Cardiac Stem Cell Therapy Closer To Reality

Source: Cell Transplantation
Date: December 28, 2007

Summary:

Since the year 2000, much has been learned about the potential for using transplanted cells in therapeutic efforts to treat varieties of cardiac disorders. Cardiac stem cell therapy involves delivering a variety of cells into hearts following myocardial infarction or chronic cardiomyopathy. A brief overview of current research and research goals is presented, followed by a summary of results of studies aimed at improving implanted cell survival and the repair process, as well as several techniques aimed at improving efficacy.

Two Genes Are Important Key to Regulating Immune Response

Source: Weill Cornell Medical College
Date: December 28, 2007

Summary:

A research team at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City has identified two genes that may be crucial to the production of an immune system cytokine called interleukin-10 (IL-10). The discovery fills in an important "missing link" in a biochemical pathway that's long been tied to disorders ranging from lupus and Type 1 diabetes, to cancer and AIDS.

Researchers get embryonic stem cells from skin

Source: Reuters
Posted: December 23, 2007 3:17pm ET

Summary:

Reuters reports researchers have turned a skin cell into a cell with properties similar to embryonic stem cells:

"A third team of researchers has found a way to convert an ordinary skin cell into valued embryonic-like stem cells, with the potential to grow batches of cells that can be directed to form any kind of tissue. Their study, published on Sunday in the journal Nature, shows the approach is not a rare fluke but in fact something that might make its way into everyday use. Scientists hope they are starting an age of regenerative medicine, in which people can get tailor-made treatments for injuries, diseases such as Parkinson's and diabetes, and in which scientists can study disease far better than before."

Researchers achieve another stem cell milestone: Revert human skin cells to embryonic stem cell-like state

Source: Harvard University
Date: December 23, 2007

Summary:

Harvard Stem Cell Institute researchers have successfully turned back the clock on human skin cells, causing them to revert to an embryonic stem cell-like state from which they can become any cell in the body. The work, published online Sunday by the journal Nature, is an independent report similar to the stem cell breakthrough announced in November simultaneously by scientists in Japan and at the University of Wisconsin. That work, too, induced skin cells to revert to cells very similar to embryonic stem cells, called “induced pluripotent stem cells” (iPS)

US Team Expands On Japanese Stem Cell Breakthrough

Source: Agence France Presse (AFP)
Posted: December 23, 2007 10:29 AM PST

Summary:

Agence France Presse (AFP) reports researchers have derived stem cells with traits of embryonic stem cells from fetal lung and skin cells:

"Reporting on Sunday in Nature, a team led by George Daley of the Children's Hospital, in Boston, Massachusetts, say they have been able to use the same four genes to derive iPS from foetal lung and skin cells, from neo-natal skin cells as well as from skin samples taken from a healthy human volunteer. The research is important as it marks a step forward to "patient-specific" stem cells — in other words, transplanted stem cells that carry the same genetic code as the patient and thus cannot be rejected as alien by the body's immune system, they say."

Cancer Stem Cells: Know Thine Enemy - Cancer Stem Cells May Be at the Root of Brain Tumors

Source: Weill Cornell Medical College
Date: December 21, 2007

Summary:

Stem cells -- popularly known as a source of biological rejuvenation -- may play harmful roles in the body, specifically in the growth and spread of cancer. Amongst the wildly dividing cells of a tumor, scientists have located cancer stem cells. Physician-scientists from Weill Cornell Medical College are studying these cells with hopes of combating malignant cancers in the brain.

Scientists Weigh Stem Cells’ Role as Cancer Cause

Source: New York Times
Date: December 21, 2007

Summary;

The New York Times reports researchers are testing whether cancer stem cells encourage and maintain the growth of cancer:

"Within the next few months, researchers at three medical centers expect to start the first test in patients of one of the most promising — and contentious — ideas about the cause and treatment of cancer. The idea is to take aim at what some scientists say are cancerous stem cells — aberrant cells that maintain and propagate malignant tumors."

However, other scientists believe using new drugs to treat cancer by killing cancerous stem cells could be a more effective strategy:

"At stake in the debate is the direction of cancer research. If proponents of the stem-cell hypothesis are correct, it will usher in an era of hope for curing once-incurable cancers. If the critics are right, the stem-cell enthusiasts are heading down a blind alley that will serve as just another cautionary tale in the history of medical research. In the meantime, though, proponents are looking for ways to kill the stem cells, and say that certain new drugs may be the solution."

