Umbilical Cord Stem cell therapy brings paralyzed to feet

A South Korean woman paralyzed for 20 years is walking again after scientists say they repaired her damaged spine using stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood.

US researcher holds a box containing vials of human embryonic stem cell cultures. A South Korean woman paralyzed for 20 years is walking again after scientists say they repaired her damaged spine using stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood. [AFP/file] US researcher holds a box containing vials of human embryonic stem cell cultures. A South Korean woman paralyzed for 20 years is walking again after scientists say they repaired her damaged spine using stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood. [AFP/file] Hwang Mi-Soon, 37, had been bedridden since damaging her back in an accident two decades ago.

Last week her eyes glistened with tears as she walked again with the help of a walking frame at a press conference where South Korea researchers went public for the first time with the results of their stem-cell therapy.

They said it was the world's first published case in which a patient with spinal cord injuries had been successfully treated with stem cells from umbilical cord blood.

Though they cautioned that more research was needed and verification from international experts was required, the South Korean researchers said Hwang's case could signal a leap forward in the treatment of spinal cord injuries.

The use of stem cells from cord blood could also point to a way to side-step the ethical dispute over the controversial use of embryos in embryonic stem-cell research.

"We have glimpsed at a silver lining over the horizon," said Song Chang-Hoon, a member of the research team and a professor at Chosun University's medical school in the southwestern city of Kwangju.

Under TV lights and flashing cameras, Hwang stood up from her wheelchair and shuffled forward and back a few paces with the help of the frame at the press conference here on Thursday.

"This is already a miracle for me," she said. "I never dreamed of getting to my feet again."

Medical research has shown stem cells can develop into replacement cells for damaged organs or body parts. Unlocking that potential could see cures for diseases that are at present incurable, or even see the body generate new organs to replace damaged or failing ones.

So-called "multipotent" stem cells -- those found in cord blood -- are capable of forming a limited number of specialised cell types, unlike the more versatile "undifferentiated" cells that are derived from embroyos.

However, these stem cells isolated from umbilical cord blood have emerged as an ethical and safe alternative to embryonic stem cells.

Clinical trials with embryonic stem cells are believed to be years away because of the risks and ethical problems involved in the production of embryos -- regarded as living humans by some people -- for scientific use.

In contrast, there is no ethical dimension when stem cells from umbilical cord blood are obtained, according to researchers.

Additionally, umbilical cord blood stem cells trigger little immune response in the recipient as embryonic stem cells have a tendency to form tumors when injected into animals or human beings.

For the therapy, multipotent stem cells were isolated from umbilical cord blood, which had been frozen immediately after the birth of a baby and cultured for a period of time.

"Technical difficulties exist in isolating stem cells from frozen umbilical cord blood, finding cells with genes matching those of the recipient and selecting the right place of the body to deliver the cells," said Han Hoon, president of Histostem, a government-backed umbilical cord blood bank in Seoul.

They say that more experiments are required to verify the outcome of the landmark therapy.

"It is just one case and we need more experiments, more data," said Oh Il-Hoon, another researcher.

"I believe experts in other countries have been conducting similar experiments and accumulating data before making the results public."

China has been collecting umbilical cord cells for two years. Reportedly, the country has surpassed 200,000 donors in its nationwide program.

2 posted on 11/30/2004 8:34:56 AM PST by TitansAFC (Al Gonzales for SCOTUS? Let's just nominate Arlen Specter.)

3 posted on 11/30/2004 8:36:14 AM PST by kellynla (U.S.M.C. 1st Battalion,5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Div. Viet Nam 69&70 Semper Fi)

Sure, but if Kerry was elected this would be happening every day. (/sarc)

China has been collecting umbilical cord cells for two years. Reportedly, the country has surpassed 200,000 donors in its nationwide program.

0.0001% participation.

This is not very good journalism: "A South Korean woman paralyzed for 20 years is walking again after scientists say they repaired her damaged spine using stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood. ... US researcher holds a box containing vials of human embryonic stem cell cultures." The cord blood is rich in embryo built stem cells. But can you get that from the wording?

6 posted on 11/30/2004 8:41:56 AM PST by MHGinTN (If you can read this, you've had life support from someone. Promote life support for others.)

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

That for me was the highlight of the Kerry Campaign -- where Kerry had the Wanna-Be Benny Hinn moment.

Umbilical cords are a source of adult stem cells. This article is trying to obfuscate that fact and cause readers to confuse the use of cells from an umbilical cord with the cultivation of embryonic stem cells, which are taken from a conceptus about five days after fertilization.

So the article is talking about one type of stem cell, but promoting another type of stem cell through the use of a picture which is more likely to stick in readers' minds.

Nice journalistic integrity right there.

They make it sound like this woman is doing handsprings thanks to stem cell therapy. From what I have heard, she has to use a walking brace.

I'm not sure what that is, but I would like to see some video before I hailed this as a great breakthrough.

Actually, the harvesters of embryo stem cells (embryo body parts) want to harvest when the embryo has differentiated to more than 100 cells, since at five days the inner cell mass is not as easily defined and the chance that placental and umbilicus designated stem cells may be harvested with the targeted cells is very high. The ultimate goal is to conceived embryonic Lives and then grow these alive beings into their fetal age and then kill them for stem cells. But you knew that ...

10 posted on 11/30/2004 8:58:13 AM PST by MHGinTN (If you can read this, you've had life support from someone. Promote life support for others.)

How does it work? Do they have to remove the damaged cells first? Splice the stem cells in? Any suggested URLs to visit for further enlightenment?

11 posted on 11/30/2004 8:59:58 AM PST by 7.62 x 51mm (• veni • vidi • vino • visa • "I came, I saw, I drank wine, I shopped")

Here's A Free Manuscript about stem cells, written in layperson's language as best the writer could manage it on short notice.

12 posted on 11/30/2004 9:02:36 AM PST by MHGinTN (If you can read this, you've had life support from someone. Promote life support for others.)

I think she is using a walker. A huge improvemnt over a wheelchair even if she is shuffling along.

A_R

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