Adult Stem-Cell Breakthrough Announced
By staff reports,
Citizenlink
Researchers at the University of Louisville have coaxed
stem cells from adult mice to transform into brain, nerve,
heart and pancreatic cells, the Louisville Courier-Journal
reported.
Such diversification was previously thought to only be
possible using controversial embryonic stem cells. The
process of collecting those cells always requires the
destruction of human embryos.
Dr. Mariusz Ratajczak, leader of the research team and
director of the stem-cell biology program at Louisville's
James Graham Brown Cancer Center, announced the
discovery.
"We have found a counterpart for embryonic stem cells in
adult bone marrow. This could negate the ethical
concerns," he said.
The next step is to see whether the results can be
replicated using human adult stem cells.
If it's found to work in humans, the discovery goes from
"very important" to "incredibly important," said Dr.
Stephen Emerson, chief of hematology/oncology at the
University of Pennsylvania.
It could lead to expanded research and "be transforming,"
he said.