New stem cell therapy said to be universal

Source: San Diego Union-Tribune
Date: December 20, 2007

Summary:

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports International Stem Cell Corporation has created embryonic stem cell lines that are a genetic match to patients, potentially eliminating risks of immune system rejection:

"In a step toward one-size-fits-all stem cell therapies, an Oceanside biotechnology company said yesterday that it has developed cell lines that could potentially be used by many different people and races without fear of transplant rejection. Scientists at International Stem Cell Corp. said the four embryonic stem cell lines have a simple genetic profile in critical areas of DNA that code for immune system rejection, making them easy to “immune match” with large numbers of patients."

UC Irvine scientists find new way to sort stem cells

Source: University of California - Irvine
Date: December 20, 2007

Summary:

UC Irvine scientists have found a new way to sort stem cells that should be quicker, easier and more cost-effective than current methods. The technique could in the future expedite therapies for people with conditions ranging from brain and spinal cord damage to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. The method uses electrodes on a tiny, inch-long glass slide to sort cells by their electric charges and has been used in cancer research. The stem cell field suffers from a lack of tools for identifying and sorting cells. This important discovery could add a new tool to current sorting methods, which generally require expensive, bulky equipment.

Human embryonic stem cell lines created that avoid immune rejection

Source: Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
Date: December 20, 2007

Summary:

In a groundbreaking experiment published in Cloning & Stem Cells, scientists from International Stem Cell Corporation derived four unique embryonic stem cell lines that open the door for the creation of therapeutic cells that will not provoke an immune reaction in large segments of the population. The stem cell lines are “HLA-homozygous,” meaning that they have a simple genetic profile in the critical areas of the DNA that code for immune rejection. The lines could serve to create a stem cell bank as a renewable source of transplantable cells for use in cell therapy to replace damaged tissues or to treat genetic and degenerative diseases.

International Stem Cell Corporation Creates Human Stem Cell Lines That Can Eliminate Immune Rejection by Patients

Source: International Stem Cell Corporation
Posted: December 19, 2007 12:01 PM EST

Summary:

In an official company news release, International Stem Cell Corporation, a biotechnology company in the field of stem cell research, announced it has successfully created human stem cell lines that match human beings, eliminating the risk of immune rejection in patients:

"Scientists at International Stem Cell Corporation have created unique human stem cell lines that make them easily “immune matched” to human beings and could enable the creation of a bank of stem cells that could be used, without rejection, by a majority of the different people and races of the world."

The release also explains the significance of this finding:

"Akin to the concept of finding multiple 'universal Type O blood donors', the discovery is significant because it would eliminate the need for harsh immune suppression drugs currently used for cell transplant therapy. This may open the door to cell transplant therapy for diseases such as juvenile diabetes where the use of immune suppressant drugs is harmful to the patient."

Scientists Discover How Cells Build a 'Machine' for Cell Division

Source: Columbia University
December 19, 2007

Summary:

Using time-lapse photography and computer modeling, a team of researchers from Columbia, Yale and Lehigh Universities has explained a mystery surrounding the assembly of a cellular structure responsible for cell division, the vital process which enables living creatures to develop from embryo to adult.

Neuralstem Enters Into Clinical Trial Research Agreement with University of Pennsylvania

Source: Neuralstem, Inc.
Posted: December 17, 2007 8:00 am ET

Summary:

Neuralstem, Inc., a biotechnology company in the field of stem cell research developing therapies to treat central nervous system diseases, disorders and injuries. announced that it has entered into a Clinical Trial Research Agreement aimed at treating patients suffering from Ischemic Spastic Paraplegia, a form of spinal cord paralysis, with the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania through its Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care.

Molecular Signal That Helps Muscle Regenerate Discovered

Source: European Molecular Biology Laboratory
Date: December 17, 2007

Summary:

It does not take much to injure a muscle. Sometimes one sudden, inconsiderate movement does the job. Unfortunately, damaged muscles are not as efficient at repair as other tissues such as bone. Researchers of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory's Mouse Biology Unit [EMBL], European Molecular Biology Laboratory's Mouse Biology Unit [EMBL] have now discovered a molecular signal that helps muscle regenerate and protects it from atrophy. They report that the naturally occurring protein is a promising candidate for new strategies in treating muscle damage and wasting.

Scientists Identify And Repress Breast Cancer Stem Cells In Mouse Tissue

Source: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: December 17, 2007

Summary:

By manipulating highly specific gene-regulating molecules called microRNAs, scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) report that they have succeeded in singling out and repressing stem-like cells in mouse breast tissue -- cells that are widely thought to give rise to cancer.

