Posted on 03/13/2005 5:25:43 PM PST by wagglebee
A SAFE treatment for Parkinson’s disease sufferers could be available in as little as three years following new research into stem cell therapy.
Scientists at the world-renowned Roslin Institute, near Edinburgh, have managed for the first time to culture stem cells - which can turn into any kind of human cell from heart to skin - without using animal-derived products, in a development described as "very important" by the Parkinson’s Disease Society.
Other researchers have demonstrated that stem cells from pigs can help reverse symptoms of Parkinson’s disease when implanted in a sufferer’s brain.
However, this carries the risk that the patient will develop a deadly new cross-species disease with potentially devastating consequences - vCJD is a recent example of a fatal new condition originating in animals.
Previously, human stem cells - controversial, as they are usually derived from embryos, angering the pro-life lobby - have been grown in a culture of animal tissue, also risking cross-species contamination.
But Roslin scientists, led by Dr Paul De Sousa, have managed to culture stem cells from donated embryos - which, in this case, are the "surplus" from fertility treatment - in a medium derived from human tissue, the first time this has been done in the world.
They are now looking to create a way of mass producing stems cells, as millions are required to repair damage to the brain.
Dr De Sousa said he believed that, in three to five years, following further research in animals, it should be possible to start implanting human stem cells in Parkinson’s patients.
He said: "We are still a ways away. It’s one thing to produce the cells. Now myself and other groups need to be efficiently producing the types of cells in the culture dish that are useful for treatment.
"There are grant applications to get that work funded to see that ambition realised and it is somewhere down the line still - we’ve got to walk before we can run.
"We’re talking another three to five years before we could be at the point where we have enough pre-clinical animal model data to have some confidence in the cells we can put into people."
Producing stem cells without using any animal-derived tissue is a crucial step because it prevents the possibility of cross-species disease.
"If stem cells are ever going to be useful for people, we have got to find a way to produce them safely and efficiently," Dr De Sousa said.
"For the most part, the state of the field as it had stood was that there was a reliance on either animal cells or products from animal tissues.
"These carry a risk that unknown pathogens - causes of disease - that we cannot screen for could infect the cells and the cells, in turn, could cause infection in whoever receives them.
"Or there could be factors in the animal products that would stimulate an immune response in a human recipient. So, the way we ultimately have to go is to create these different culture environments.
"We have isolated four [cell lines] to date and one of these four has been isolated in a completely different media - a coating of a human protein, normally found on the outside of cells that helps cells stick together.
"There is no direct exposure to animal cells or to animal tissue-derived products such as serum."
Pro-life groups have condemned the use of embryos to provide stem cells and have claimed adult stem cells, such as those found in bone marrow, can be used instead.
Dr De Sousa said research into the use of adult stem cells - which would mean the patient’s own tissue could be used, avoiding immune system problems - should continue. However, given the current level of knowledge, he felt embryonic stem cells were more effective.
"At present, the cells derived from embryo stem cells have two significant advantages," he said. "One is we can divide embryonic stem cells and produce more cells. That’s really important when it comes to putting cells into people. You don’t need tens or hundreds or thousands of cells, you need millions of cells.
"Also, embryonic stem cells have a broader capacity to form all of the cells found in adults than adult stem cells."
Last month, another Roslin scientist, Professor Ian Wilmut, who created Dolly the Sheep, was granted a licence to clone human embryos to help further stem cell research. It is thought this could lead to cures for diabetes, quadriplegia and blindness, as well as Parkinson’s and other conditions.
Britain is the world leader in the field and is defying US-led moves at the United Nations to ban therapeutic cloning. Robert Meadowcroft, head of policy and information at the Parkinson’s Disease Society, said the work at Roslin would hasten the use of stem cell treatment - either as a cure or a therapy - in human patients.
