Stem cells can be isolated from urine and transformed into multiple cell types without the use of expensive and invasive surgeries

Scientists have found a way to harvest stem cells -- which are capable of becoming many types of cells for different therapies --easily from urine.

Researchers from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center's Institute for Regenerative Medicine -- led byYuanyuan Zhang, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of regenerative medicine -- have found that stem cells can be isolated from urine and transformed into multiple cell types without the use of expensive and invasive surgeries.

Isolating stem cells from organs and tissues can be difficult because it's a very small population of cells. Also, taking the stem cells from urine means transforming into many cell types instead of just one.

The research team originally found the cells in urine back in 2006. They discovered that these cells don't form tumors when implanted in the body likeiPS cells or embryonic stem cells, making them great candidates for patient use.

Also, using stem cells from the patient's body is a good idea because there's no worry of immune rejection.

The team tookurine samples from 17 healthy individuals ranging from ages five to 75. They then processed it and looked at the cells' ability to turn into multiple types.

From there, the cellsdifferentiated into the three tissue layers -- endoderm, ectoderm and mesoderm -- and directed them tobecome bladder-type cells, such as smooth muscle and urothelial. These cells line the bladder. The cells were placed inscaffolds made of pig intestine, and when they wereimplanted in micefor one month, the cells formed tissue-like structures with multiple layers.

The stem cells also had the ability to become other types, such as mesenchymal cells, which are adult stem cells from connective tissue like bone marrow. They also showed markers for pericytes, which are a subset of mesenchymal cells located in small blood vessels.

"These stem cells represent virtually a limitless supply of autologous cells for treating not only urology-related conditions such as kidney disease, urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction, but could be used in other fields as well," said Zhang. "They could also potentially be used to engineer replacement bladders, urine tubes and other urologic organs."

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Urine Provides Stem Cells Capable of Multiple Therapies

Researchers have isolated stem cells from urine as the latest potential source of treatment for human diseases. Investigators say using urine to collect and cultivate these master cells is easy and involves minimal processing.

Using proteins known as growth factors, researchers can manipulate stem cells - or master cells - to grow into any tissue in the body. Therapy using stem cells from a patients own body is desirable because it does not cause immune rejection, as can happen with tissues and organs from donors.

Currently, most scientists use a complicated process to engineer regular skin and blood cells into specific cell types. That's because there are few pure sources of master cells - apart from human embryos, whose use is quite controversial.

Researchers are now finding small numbers of stem cells in urine. Anthony Atala, director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, said, The advantage with urine is that you are getting approximately 2 liters of urine out every day. So you dont have to keep going back and sticking the patient [with a needle] or doing biopsies on the patient.

Reporting in the journal Stem Cells, a team from Wake Forest described how urine samples from 17 healthy individuals ranging in age from 5 to 75 contained stem cells that could be isolated, then coaxed to become smooth muscle-type cells like those that line the inside of the urethra and bladder.

Potential shown

Next, they placed the differentiated cells onto biologically-active support structures called scaffolds, made from pig intestine, then implanted the engineered tissue into mice.

After one month, the urine-derived stem cells developed biological markers of connective tissue and blood vessels, suggesting that they also had the potential to become bone, muscle, nerve or fat cells.

While urine may be a plentiful and less invasive way to obtain stem cells, some experts are skeptical about its value as a source of stem cells. Chris Mason, a regenerative medicine researcher at University College London, said there are very few usable stem cells in the liquid waste.

But he said in a Skype interview that the unusual research into urine-derived stem cells needs further scientific exploration.

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Stem Cells From Urine May Treat Human Diseases

NEW YORK, July 31, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --This month, scientific journals have reported on two more studies that highlight how stem cells found in babies' umbilical cord blood and cord tissue represent the future of medical treatments for serious diseases and injuries. Nature, The International Weekly Journal of Science, reported that Japanese scientists have successfully engineered rudimentary human livers, or "liver buds", using three types of stem cells. And, ScienceDaily reported that Spanish scientists have patented a biomaterial that helps create artificial bones using umbilical cord blood stem cells. These developments are among many in an industry that is pioneering stem cell-based therapies for many life threatening and debilitating diseases and injuries, including some that children may be more susceptible to as a result of family medical history.