Fat used to repair breasts

Source: Associated Press
Date: December 16, 2007

Summary:

The Associated Press reports on a new procedure using fat stem cells to repair breast defects:

"For the first time, doctors have used stem cells from liposuctioned fat to fix breast defects in women who have had cancerous lumps removed. The approach, still experimental, holds promise for millions of women left with cratered areas and breasts that look very different from each other after cancer surgery. It might also be a way to augment healthy breasts without using artificial implants."

Researchers Find Great Granddaddy of All Blood Cells

Source: HealthDay News
Date: December 13, 2007

Summary:

HealthDay News reports researchers at Stanford University have identified a cell in human bone marrow that is the source of all forms of human blood cells:

"The "great-grandparent" of all human blood cells has been identified by Stanford University researchers, who said the finding could lead to new treatments for blood cancers and other blood diseases. The researchers said this cell, the multipotent progenitor, is the initial offspring of a blood-forming stem cell in the bone marrow that's the source of all cells of the blood. It's also believed that a mutation in the cell causes acute myelogenous leukemia."

Stem Cells May Treat Muscular Dystrophy

Source: WebMD
Date: December 12, 2007

Summary:

WebMD reports on findings that adult muscle cells may lead to new treatments for muscular dystrophy:

"European scientists announced today that it may be possible to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy by tweaking stem cells from patients' muscles. European scientists report that their stem cell technique improved muscle function in mice with Duchenne muscular dystrophy."

Scientists Overcome Major Obstacles To Stem Cell Heart Repair

Source: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Date: December 13, 2007

Summary:

Scientists at Imperial College London have overcome two significant obstacles on the road to harnessing stem cells to build patches for damaged hearts. Presenting the research at a UK Stem Cell Initiative conference December 13 in Coventry, research leader Professor Sian Harding has explained how her group have made significant progress in maturing beating heart cells (cardiomyocytes) derived from embryonic stem cells and in developing the physical scaffolding that would be needed to hold the patch in place in the heart in any future clinical application.

Stem-cell patch may fix damaged hearts

Source: Reuters
Posted: December 12, 2007 7:21pm EST

Summary:

Reuters reports researchers at Imperial College of London matured beating heart cells in a laboratory dish for up to seven months and developed a biocompatible scaffold to form the basis of a patch. The idea is to stitch or glue a patch of new tissue derived from embryonic stem cells over the damaged area of the heart to make the muscle viable again.

Reprogrammed human adult stem cells rescue diseased muscle in mice

Source: Cell Press
Date: December 12, 2007

Summary:

Scientists report that adult stem cells isolated from humans with muscular dystrophy can be genetically corrected and used to induce functional improvement when transplanted into a mouse model of the disease. The research, published by Cell Press in the December issue of Cell Stem Cell, represents a significant advance toward the future development of a gene therapy that uses a patient’s own cells to treat this devastating muscle-wasting disease.

Ireland Cancer Center Researchers Advance Stem Cell Gene Therapy

Source: University Hospitals of Cleveland
Date: December 12, 2007

Summary:

Ireland Cancer Center of University Hospitals Case Medical Center researchers have recently made great strides in stem cell gene therapy research by transferring a new gene to cancer patients, via their own stem cells, with the ultimate goal of being able to use stronger chemotherapy treatment with less severe side effects. Under this protocol, MGMT, a drug-resistance gene, is added into purified hematopoietic stem cells to protect these cells from the damage of chemotherapy regimens.

Stem cells may ease muscular dystrophy

Source: Associated Press
Posted: December 12, 2007 1:45 PM CST

Summary:

The Associated Press reports on a new study in which modfied adult stem cells taken from muscular dystrophy patients reduced symptoms of the diseases when they were transplanted in to mice with the disease:

"Modified stem cells from muscular dystrophy patients eased symptoms of the disease in mice, says a small study that raises hopes for treating patients with tissue from their own bodies. The mice showed stronger muscles and ran longer on a treadmill than diseased mice that weren't treated.

Results of the study demonstrated the adult stem cells increased muscle strength in the mice, but not to levels of mice that did not have muscular dystrophy:

"Lab tests showed that leg muscles removed from the treated mice were stronger than those from untreated mice, although they remained weaker than normal. A treadmill study of four mice found that the treatment prolonged running time before exhaustion, but again not to the level of healthy mice."

Researchers identify granddaddy of human blood cells

Source: Stanford University
Date: December 12, 2007

Summary:

Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have isolated a human blood cell that represents the great-grandparent of all the cells of the blood, a finding that could lead to new treatments for blood cancers and other blood diseases. This cell, called the multipotent progenitor, is the first offspring of the much-studied blood-forming stem cell that resides in the bone marrow and gives rise to all cells of the blood. It's also the cell that's thought to give rise to acute myelogenous leukemia when mutated.