"This looks like being a very important piece of work that will potentially shorten the period of time to clinical trials in patients and we very much welcome this research," Mr Meadowcroft said. However, he was cautious when asked about the potential timescales. "We would very much welcome clinical trials starting in three to five years, but we do appreciate that, while science can move forward very quickly at times, problems can take longer to deal with than was thought at first," he said. "We don’t want to be too optimistic at this stage."
Why hasn't the govt started collecting unwanted cord blood from newborns? They contain stem cells without the ethical problems.
This article is unclear, it's almost like..double talk.
""Previously, human stem cells - controversial, as they are usually derived from embryos, angering the pro-life lobby - have been grown in a culture of animal tissue, also risking cross-species contamination.""
Don't we usually differentiate between stem cells and embryonic stem cells? The answer is, no we don't. The pro life community isn't opposed to stem cell research, they are opposed to embryonic stem cell research/
"""Also, embryonic stem cells have a broader capacity to form all of the cells found in adults than adult stem cells."""
They have a broader capacity? How capeable are they?
I know this is The Scotsman, but this is a leftist leaning article.
I thought they were collecting umbilical stem cells.
I agree that it is somewhat leftist; however, it is factual about the results they have had.
yeah, cord blood, same thing. You wait for the child to be born, a couple clamps and a couple big syringes later you have a sample containing stem cells. Don't know what separating them out entails.
I wouldn't think the procedure would be all that different than getting stem cells from an embryo; plus there are far more umbilical cords available than embryos.
In saying that
""""Also, embryonic stem cells have a broader capacity to form all of the cells found in adults than adult stem cells."""
It is proven that Embryonic stem cells are not sucessful. And the author adds this in when speaking about how we don't need to use pig's cells as a medium. The Medium is derived from human tissue. What this author is doing is adding little quips about Embryonic stem cell research, it has nothing to do with the topic. That we can use a medium of HUMAN tissue, and not pig tissue.
"" in a medium derived from human tissue, the first time this has been done in the world.""
Well, at least it can get the PETA seal of approval, even if the human lives still don't get a fair trial before their execution. Just don't try it with terrorists' stem cells- then the ACLU would object.
This article is about how Scientists are now able to use human tissue as a medium and not pig tissue. Pig Tissue was problematic because of disease.
So what does that have to do with the ethical issue of embryonic stem cells? The author is using the news as a platform to add little quips about embryonic stem cell research.
There's a lot of double-talk here.
The writer is evil.
"""At present, the cells derived from embryo stem cells have two significant advantages," he said. "One is we can divide embryonic stem cells and produce more cells. That’s really important when it comes to putting cells into people. You don’t need tens or hundreds or thousands of cells, you need millions of cells.""
Actually, we are made of billions of cells. And how long does it take a cell to divide, how do you go about dividing an embryo in a million!? Embryonic cells come in one's. But bone marrow cells and umbilical cord cells can be taken in the millions!
Read my post 14 please. I would like your opinion, Am I crazy?!
No, the writer is evil. The person he is quoting is equally evil. Don't know what else I can say other than that someday we are going to have to face up to the evil people and get rid of them.
half a dozen Europeon countries are conducting stem cell research, Isreal, They've been doing it for years, and the writer says "Capacity". That embryoinc stem cells have the "capacity". There hasn't been any sucess yet!
"But Roslin scientists, led by Dr Paul De Sousa, have managed to culture stem cells from donated embryos - which, in this case, are the "surplus" from fertility treatment ..." So being 'surplus humans at their earliest age in their lifetime already begun makes the cannibalizing okay?
Unfortunately, science has focused far more on embryonic stem cells than other stem cell sources. The SCIENTIST in this article is obviously more inclined toward embryonic stem cells, I see no evidence that the article's AUTHOR shares that bias.
They haven't had any results! Embryonic stem cell research hasn't done anything!
It's legal in many Europeon countries, in Israel. If Embryonic stem cell research is so promising why aren't drug companies funding it? Because it isn't promising. The article is double talking- The sucess is that we can use a human tissue medium instead of a pig tissue medium.
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