Posted on 11/06/2007 9:40:09 PM PST by neverdem
Canadian Press
TORONTO — Scientists at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children say they've taken a step forward in stem-cell transplant research.
They've discovered a gene with properties that allow for successful transfer of stem cells from human bone marrow into mice.
They also identified the type of cell that expresses the gene (called SIRPalpha) and is responsible for either destroying or supporting growth of human blood stem cells.
The researchers hope further studies will lead to the development of a therapy so more children with blood diseases can receive bone marrow transplantation.
It may also help provide a genetic test that could be applied to blood stem cell donors and recipients to increase opportunities for successful transplants.
The discovery was made by Dr. Jayne Danska in collaboration with Dr. John Dick, a senior scientist at Ontario Cancer Institute.
Their research is reported in the Nov. 4 online issue of Nature Immunology.
Researchers using adult stem cells make breakthrough in mouse immunology. Fixed it. Maybe we’ll be able to use it in human SCID. Who knows?
It probably won't matter, though, as wonderful breakthroughs like this one will be used used to lobby for billion-dollar ESC boondoggles. "See? Embryonic stem cells have such promise!"
I looked to see the source and sure enough, it was bone marrow. The MSM and all the little actors and actresses that champion government funds and ESVs fail to realize where the real promise is.
Government funds should be out because there’s plenty of money to be made from research in this field. ESVs should be out because using them is unethical. But then we can’t expect a group of people in an industry that shuns any pretense of ethics, to understand why there might be a need for them.
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.