Posted on 01/07/2007 11:08:25 AM PST by NormsRevenge
Scientists reported Sunday they had found a plentiful source of stem cells in the fluid that cushions babies in the womb and produced a variety of tissue types from these cells sidestepping the controversy over destroying embryos for research.
Researchers at Wake Forest University and Harvard University reported the stem cells they drew from amniotic fluid donated by pregnant women hold much the same promise as embryonic stem cells. They reported they were able to extract the stem cells without harm to mother or fetus and turn their discovery into several different tissue cell types, including brain, liver and bone.
"Our hope is that these cells will provide a valuable resource for tissue repair and for engineered organs as well," said Dr. Anthony Atala, head of Wake Forest's regenerative medicine institute and senior researcher on the project.
It took Atala's team some seven years of research to determine the cells they found were truly stem cells that "can be used to produce a broad range of cells that may be valuable for therapy."
However, the scientists noted they still don't know exactly how many different cell types can be made from the stem cells found in amniotic fluid. They also said that even preliminary tests in patients are years away.
Still, Atala said the research reported in the scientific journal Nature Biotechnology expands far beyond similar work discussed at a heart research conference in November. There, Swiss researcher Simon Hoerstrup said he managed to turn amniotic fluid stem cells into heart cells that could be grown into replacement valves. Hoerstrup has yet to publish his work in a scientific journal.
Atala said the new research has found even more promising stem cells with the potential to turn into many more medically useful replacement parts.
"We have other cell lines cooking," Atala said.
The hallmark of human embryonic stem cells, which are created in the first days after conception, is the ability to turn into any of the more than 220 cell types that make up the human body. Researchers are hopeful they can train these primordial cells to repair damaged organs in need of healthy cells.
However, many people, including President Bush, oppose the destruction of embryos for any reason. The Bush administration has severely restricted federal funding for the embryo work since 2001, leading many scientists to search for alternative stem cell sources.
The cells from amniotic fluid "can clearly generate a broad range of important cell types, but they may not do as many tricks as embryonic stem cells," said Dr. Robert Lanza, chief scientist at the stem cell company Advanced Cell Technology. "Either way, I think this work represents a giant step forward for stem cell research."
It's the latest advance in the so-called regenerative medicine field that has sprung from Atala's lab in Winston-Salem, N.C. In April, Atala and his colleagues rebuilt bladders for seven young patients using live tissue grown in the lab.
In the latest work, Atala's team extracted a small number of stem cells swimming among the many other cell types in the amniotic fluid. One of the more promising aspects of the research is that some of the DNA of the amnio stem cells contained Y chromosomes, which means the cells came from the babies rather than the pregnant moms.
Dr. George Daley, a Harvard University stem cell researcher, said that finding raises the possibility that someday expectant parents can freeze amnio stem cells for future tissue replacement in a sick child without fear of immune rejection.
Nonetheless, Daley said the discovery shouldn't be used as a replacement for human embryonic stem cell research.
"While they are fascinating subjects of study in their own right, they are not a substitute for human embryonic stem cells, which allow scientists to address a host of other interesting questions in early human development," said Daley, who began work last year to clone human embryos to produce stem cells.
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On the Net:
Wake Forest regenerative medicine institute: http://www.wfirm.org/
Nature Biotechnology: http://www.nature.com/nbt/index.html
Amniotic fluid used successfully instead of stem cells ^
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1499650/posts
Posted by Coleus
On News/Activism ^ 10/09/2005 6:00:10 PM PDT · 22 replies · 736+ views
Sun Times ^ | 10.09.05 | PAUL BASKEN
Boston doctors used cells taken from a pregnant lamb's amniotic fluid to grow a new trachea, then implanted the organ into the ailing fetus, an experiment that may pave the way for similar treatment in humans. Using cells from amniotic fluid to repair or replace human organs may bypass some of the political and ethical obstacles doctors encounter with fetal cells, said Children's Hospital Boston pediatric surgeon Dario Fauza, who led the experiments. "You avoid all the ethical dilemmas of the embryonic stem cell," Fauza said. "The cells are already there" in the mother's amniotic fluid. "We are just harvesting...
amniotic fluid ping
Okay, dummy here. What effect does the extraction of amniotic fluid have on the fetus? How is it extracted?
That fluid may yield stem cells, but it will not hold sway with the murderous pro abort and left wingers. If it isn't bleeding and dead, then it is of no value for them.
No problem, I haven't researched it myself either. links are there, or someone may be able to shed some light on it that is familiar with this angle of research.
Can't stay away from the babies.
I think i'll check to see how many adult stem cell breakthroughs they've researched/reported on... just for kicks.
Gee, just when ya' think that you just may have a positive, truthful and unbiased article.
As far as I know, any entry into the womb is potentially dangerous for the fetus -- 35+ mother's are often tested, for Down's Syndrome especially, and are warned of the risk.
Thanks. Did you see this one?
http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2007/01/in-first-100-hours-after-mass-pelosi.html
Okay, I'll plead ignorance. I hated biology and certainly never needed to take A&P. So can someone tell me (in just a few words please) can these stem cells be told produce specific body parts. Left ear, right index finger, tooth no. 10, or anything else specific?
I only know of it being done with a needle through the abdomen, a procedure that doctors would like to avoid. However, I imagine it would be easy to collect during a caesarian delivery.
Search google for amniocentesis. My wife is 36 and we just had a son born this Wednesday. We declined this test because of the unecesary risks. If the sonogram is clear it seems foolish to go beyond that point.
Let's see if Nancy Pelosi changes her mind now and will want to put tax dollars in NONembryonic sc.
But wait, there are already at least 72 treatments from NONembryonic sc and none from Embryonic sc, but Pelosi still wants to kill and experiment on preborn children.
Dr. Lanza isn't being quite honest here. Embryonic stem cells have done ANY tricks that have any positive effects for human beings.
I suspect that the amniotic stem cells work similarly to cord blood stem cells, and adult stem cells, and those have been used to very good effect on human diseases. I don't think Dr. Lanza's company has invested in that kind of stem cell research, though.
I need a Constitutional scholar. Ron Paul, who is pro-life, was the only rep. who voted against tax dollars going for ADULT sc research.
Does anyone know why?
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