Posted on 06/19/2009 12:48:32 PM PDT by neverdem
Look to the retina as a likely site for the first success in stem-cell therapy.
"The eye is the best place to test proof-of-concept for stem cell-based therapies," says Martin Friedlander of the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California. Friedlander is co-founder of EyeCyte, also in La Jolla, whose investors include industry heavyweight Pfizer.
Several laboratories are exploring stem-cell-derived transplants to delay or prevent blindness, and Pfizer recently put up funds for a project nearing human trials at University College London (UCL).
Why the eye appeal? As organs go, it is easily accessible, somewhat protected from the immune system's propensity for transplant rejection, and comes in a convenient pair — so that doctors can try experimental treatments on just one eye.
There is also a pressing clinical need: 37 million people worldwide are blind and 124 million more have poor vision1. Experiments in animals suggest that stem cell treatments in the eye are fairly safe, and researchers have maintained a reasonable level of vision in a rat model of degenerative eye disease.
--snip--
"The concept is great," Friedlander says. "But I think there are much better ways to do this." Friedlander suggests that induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells cultured from the person who needs a transplant would be safer, because there is no chance of rejection. The blood–retina barrier isn't absolute, he notes, and could be compromised in a person with eye disease. "If you start shooting things into people's eyes that didn't come from them initially, you're going to cause trouble," he says.
(Excerpt) Read more at nature.com ...
Sight for sore eyes (Stem cells - corneal disease - inexpensive, quick) Adult stem cells, thank you.
Why the eye appeal? As organs go, it is easily accessible, somewhat protected from the immune system's propensity for transplant rejection, and comes in a convenient pair — so that doctors can try experimental treatments on just one eye.
Is this hubris or naivete?
It's also known as sympathetic uveitis.
stem cell ping
Ignorant reporter. Super-duper ignorant, to think this is the FIRST (even potential) success - there's something like 40 or so now - don't have the link handy.
I’m going to a benefit dinner tonight for an Amish woman who was kicked in the face by a horse. She has lost sight in both eyes. I wonder if this would help her. She is most determined to be productive. She recently sewed a dress with very little help.
Betcha it's Adult. For all the hype about embryonic, there haven't been many successes...and if there were, the private sector would have been on it in a heartbeat (cause it would be making real breakthrough dollars), instead, we have to Federally fund it and make all of us pay for what good ol fashion Capitalism could have paid for, instead.
"...induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells cultured from the person who needs a transplant"
Not just that. This is self-supplied. About on the same ethical barometer as a skin graft.
Actually, I can't wait....I cannot believe how badly my eyes have gotten since the day I turned 40. It's like a gong goes off in your body...THIS IS THE DAY YOUR EYES WILL START GOING TO CRAP. WE ARE YOUR CELLS...WE HAVE SPOKEN.
Interesting. Thanks neverdem.
Please FreepMail me if you want on or off my Pro-Life Ping List.
It’s wrong to kill one life for the benefit of another, but thankfully, we don’t have to, because there is much more hope AND success with ADULT stem cells:
Current Stem Cell Treatments
ADULT Stem Cells v. EMBRYONIC Stem Cells
ADULT Stem Cells
Cancers:
Brain Cancer
Retinoblastoma
Ovarian Cancer
Skin Cancer: Merkel Cell Carcinoma
Testicular Cancer
Tumors abdominal organs Lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Acute Myelogenous Leukemia
Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia
Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia
Cancer of the lymph nodes: Angioimmunoblastic Lymphadenopathy
Multiple Myeloma
Myelodysplasia
Breast Cancer
Neuroblastoma
Renal Cell Carcinoma
Various Solid Tumors
Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Ewing’s Sarcoma
Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis
POEMS syndrome
Myelofibrosis
Auto-Immune Diseases
Systemic Lupus
Sjogren’s Syndrome
Myasthenia
Autoimmune Cytopenia
Scleromyxedema
Scleroderma
Crohn’s Disease
Behcet’s Disease
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Juvenile Arthritis
Multiple Sclerosis
Polychondritis
Systemic Vasculitis
Alopecia Universalis
Buerger’s Disease
Cardiovascular
Acute Heart Damage
Chronic Coronary Artery Disease
Ocular
Corneal regeneration
Immunodeficiencies
Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Syndrome
X-linked Lymphoproliferative Syndrome
X-linked Hyper immunoglobulin M Syndrome
Neural Degenerative Diseases and Injuries
Parkinson’s Disease
Spinal Cord Injury
Stroke Damage
Anemias and Other Blood Conditions
Sickle Cell Anemia
Sideroblastic Anemia
Aplastic Anemia
Red Cell Aplasia
Amegakaryocytic Thrombocytopenia
Thalassemia
Primary Amyloidosis
Diamond Blackfan Anemia
Fanconi’s Anemia
Chronic Epstein-Barr Infection
Wounds and Injuries
Limb Gangrene
Surface Wound Healing
Jawbone Replacement
Skull Bone Repair
Other Metabolic Disorders
Hurler’s Syndrome
Osteogenesis Imperfecta
Krabbe Leukodystrophy
Osteopetrosis
Cerebral X-Linked Adrenoleukodystrophy
Liver Disease
Chronic Liver Failure
Liver Cirrhosis
Bladder Disease
End-Stage Bladder Disease
EMBRYONIC Stem Cells
NONE!!!!!
http://www.stemcellresearch.org/facts/treatments.htm
Why do both prolifers and antilife people never say which KIND of stem cells? They just say stem cells.
Agreed. And the Amish would never stand for stem cells being from an embryo. Lots of other places to get them.
In titles, I believe that's an editorial call. In the text, the writer usually has to specify at least once.
“In the text, the writer usually has to specify at least once.”
Thanks, but I sure wish they would always tell us the difference, particularly so people don’t think that prolifers are against all stem cell research.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.