Neurotransmitters in biopolymers stimulate nerve regeneration

Source: Georgia Institute of Technology
Date: December 11, 2007

Summary:

Research reported December 11 in the journal Advanced Materials describes a potentially promising strategy for encouraging the regeneration of damaged central nervous system cells known as neurons. The technique would use a biodegradable polymer containing a chemical group that mimics the neurotransmitter acetylcholine to spur the growth of neurites, which are projections that form the connections among neurons and between neurons and other cells. The biomimetic polymers would then guide the growth of the regenerating nerve.

The birth and death of dopamine neurons: A new model for neurodegeneration

Source: Public Library of Science
Date: December 10, 2007

Summary:

The gradual loss of dopamine neurons is a hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases - Parkinson’s Disease chief among them. Stem cell biology and regenerative medicine offer novel therapies for the restoration of dopamine neurons.

Mechanism For Regulation Of Growth And Differentiation Of Adult Muscle Stem Cells Is Revealed

Source: Burnham Institute
Date: December 7, 2007

Summary:

During muscle regeneration, which is a natural response to injury and disease, environmental cues cause adult muscle stem cells (satellite cells) to shift from dormancy to actively building new muscle tissue. Although the signaling pathways controlling muscle regeneration are fairly well known, how these signals lead to altered chromatin structure remains undiscovered. A group of scientists at the Burnham Institute for Medical Research in La Jolla, CA, analyzed the mechanism by which certain cellular signaling cues cause epigenetic modifications when released within the regenerative microenvironment, thus controlling the expression of genes that regulate growth and differentiation of muscle stem cells that repair injured muscle.

Stem cells show power to predict disease, drug toxicity

Source: University of Wisconsin - Madison
Date: December 6, 2007

Summary:

For the first time, scientists have used human embryonic stem cells to predict the toxic effects of drugs and provide chemical clues to diagnosing disease. Writing this week in the journal Stem Cells and Development, a team led by UW-Madison biologist Gabriela Cezar reports the use of all-purpose stem cells to elicit and identify the telltale chemical signals secreted by the cells when exposed to a drug known to cause autism. The work is important because it is a critical first step toward fulfilling the promise of embryonic stem cells not only to screen drugs for safety but one day, possibly, to use the cells themselves as crucibles for making new drugs. What's more, the work shows that stem cells have an immediate clinical application as they generate chemicals, biomarkers, that can be used to predict the onset of disease, much like cholesterol or sugar in the blood can be used to forecast heart disease or diabetes.

Reprogrammed adult cells treat sickle-cell anemia in mice

Source: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
Date: December 6, 2007

Summary:

Mice with a human sickle-cell anemia disease trait have been treated successfully in a process that begins by directly reprogramming their own cells to an embryonic-stem-cell-like state, without the use of eggs. This is the first proof-of-principle of therapeutic application in mice of directly reprogrammed “induced pluripotent stem” (IPS) cells, which recently have been derived in mice as well as humans.

Bone Marrow Cell Transplants Help Nerve Regeneration

Source: Cell Transplantation Journal
Date: December 5, 2007

Summary:

A study carried out by researchers at the Kyoto University School of Medicine has shown that when transplanted bone marrow cells (BMCs) containing adult stem cells are protected by a 15mm silicon tube and nourished with bio-engineered additives -- such as growth factors and cell adhesion molecules -- the BMCs differentiated into cells with characteristics of Schwann cells -- a variety of neural cell providing insulating myelin around the axons of peripheral nerve cells, and successfully helped to regenerate damaged nerves.

Implanting embryonic cardiac cells prevents arrhythmias

Source: Cornell University
Date: December 5, 2007

Summary:

When researchers at Cornell, the University of Bonn and the University of Pittsburgh transplanted living embryonic heart cells into cardiac tissue of mice that had suffered heart attacks, the mice became resistant to cardiac arrhythmias, thereby avoiding one of the most dangerous and fatal consequences of heart attacks. The discovery, reported in this week's issue of Nature, has profound implications for using cell-transplant therapies to restore damaged heart tissue.

PET and Bioluminescent Imaging Aid Evaluation of Stem Cells' Potential for New Ways to Treat Disease

Source: Society of Nuclear Medicine
Date: December 4, 2007

Summary:

Using positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with bioluminescence—the light produced by a chemical reaction within an organism—researchers are starting to understand the behavior of transplanted or implanted stem cells that may one day be used to develop new treatments for disease.

