Adult Stem Cells

Source: www.wired.com --- 15 days ago
Scientists have cleared a major hurdle toward turning Adult Cells into embryonic Stem Cells that could be safe for human therapies. Major Stem Cell Hurdle Cleared: Wired.com ...

Source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov --- 31 days ago
Related Articles Upregulation of chemokine receptor expression by IL-10/IL-4 in Adult neural Stem Cells. Exp Mol Pathol. 2008 Aug 6; Authors: Guan Y, Jiang Z, Ciric B, Rostami AM, Zhang GX It has been shown that adoptively transferred Adult neural Stem Cells (NSCs) ameliorate experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) by differentiating into myelin-forming Cells. However, NSC migration into the lesion foci is inefficient and relatively slow, resulting in only modest therapeutic effect. A possible reason for the inefficient migration of NSCs could be the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines by these Cells, which might in turn suppress their migration. To address this question we established subventricular zone-derived NSC neurospheres and determined the influence of IL-10 and IL-4 on chemokine receptor expression by these Cells, and on their migration in response to chemokines relevant to EAE pathogenesis. We found that treatment with IL-4 and IL-10 upregulates surface adhesion molecule LFA-1 and chemokine receptors CXCR4 and CCR5 on NSCs. IL-10-treated NSCs exhibited significantly higher chemotaxis to the ligands of the above chemokine receptors than untreated Cells. Treatment of NSC with IL-4 also resulted in a higher chemotaxis of these Cells to RANTES. Thus, in vitro pretreatment with cytokines may be a useful approach to facilitate migration of NSCs into CNS inflammatory foci, producing stronger therapeutic effects. This ...

Source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov --- 27 days ago
Related Articles A Specialized Vascular Niche for Adult Neural Stem Cells. Cell Stem Cell. 2008 Sep 11;3(3):279-288 Authors: Tavazoie M, Van der Veken L, Silva-Vargas V, Louissaint M, Colonna L, Zaidi B, Garcia-Verdugo JM, Doetsch F Stem Cells reside in specialized niches that regulate their self-renewal and differentiation. The vasculature is emerging as an important component of Stem cell niches. Here, we show that the Adult subventricular zone (SVZ) neural Stem cell niche contains an extensive planar vascular plexus that has specialized properties. Dividing Stem Cells and their transit-amplifying progeny are tightly apposed to SVZ blood vessels both during homeostasis and regeneration. They frequently contact the vasculature at sites that lack astrocyte endfeet and pericyte coverage, a modification of the blood-brain barrier unique to the SVZ. Moreover, regeneration often occurs at these sites. Finally, we find that circulating small molecules in the blood enter the SVZ. Thus, the vasculature is a key component of the Adult SVZ neural Stem cell niche, with SVZ Stem Cells and transit-amplifying Cells uniquely poised to receive spatial cues and regulatory signals from diverse elements of the vascular system. PMID: 18786415 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] ...

Source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov --- 1 day ago
Adult mesenchymal Stem Cells for bone and cartilage engineering: effect of scaffold materials. Eur J Histochem. 2008 Jul-Sep;52(3):169-74 Authors: Gigante A, Manzotti S, Bevilacqua C, Orciani M, Di Primio R, Mattioli-Belmonte M Bone marrow is a useful cell source for skeletal tissue engineering approaches. In vitrodifferentiation of marrow mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) to chondrocytes or osteoblasts can be induced by the addition of specific growth factors to the medium. The present study evaluated the behaviour of human MSCs cultured on various scaffolds to determine whether their differentiation can be induced by cell-matrix interactions. MSCs from bone marrowcollected from the acetabulum during hip arthroplasty procedures were isolated by cell sorting, expanded and characterised by a flow cytometry system. Cells were grown on three different scaffolds (type I collagen, type I + II collagen and type I collagen + hydroxyapatite membranes) and analysed byhistochemistry, immunohistochemistry and spectrophotometry (cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity) at 15 and 30 days. Widely variable cell adhesion and proliferation was observed on the three scaffolds. MSCs grown on type I+II collagen differentiated to Cells expressing chondrocyte markers, while those grown on type I collagen + hydroxyapatite differentiated into osteoblast-like Cells. The studyhighlighted that human MSCs grown on different scaffold matrices may display dif ...

