Stem cells hope for gut condition

Stem cells taken from amniotic fluid could offer a way to reverse potentially lethal intestinal damage in newborn babies.

In laboratory experiments, scientists used the cells to restore gut structure and function in rats.

The same technique could pave the way for new treatments for the baby condition necrotising enterocolitis (NEC).

NEC is the most common gastrointestinal emergency affecting newborns, with death rates of 15% to 30% in the UK. Once the condition sets in, no options are currently available other than surgery. Some babies end up having to undergo intestinal transplants.

The new research involved injecting rats with NEC with amniotic fluid stem (AFS) cells. A week later, the animals showed significantly higher survival rates than rats not given the stem cell treatment.

Examination of their guts showed inflammation to be greatly reduced, and signs that the intestine was repairing itself.

Dr Paolo De Coppi, from University College London's Institute of Child Health, who led the study published in the journal Gut, said: "Stem cells are well known to have anti-inflammatory effects, but this is the first time we have shown that amniotic fluid stem cells can repair damage in the intestines.

"In the future, we hope that stem cells found in amniotic fluid will be used more widely in therapies and in research, particularly for the treatment of congenital malformations. Although amniotic fluid stem cells have a more limited capacity to develop into different cell types than those from the embryo, they nevertheless show promise for many parts of the body including the liver, muscle and nervous system."

After their injection into the gut, AFS cells moved into the intestinal villi - small finger-like projections that pass nutrients into the blood. Rather than directly repairing the damaged tissue, they appear to release chemicals that stimulate other progenitor cells.

Co-author Dr Simon Eaton, also from the Institute of Child Health, said: "Once we have a better understanding of the mechanisms by which AFS cells trigger repair and restore function in the gut, we can start to explore new cellular or pharmacological therapies for infants with necrotising enterocolitis."

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Stem cells hope for gut condition