In Japan, the researchers used human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), endothelial cells, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to create liver buds. When they implanted the liver buds in mice, the liver buds performed some functions of a liver, including protein production and drug metabolism. iPSCs are a type of pluripotent stem cell artificially derived from a non-pluripotent cell. MSCs can be found in babies' umbilical cord tissue and placenta tissue and can be collected and preserved immediately after a baby is born.

In Spain, the researchers used umbilical cord blood stem cells to create a biomaterial that helped develop bone tissue. The next step in their research will be to implant the bone tissue in laboratory animals and determine whether it can successfully regenerate bones. If successful, this kind of medical therapy would be helpful for people who have suffered bone trauma due to disease or accidents. Umbilical cord blood stem cells are found in the umbilical cord and placenta immediately after a baby is born.

Research into uses of stem cells from cord blood is growing at a rapid pace. Earlier this year, BioInformant Worldwide, a research company focused on the stem cell industry, reported that there were 78 ongoing clinical trials in 2008 compared to 191 in 2012; this represents a 144% increase in clinical trials for cord blood research in just 5 years. Currently, over 80 diseases have been treated with umbilical cord blood stem cells.

"We believe that preserving a baby's stem cells creates a unique the opportunity for that child to have access not only to today's cutting-edge medical therapies, but also to medical therapies that will be developed in the future," said Martin Smithmyer, CEO of Americord Registry. "These newest reports of advances in stem cell research give us even greater reason to be extremely optimistic about the future of stem cell therapies."

About AmericordAmericordis a leader in the advancement of umbilicalcord blood,cord tissueandplacenta tissuebanking. Americord collects, processes, and stores newborn stem cells from umbilical cord blood for future medical or therapeutic use, including the treatment of more than 80 blood diseases such as sickle cell anemia and leukemia. Founded in 2008, Americord is registered with the FDA and operates in all 50 states. The company's laboratory is CLIA Certified, accredited by the AABB and complies with all federal and state guidelines and applicable licenses. Americord is headquartered inNewYork, NY. You may visit Americord's website atcordadvantage.comfor more information. You may also find Americord onFacebookand follow the company onTwitter.

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New Research Uses Ethical Stem Cells to Create Liver Buds and Artificial Bones

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.

Statistics from the Department of Health and Human Services reveal that an average of 18 people die waiting for organ transplants each day. There are about 2,500 hearts available and a waiting list of about 100,000 patients in need. We show you how researchers at the University of Minnesota hope to bridge that gap.

I couldnt walk, or breathe, or eat, congestive heart failure patient Allan Isaacs told Ivanhoe.

That was life with congestive heart failure for 71-year-old Isaacs, but after a left ventricular assist device was implanted into his chest, Allans life got moving again.

Allan says he now does, 15 minutes on the elliptical and about 30 minutes on the treadmill.

The LVAD helps pump oxygen rich blood throughout the body, but Allans recovery may also have to do with the fact that his treatment may have included injections of his own bone marrow stem cells. Allans taking part in a leading edge blind study at the University of Minnesotas Medical Center.

We isolate the stem cells and when they go for surgery we inject those cells on the heart wall, Ganesh Raveendran, MD, MS, Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, told Ivanhoe.

One-third of the patients receive a placebo, the rest get ten injections of stem cells into their hearts. Muscle tissue is then analyzed to, see whether these cells have made any meaningful change, whether the cells have transformed into cardiac muscle, Dr. Raveendran explained.

In many cases an LVAD is a bridge to transplant, but researchers and Allan hope this stem cell therapy could eliminate that need.

Now, I can do whatever I feel like doing, Allan said.

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Heart stem cells and LVAD may avoid transplants