible for creating and sustaining blood and immune system function throughout a persons lifetime.
The life-long burden of a western-style diet on the heart and circulatory system have long been appreciated, the university explained in a statement. However, prior to this study, no one had considered whether the developing blood stem cells might be similarly vulnerable to prenatal high-fat diet and/or maternal obesity.
Our results offer a model for testing whether the effects of a high-fat diet and obesity can be repaired through dietary intervention, a key question when extrapolating this data to human populations, added study co-author Dr. Daniel L. Marks, a professor of pediatric endocrinology in the OHSU School of Medicine and Pap Family Pediatric Research Institute at the hospital.
Several years ago, the researchers developed a mouse model designed to mimic the type of diet consumed by many young women of childbearing age high in fat and simple sugars. Their investigation revealed that maternal overnutrition in mice significantly reduced the size of the fetal liver.
Following that research, Marks joined forces with Dr. Peter Kurre, a stem cell expert and a professor of pediatric oncology in the OHSU School of Medicine and the Pap Family Pediatric Research Institute. Together, they found that the complex changes that occur as a result of this maternal diet and obesity constrains the grown and expansion of blood stem cells in the fetal liver. As a result, this ultimately compromises a childs developing immune system.
In light of the spreading western-style, high-fat diet and accompanying obesity epidemic, this study highlights the need to better understand the previous unrecognized susceptibility of the stem and progenitor cell system, said Kurre. These findings may provide broad context for the rise in immune disease and allergic disposition in children.
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Obesity, high-fat diets during pregnancy could harm fetus
Posted: December 30, 2014 at 4:51 am
Three years after a small number of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) were treated with high-dose immunosuppressive therapy (HDIT) and then transplanted with their own hematopoietic stem cells, most of the patients sustained remission of active relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and had improvements in neurological function, according to a study published online by JAMA Neurology.
MS is a degenerative disease and most patients with RRMS who received disease-modifying therapies experience breakthrough disease. Autologous (using a patient's own cells) hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) has been studied in MS with the goal of removing disease-causing immune cells and resetting the immune system, according to the study background.
The Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (HALT-MS) study examines the effectiveness of early intervention with HDIT/HCT for patients with RRMS and breakthrough disease. The article by Richard A. Nash, M.D., of the Colorado Blood Cancer Institute at Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center, Denver, and coauthors reports on the safety, efficacy and sustainability of MS disease stabilization though three years after the procedures. Patients were evaluated through five years.
Study results indicate that of the 24 patients who received HDIT/HCT, the overall rate of event-free survival was 78.4 percent at three years, which was defined as survival without death or disease from a loss of neurologic function, clinical relapse or new lesions observed on imaging. Progression-free survival and clinical relapse-free survival were 90.9 percent and 86.3 percent, respectively, at three years. The authors note that adverse events were consistent with the expected toxic effect of HDIT/HCT and that no acute treatment-related neurologic adverse events were seen. Improvements in neurologic disability, quality-of-life and functional scores also were noted.
"In the present study, HDIT/HCT induced remission of MS disease activity up to three years in most participants. It may therefore represent a potential therapeutic option for patients with MS in whom conventional immunotherapy fails, as well as for other severe immune-mediated diseases of the central nervous system. Most early toxic effects were hematologic and gastrointestinal and were expected and reversible. Longer follow-up is needed to determine the durability of the response," the authors conclude.
Editorial: Moving Targets for Stem Cell Transplantation for Patients with MS
In a related editorial, M. Mateo Paz Soldn, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, and Brian G. Weinshenker, M.D., of the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., write: "This study and another phase 2 single-arm study leave little doubt that high-dose immunotherapy is able to substantially suppress inflammatory disease activity in patients with MS who have active disease in the short term. There is some evidence for long-term suppression of MS. Lessons have been learned about how treatment-related morbidity and mortality may be reduced. However, deaths have occurred, even in small studies, and aggressive regimens have resulted in lymphomas associated with Epstein-Barr virus."
"Nash et al show evidence of prolonged depletion of memory CD4+ cells, depletion of CD4+-dominant T-cell receptor clones and evidence of 'immune reset'; however, clinical or radiologic evidence of relapse trumps immunologic evidence of immune reset, and this study raises concern that those end points have not been adequately achieved. The jury is still out regarding the appropriateness and indication of HCT for MS," the authors conclude.
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The above story is based on materials provided by The JAMA Network Journals. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
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Report on remission in patients with MS three years after stem cell transplant
Posted: December 30, 2014 at 4:51 am
Three years after a small number of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) were treated with high-dose immunosuppressive therapy (HDIT) and then transplanted with their own hematopoietic stem cells, most of the patients sustained remission of active relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and had improvements in neurological function, according to a study published online by JAMA Neurology.
MS is a degenerative disease and most patients with RRMS who received disease-modifying therapies experience breakthrough disease. Autologous (using a patient's own cells) hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) has been studied in MS with the goal of removing disease-causing immune cells and resetting the immune system, according to the study background.
The Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (HALT-MS) study examines the effectiveness of early intervention with HDIT/HCT for patients with RRMS and breakthrough disease. The article by Richard A. Nash, M.D., of the Colorado Blood Cancer Institute at Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center, Denver, and coauthors reports on the safety, efficacy and sustainability of MS disease stabilization though three years after the procedures. Patients were evaluated through five years.
Study results indicate that of the 24 patients who received HDIT/HCT, the overall rate of event-free survival was 78.4 percent at three years, which was defined as survival without death or disease from a loss of neurologic function, clinical relapse or new lesions observed on imaging. Progression-free survival and clinical relapse-free survival were 90.9 percent and 86.3 percent, respectively, at three years. The authors note that adverse events were consistent with the expected toxic effect of HDIT/HCT and that no acute treatment-related neurologic adverse events were seen. Improvements in neurologic disability, quality-of-life and functional scores also were noted.
"In the present study, HDIT/HCT induced remission of MS disease activity up to three years in most participants. It may therefore represent a potential therapeutic option for patients with MS in whom conventional immunotherapy fails, as well as for other severe immune-mediated diseases of the central nervous system. Most early toxic effects were hematologic and gastrointestinal and were expected and reversible. Longer follow-up is needed to determine the durability of the response," the authors conclude.
(JAMA Neurol. Published online December 29, 2014. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2014.3780. Available pre-embargo to the media at http://media.jamanetwork.com.)
Editor's Note: Authors made conflict of interest disclosures. This work was sponsored by the Division of Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health. Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, funding and support, etc.
Editorial: Moving Targets for Stem Cell Transplantation for Patients with MS
In a related editorial, M. Mateo Paz Soldn, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, and Brian G. Weinshenker, M.D., of the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., write: "This study and another phase 2 single-arm study leave little doubt that high-dose immunotherapy is able to substantially suppress inflammatory disease activity in patients with MS who have active disease in the short term. There is some evidence for long-term suppression of MS. Lessons have been learned about how treatment-related morbidity and mortality may be reduced. However, deaths have occurred, even in small studies, and aggressive regimens have resulted in lymphomas associated with Epstein-Barr virus."
"Nash et al show evidence of prolonged depletion of memory CD4+ cells, depletion of CD4+-dominant T-cell receptor clones and evidence of 'immune reset'; however, clinical or radiologic evidence of relapse trumps immunologic evidence of immune reset, and this study raises concern that those end points have not been adequately achieved. The jury is still out regarding the appropriateness and indication of HCT for MS," the authors conclude.
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Report on remission in patients with MS 3 Years after stem cell transplant
Posted: December 30, 2014 at 4:50 am
A UCSF spinout is growing neuronal stemcells to transplant into the brain, for potential use in treating epilepsy, spinal cord injury, Parkinsons and Alzheimers disease and investors are listening. Because one thing thatdifferentiatesNeurona Therapeutics is that its stem cells turn exclusively intointerneuron cells which are less likely to be tumorigenic than other IPS cells.
The companyhasraised $7.6 million of a proposed $24.3 million round, according to a regulatory filing. But the companys staying a touch under the radar it lacks a website, and tis the season for calls to the company to remain unanswered.
But funding for the six-year-old company comes from 11 investors. Listed on the documents contact pages areTim Kutzkeyand David Goeddel, both partners at early stage healthcare venture firm The Column Group giving some insight into who the startupsinvestors are.
Also listed is Leo Guthart, a managing partner at New York private equity firm TopSpin Partner, and Arnold Kriegstein, director of the UCSF developmental and stem cell biology program.
Kriegsteinand his UCSF colleagues filed a patentfor the in vitro production of medial ganglionic eminence (MGE) precursor cells which are, in essence, immature cells that morphinto nerve cells. The work that led to the patent was funded bythe California Institute of Regenerative Medicine, the NIH and the Osher Foundation.
We think this one type of cell may be useful in treating several types of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders in a targeted way,Kriegstein said in a UCSF statement last year.
Neurona Therapeutics scientific backers collaborated on a paper on these MGE cells inCell Stem Cell,finding that mouse models closely mimicked human cells inneural cell development and that human cells can successfully be transplanted into mouse brains. UCSF writes:
Kriegstein sees MGE cells as a potential treatment to better control nerve circuits that become overactive in certain neurological disorders. Unlike other neural stem cells that can form many cell types and that may potentially be less controllable as a consequence most MGE cells are restricted to producing a type of cell called an interneuron. Interneurons integrate into the brain and provide controlled inhibition to balance the activity of nerve circuits.
To generate MGE cells in the lab, the researchers reliably directed the differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells either human embryonic stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells derived from human skin. These two kinds of stem cells have virtually unlimited potential to become any human cell type. When transplanted into a strain of mice that does not reject human tissue, the human MGE-like cells survived within the rodent forebrain, integrated into the brain by forming connections with rodent nerve cells, and matured into specialized subtypes of interneurons.
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Stem cells to transplant in the brain: Stealth UCSF spinout Neurona Therapeutics raises $7.6M