'Mini-transplant' patients' outcomes similar using related and unrelated donor cells

Source: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Date: December 03, 2007

Summary:

People who undergo nonmyeloablative stem-cell transplants, or “mini transplants,” for leukemia, lymphoma and other blood cancers have comparable outcomes regardless of whether they receive tissue-matched stem cells from a related or unrelated donor, according to new findings by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

Germinal cells can become embryonic stemcells: study

Source: Agence France Presse (AFP)
Posted: December 02, 2007, 10:21 EST

Summary:

Primordial germinal cells, which are precursors to spermatozoids, apparently have the capacity of turning into embryonic stem cells, according to a study made public Sunday. Researcher from the Georgetown school of medicine and a Washington-based regional transplant consortium known as WRTC have obtained these primordial germinal cells shortly after donors' deaths.

Human embryonic stem cell -- derived bone tissue closes massive skull injury

Source: American Society for Cell Biology
December 2, 2007

Summary:

There are mice in Baltimore whose skulls were made whole again by bone tissue grown from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Healing critical-size defects (defects that would not otherwise heal on their own) in intramembraneous bone, the flat bone type that forms the skull, is a vivid demonstration of new techniques devised by researchers at John Hopkins University to use hESCs for tissue regeneration.

Stem cell innovators find a way to cut out cancer

Source: Reuters
Posted: November 30, 2007 5:43pm EST

Summary:

Reuters reports researchers have eliminated the cancer risk associated with the recently-reported advance of creating stem cells from skin cells, but that the process is less efficient:

"Researchers who figured out how to make valued embryonic stem cells out of ordinary skin cells said on Friday they had found a way to cut one cancer-causing ingredient out of the mix. But it came at a price -- the method may be safer, but it is also less efficient."

Stem cell breakthrough: Now Japanese team go one better

Source: Agence France Presse (AFP)
Posted: November 30, 2007, 13:57 EST

Summary:

A Japanese team that last week broke new ground in stem cell research announced a further advance on Friday, saying they had made good progress towards clearing a key safety hurdle in their work. In further research, published in the journal Nature Biotechnology, Yamanaka's team report that they can now produce these so-called induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells, without having to resort to a cancer gene found to cause tumours in many of the lab mice in the earlier experiment. If confirmed, it will remove a significant safety hazard in using these cells in transplants one day.

First Patient Completes StemCells, Inc.'s Phase I Clinical Trial

Source: StemCells, Inc.
Date: November 30, 2007

Summary:

In an official company news release, Stem Cells, Inc., a biotechnology company in the field of stem cell research, announced that the first patient to receive a transplant of purified human neural stem cells in the Company's Phase I clinical trial has completed the trial. The patient, who was transplanted in November 2006, has finished the twelve-month period of immunosuppression and follow-up, and undergone the last of the tests and observations required by the trial protocol. As planned, the patient has subsequently been enrolled in a separate long-term follow-up study, designed to monitor the patients over a four-year period.

Stanford researchers produce short-term reversal of skin aging in mice

Source: Stanford University
Date: November 29, 2007

Summary:

Researchers at Stanford University have temporarily reversed skin aging on mice by blocking the action of a single protein. The finding may eventually enable older people heal as they did when they were younger. However, Howard Chang, MD, PhD, assistant professor of dermatology and senior author of the study, says the study lead to short-term treatments in older people, but cautions it is not a future fountain of youth. Wired magazine has also published a story on this development.

Oosight microscope enables embryonic stem cell breakthrough

Source: Marine Biological Laboratory
Date: November 29, 2007

Summary:

A noninvasive, polarized light microscope invented at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) played a crucial role in a recent breakthrough in embryonic stem-cell research aimed at developing medical therapies.

Blood stem cells fight invaders, study finds

Source: Harvard Medical School
Date: November 29, 2007

Summary:

New research from Harvard Medical School, published in the November 30 edition of Cell, suggests that the biological role of blood, or hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is far more versatile and dynamic. Researchers have found that HSCs can travel from the bone marrow, through the blood system, and enter visceral organs in search of disease-causing invaders, such as bacteria and viruses. Upon encountering an invader they immediately synthesize a defense, divide and mature, producing new immune system cells.