Source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov --- 6 days ago
Related Articles Superior Osteogenic Capacity for Bone Tissue Engineering of Fetal Compared To Perinatal and Adult Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Stem Cells. 2008 Oct 2; Authors: Zhang ZY, Teoh SH, Chong MS, Schantz JT, Fisk NM, Choolani MA, Chan J Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC) from human Adult bone marrow (haMSC) represent a promising source for bone tissue engineering. However, their low frequencies and limited proliferation restrict clinical utility. Alternative post-natal, perinatal and fetal sources of MSC appear to have different osteogenic capacities, but have not been systematically compared with haMSC. We investigated the proliferative and osteogenic potential of MSC from human fetal bone marrow (hfMSC), human umbilical cord (hUCMSC), human Adult adipose tissue (hATMSC) and haMSC, both in monolayer cultures and after loading into 3-dimensional polycaprolactone-tricalcium-phosphate scaffolds. While all MSC had comparable immunophenotype, only hfMSC and hUCMSC were positive for the embryonic pluripotency markers Oct-4 and Nanog. hfMSC expressed the lowest HLA-I (55% vs 95-99%), the highest Stro-1 levels (51% vs 10-27%) and had the greatest CFU-F capacity (1.6-2.0x, p<0.01) and fastest doubling time (32 vs 54-111 hrs, p<0.01). hfMSC had the greatest osteogenic capacity, as assessed by von-Kossa staining, ALP activity (5.1-12.4x, p<0.01), calcium deposition (1.6-2.7x in monolayer and 1.6-5.0x in scaffold culture, p<0.01), calcium visualiz ...

Source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov --- 33 days ago
Related Articles [Stem Cells from Adult differentiated tissues] Tsitologiia. 2008;50(7):557-67 Authors: The review thoroughly describes all types of Adult Stem Cells which have been isolated by the present time - hematopoietic, muscle, neural, skin, endothelial, intestinal and mesenchymal Stem Cells. Their isolation, in vitro cultivation, and possible application in cell therapy of various diseases are discussed. Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC) are of great concern now because they are, in the authors' opinion, the most promising material for application in the therapy of humans. PMID: 18771170 [PubMed - in process] ...

Source: slashdot.org --- 12 days ago
hackingbear writes "Wired, citing a paper published in Science magazine, reports that Harvard scientists may have found a safer way of giving a flake of skin the biologically alchemical powers of embryonic Stem Cells by turning Adult Cells into versatile, embryonic-like Cells without causing permanent damage. The technique involves 'adding cell-reprogramming genes to adenoviruses, a type of virus that infects Cells without affecting their DNA.' Four-month trails on mice demonstrated that the resulting Stem Cells are free from unpredictable cancer-inducing mutations. This is definitely a breakthrough in Stem cell research." Additional coverage is available at Yahoo, and Science hosts the research paper, although you'll need a subscription to see more than the abstract. Read more of this story at Slashdot. ...

Source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov --- 27 days ago
Related Articles Neural Stem Cells Confer Unique Pinwheel Architecture to the Ventricular Surface in Neurogenic Regions of the Adult Brain. Cell Stem Cell. 2008 Sep 11;3(3):265-278 Authors: Mirzadeh Z, Merkle FT, Soriano-Navarro M, Garcia-Verdugo JM, Alvarez-Buylla A Neural Stem Cells (NSCs, B1 Cells) are retained in the walls of the Adult lateral ventricles but, unlike embryonic NSCs, are displaced from the ventricular zone (VZ) into the subventricular zone (SVZ) by ependymal Cells. Apical and basal compartments, which in embryonic NSCs play essential roles in self-renewal and differentiation, are not evident in Adult NSCs. Here we show that SVZ B1 Cells in Adult mice extend a minute apical ending to directly contact the ventricle and a long basal process ending on blood vessels. A closer look at the ventricular surface reveals a striking pinwheel organization specific to regions of Adult neurogenesis. The pinwheel's core contains the apical endings of B1 Cells and in its periphery two types of ependymal Cells: multiciliated (E1) and a type (E2) characterized by only two cilia and extraordinarily complex basal bodies. These results reveal that Adult NSCs retain fundamental epithelial properties, including apical and basal compartmentalization, significantly reshaping our understanding of this Adult neurogenic niche. PMID: 18786414 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] ...