Researchers identify key genetic trigger of acute myeloid leukemia

Source: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Date: November 28, 2007

Summary:

A gene called N-Myc leads a double life in certain white blood cells when it is overexpressed, helping to trigger a cancer called acute myeloid leukemia (AML) under some conditions while triggering apoptosis, or cell suicide, under other conditions, according to results of a mouse study done by investigators at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

New hope for heart patients after mature cells grown

Source: The Daily Democrat
Posted: November 28, 2007 08:39:03 AM PST

Summary:

The Daily Democrat reports researchers discovered embryonic heart stem cells can be turned into adult heart cells:

"In a new study, UC Davis researchers report the first functional evidence that heart cells from human embryonic stem cells can be converted into adult heart cells. The finding gives scientists hope that these cells can one day be coaxed into becoming viable cells safe for transplant into damaged hearts, potentially avoiding a heart transplant."

Protein Injections Can Delay Symptoms Of Lou Gehrig's Disease

Source: Wake Forest University
Date: November 28, 2007

Summary:

A research team from Wake Forest University School of Medicine is the first to show that injections of a protein normally found in human cells can increase lifespan and delay the onset of symptoms in mice with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), or Lou Gehrig's disease. Reporting in the Nov. 28th issue of the Journal of Neuroscience, the researchers said treatments of recombinant heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) increased total lifespan by 10 percent -- significantly more than Riluzole®, the only ALS treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. They cautioned that while the research suggests a new treatment approach for ALS, it is not ready for studies in patients.

Stem-cell Therapies For Brain More Complicated Than Thought

Source: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Date: November 27, 2007

Summary:

An MIT research team’s latest finding suggests that stem cell therapies for the brain could be much more complicated than previously thought. In a study published in the Public Library of Science (PloS) Biology on Nov. 13, MIT scientists report that adult stem cells produced in the brain are pre-programmed to make only certain kinds of connections—making it impossible for a neural stem cell originating in the brain to be transplanted to the spinal cord, for instance, to take over functions for damaged cells.

UC DAVIS RESEARCHERS FIND EVIDENCE OF MATURE HEART CELL POTENTIAL IN EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS

Source: University of California - Davis
Date: November 27, 2007

Summary:

In a new study, UC Davis researchers report the first functional evidence that heart cells derived from human embryonic stem cells exhibit one of the most critical properties of mature adult heart cells, an important biological process called excitation-contraction coupling. The finding gives scientists hope that these cells can one day be coaxed into becoming functionally viable cells safe for transplantation into the damaged hearts of patients with end-stage disease, potentially avoiding the necessity of a heart transplant.

Pluristem's Proprietary PLX Cells Demonstrate Promising Potential in Treating Autoimmune Disorders

Source: Pluristem Therapeutics, Inc.
Posted: November 27, 2007 8:43 am ET

Summary:

Pluristem Therapeutics, Inc., a leading bio-therapeutics Company dedicated to the commercialization of non-personalized (allogeneic) cell therapy products for a variety of malignant, ischemic and autoimmune disorders, announced today that in vitro testing of its PLacenta eXpanded (PLX) cells demonstrated the potential to treat autoimmune disorders.

'Cocktail' of compounds improves brain function in rodents

Source: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Date: November 26, 2007

Summary:

MIT researchers have shown that a cocktail containing three compounds normally in the blood stream promotes growth of new brain connections and improves cognitive function in rodents. The treatment is now being tested in Alzheimer's patients and could hold promise for other brain diseases and injuries. The mixture, which includes a type of omega-3 fatty acid, is part of a new approach to attacking Alzheimer's. That approach focuses on correcting the loss of synapses, or connections between neurons, which characterizes the disease.

Reprogrammed Skin Cells Could Replace Embryonic Stem Cells

Source: Medical News Today
Article Date: 26 November 2007 - 7:00 PST

Summary:

Medical News Today reports scientists successfully reprogrammed human skin cells to have properties of embryonic stem cells:

"A breakthrough in stem cell research was announced last week in a paper in the journal Science where researchers from the University of Wisconsin -Madison in the US and other colleagues reported how they reprogrammed human skin cells to behave like embryonic stem cells."

Stem cell hope for immune disease

Source: BBC News
Posted: 23 November 2007, 12:16 GMT

Summary:

BBC News reports bone marrow stem cells may eventually be able to be used to treat immune disorders and autoimmune diseases:

"Common immune system disorders, such as multiple sclerosis and arthritis, could one day be treatable with bone marrow transplants, research suggests. However, currently, the procedure is reserved for life-threatening disorders because chemotherapy or radiotherapy is needed before a transplant can be done. But a protein may do the same job without dangerous side-effects, a mouse study published in Science suggests. The purpose of a bone marrow transplant is to infuse the body with healthy adult stem cells which are able to form fresh blood and immune cells. However, the technique is not yet ready for testing in humans."

Stem Cell Injection Protects Against Nerve Cell Death After Stroke, Study Suggest

Source: Informscience Agency
Date: November 21, 2007

Summary:

Informscience Agency reports scientists have tested cellular therapy for ischemic stroke on rats. Intravenous transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells was found to restore cerebrum blood supply and protect nerve cells from death.

Stem cell transplant can grow new immune system in certain mice

Source: Stanford University
Date: November 21, 2007

Summary:

Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have taken a small but significant step, in mouse studies, toward the goal of transplanting adult stem cells to create a new immune system for people with autoimmune or genetic blood diseases. The researchers found a way to transplant new blood-forming stem cells into the bone marrow of mice, effectively replacing their immune systems.

A mutation named Magellan steers nerve cells off course

Source: Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Date: November 21, 2007

Summary;

Newly launched nerve cells in a growing embryo must chart their course to distant destinations, and many of the means they use to navigate have yet to surface. In a study published in the current issue of the journal Neuron, scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have recovered a key signal that guides motor neurons – the nascent cells that extend from the spinal cord and must find their way down the length of limbs such as arms, wings and legs.

Stem cells train heart following heart attack

Source: Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research
Date: November 21, 2007

Summary:

Injecting adult stem cells into a heart following a heart attack (infarction) improves the heart function and strengthens the heart wall. A researcher at Leiden University Medical Center used adult human EPDCs that she extracted from the atrium of the heart. She transplanted these cells to a mouse heart that had suffered an infarction. The mice receiving these cells retained a better heart function than mice without these cells, both in the short term and in the longer term of several weeks. The human cells also ensured that less mouse cells died off.

Scientists Create Embryonic Stem Cells from Skin

Source: NPR
Date: November 20, 2007

Summary;

In a streaming radio broadcast, NPR reports:

"Two teams of scientists have independently discovered a way to turn ordinary human skins cells into stem cells with the same characteristics as those derived from human embryos, a breakthrough that could open the door for advanced medical therapies."

UW-Madison scientists guide human skin cells to embryonic state

Source: University of Wisconsin - Madison
Date: November 20, 2007

Summary:

In a paper to be published Nov. 22 in the online edition of the journal Science, a team of University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers reports the genetic reprogramming of human skin cells to create cells indistinguishable from embryonic stem cells. The finding is not only a critical scientific accomplishment, but potentially remakes the tumultuous political and ethical landscape of stem cell biology as human embryos may no longer be needed to obtain the blank slate stem cells capable of becoming any of the 220 types of cells in the human body. Perfected, the new technique would bring stem cells within easy reach of many more scientists as they could be easily made in labs of moderate sophistication, and without the ethical and legal constraints that now hamper their use by scientists.

Scientists transform human skin cells into stem cells

Source: Agence France Presse (AFP)
Posted: November 20, 2007, 09:38 EST

Summary:

Two groups of scientists have successfully transformed human skin cells into stem cells, potentially granting unlimited access to the foundation cells which can replace diseased or damaged tissues and organs, it was announced Tuesday. This new technique, once perfected, could eventually allow doctors to create stem cells with a specific patient's genetic code, eliminating the risk of rejection.

New technique captures chemical reactions in a single living cell at unprecedented resolution

Source: University of California - Berkeley
Date: November 19, 2007

Summary:

Bioengineers at the University of California, Berkeley, have discovered a technique that for the first time enables the detection of biomolecules' dynamic reactions in a single living cell. The technique, described in the Nov. 18 issue of the journal Nature Methods, could lead to a new era in molecular imaging with implications for cell-based drug discovery and biomedical diagnostics.

MIT IDs proteins key to brain function: Research could lead to new treatments for brain injuries

Source: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Date: November 19, 2007

Summary:

MIT researchers have identified a family of proteins key to the formation of the communication networks critical for normal brain function. Their research could lead to new treatments for brain injury and disease. The team, led by MIT biology professor Frank Gertler, found that a certain family of proteins is necessary to direct the formation of axons and dendrites, the cellular extensions that facilitate communication between neurons.

First Primate Embryonic Stem Cells Cloned By US Scientists

Source: Medical News Today
Article Date: 16 November 2007 - 6:00 PST

Summary:

US scientists have successfully created cloned primate embryos for the first time and used them to make embryonic stem cells. Their work is published in the early online issue of the journal Nature. Researchers at the Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC) based at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) in Portland, Oregon, in collaboration with a number of other biomedical research organizations, have successfully produced monkey embryonic stem cells by using a new method to remove the nucleus of the eggs being used.