Source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov --- 27 days ago
Related Articles Adult SVZ Stem Cells Lie in a Vascular Niche: A Quantitative Analysis of Niche Cell-Cell Interactions. Cell Stem Cell. 2008 Sep 11;3(3):289-300 Authors: Shen Q, Wang Y, Kokovay E, Lin G, Chuang SM, Goderie SK, Roysam B, Temple S There is an emerging understanding of the importance of the vascular system within Stem cell niches. Here, we examine whether neural Stem Cells (NSCs) in the Adult subventricular zone (SVZ) lie close to blood vessels, using three-dimensional whole mounts, confocal microscopy, and automated computer-based image quantification. We found that the SVZ contains a rich plexus of blood vessels that snake along and within neuroblast chains. Cells expressing Stem cell markers, including GFAP, and proliferation markers are closely apposed to the laminin-containing extracellular matrix (ECM) surrounding vascular endothelial Cells. Apical GFAP+ Cells are admixed within the ependymal layer and some span between the ventricle and blood vessels, occupying a specialized microenvironment. Adult SVZ progenitor Cells express the laminin receptor alpha6beta1 integrin, and blocking this inhibits their adhesion to endothelial Cells, altering their position and proliferation in vivo, indicating that it plays a functional role in binding SVZ Stem Cells within the vascular niche. PMID: 18786416 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] ...

Source: www.lime.com --- 13 days ago
  Scientists are reporting that they have overcome a major obstacle to using a promising alternative to embryonic Stem Cells, bolstering the prospects for bypassing the political and ethical tempest that has embroiled hopes for a new generation of medical treatments. [More at lime.com/health] ...

Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com --- 20 hours ago
Power3 Medical Products, Inc. (OTCBB:PWRM), today announced that the company has executed a Letter of Intent with StemTroniX, Inc., a Texas based Stem Cell Therapy Company that specializes in research, exploration and consolidation of Stem cell technologies for use in Autologous Adult Stem Cell Therapy's and Transplantations. "Power3 Medical is excited about this collaboration," commented Dr. ...

Source: www.webwire.com --- 29 days ago
Studying flatworms, University of Utah researchers identify 2 steps in cell differentiation - - Unlike some parents, Adult Stem Cells don't seem to mind when their daughters get a tattoo. In fact, they... [WebWire - Thursday, September 11, 2008] ...

Source: dx.doi.org --- 31 days ago
Posterolateral spinal fusion is the standard treatment for lumbar compression fractures. Adult adipose tissue-derived Stem Cells (ASCs) promote osteogenesis in vivo and in vitro. The hypothesis tested in this study was that syngeneic and allogeneic ASCs on a biomaterial scaffold composed of tricalcium phosphate and collagen I will accelerate spinal fusion in a rat model. ASCs from male Fischer or ACI rats were loaded onto scaffolds (53,571 Cells/mm3) and cultured in stromal media for 48 h. Male Fisher rats were assigned to 4 cohorts (n = 14/cohort) after bilateral decortication of the L4 and L5 transverse processes: (1) No treatment; (2) scaffold only; (3) scaffold + syngeneic ASCs; or (4) scaffold + allogeneic ASCs. Half of each cohort was harvested 4 or 8 weeks after surgery. Spinal fusion was evaluated with radiographs, microcomputed tomography, and light microscopy. Callus did not form in spines without scaffolds. There were no significant differences in callus formation among scaffold cohorts 4 weeks after surgery. Callus formation was more mature in both ASC cohorts versus scaffold alone 8 weeks after surgery based on microstructure as well as radiographic and microcomputed tomographic evidence of active bone formation. Inflammatory cell infiltrate was significantly lower in both ASC cohorts (syngeneic = 18.3 ± 0.85%; allogeneic = 23.5 ± 2.33%) versus scaffold alone (46.8 ± 11.8%) 4 weeks after surgery. Results of this study supp ...

Source: www.rsspad.com --- 33 days ago
Instead of a hospice and death, an American man with a raft of medical problems was given a new lease on life by the technology of Adult Stem cell therapy. The Cells were derived from Dave's own blood by a Thai-Israeli company known as TheraVitae, developers of "VesCell" Stem Cells, arguably the best in the world at treating chronically ill heart failure and angina patients. Dave Foege testified before Congressional hearing in April. (PRWeb Apr 20, 2007) Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/04/prweb519074.htm ...

Source: www.rsspad.com --- 33 days ago
TheraVitae, the leading Israeli-Thai biotechnology company and developer of VesCell therapy, using Adult Stem Cells for the failing heart and PAD, has been awarded the Office of the Board of Investment approval. (PRWeb May 27, 2007) Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/05/prweb529018.htm ...

Source: www.citizenlink.org --- 10 days ago
Doctors at Imperial College in London have successfully treated patients with liver cirrhosis using their own Stem Cells. ...

Source: www.webmd.com --- 2 days ago
Testicular germ Cells that provide an unending source of sperm appear to be able to become embryo-like Stem Cells able to morph into any cell of the body. ...

Source: www.citizenlink.org --- 9 days ago
Researchers in Utah are testing Adult Stem Cells as a way to prevent or treat acute kidney failure. ...