'Fingerprints' help find genes involved in differentiation

Source: Baylor College of Medicine
Date: November 15, 2007

Summary:

A database that includes the molecular profiles of the major components of the blood system -- including the stem cells and the cells differentiated from them - enabled researchers at Baylor College of Medicine to identify at least two genes involved in the differentiation process for two different kinds of blood cells.

Cells Discarded From Womb Lining During A Woman's Period Are New Type Of Stem Cell

Source: BioMed Central
Date: November 15, 2007

Summary:

The cells which thicken the womb wall during a woman's menstrual cycle contain a newly discovered type of stem cell, and could be used in the treatment of damaged and/or old tissue, according to new research. The cells develop into at least 9 different cells including heart, liver and lung at a replication rate much faster than cells which are currently used, taken from umbilical cord blood and bone marrow.

Scientists Reach Breakthrough in Cloning Monkey Embryos

Source: The Online NewsHour
Date: November 15, 2007

Summary:

In a streaming media online broadcast, NewsHour reports scientists say they have extracted embryonic stem cells from cloned monkey embryos. It's the first time that method has been successful with primates.

Menstrual blood could be rich source of stem cells

Source: New Scientist
Posted: 15 November 2007 13:53

Summary;

New Scientist reports researchers have discovered adult stem cells in menstrual blood that may be able to turn into different human cell types:

"Recent research has indicated that the uterine lining, or endometrium, is a rich source of adult stem cells. But retrieving those cells is as invasive as harvesting adult stem cells from other sources, such as bone marrow. Now two separate groups say they have found these endometrial stem cells in menstrual blood. Both groups say the cells in question show all the hallmarks of stem cells: they replicate themselves without differentiating, they can be made to differentiate into many different cell types under the right conditions, and they show characteristic cell surfaces of stem cells."

Menstrual blood could be a good source of stem cells

Source: CTV.ca, Canada
Date: November 15, 2007

Summary:

A small, recently published study has found that endometrial stem cells are still present in menstrual blood. Xiaolong Meng of the Bio-Communications Research Institute, a private research institute in Wichita, Kansas, has led a team who studied cells taken from the menstrual blood of two women. The researchers were able to develop menstrual blood cells into at least nine different cells, including heart, liver and lung cells.

Brain compensatory mechanisms enhance the recovery from spinal cord injury

Source: National Institute for Physiological Sciences
Date: November 15, 2007

Summary:

A research team led by Tadashi Isa, a professor at the Japanese National Institute for Physiological Sciences, NIPS (SEIRIKEN), and Dr. Yukio Nishimura (University of Washington, Seattle), have found that brain compensatory mechanisms contribute to recovery from spinal cord injury. This study was conducted in collaboration with Hamamatsu Photonics (Dr. Hideo Tsukada) and RIKEN (Dr. Hirotaka Onoe).

Stem Cell Benefit From Menstruation?

Source: WebMD
November 15, 2007

Summary:

WebMD reports menstrual blood may be a source of adult stem cells that can become multiple types of human cells:

"Menstruation may have a fringe benefit as a source of adult stem cells. Scientists report that menstrual blood contains adult stem cells that can develop into nine different types of cells: heart cells, lung cells, nerve cells, muscle cells, cells that line the inside of blood vessels, pancreatic cells, liver cells, fat cells, bone cells."

Researcher Programs Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells to Develop into Tissues Resembling Human Skin

Source: St. John's University
Date: November 15, 2007

Summary:

Researchers at St. John's University have discovered that mouse embryonic stem cells, when artificially manipulated, have the capacity to transform into intact biomembranes, or cell tissues, while other normal and cancerous human cells do not. Specifically, the researchers believe they have found a way to chemically ‘program’ mouse stem cells to develop into tissues resembling human skin cells and certain membranous stomach cells, such as those found in organs like the large and small intestines.

Medistem Announces Discovery of Novel Stem Cell Population in Menstrual Blood: Endometrial Regenerative Cells (ERC)

Source: Medistem Laboratories
Posted: November 15, 2007 09:30 ET

Summary:

Medistem Laboratories, Inc. in collaboration with researchers from the University of Western Ontario, University of Alberta, and the Bio-Communications Research Institute, has published a paper describing a novel stem cell population derived from menstrual blood. The publication, entitled "Endometrial Regenerative Cells: A Novel Stem Cell Population" appeared in today's Journal of Translational Medicine.

New type of stem cell from menstrual blood

Source: United Press International
Posted: November 15, 2007 at 11:14 AM EST

Summary:

A team of U.S. and Canadian researchers have identified a new type of stem cell that can be isolated from menstrual blood of healthy women.

Clones of monkey embryos raise hopes for stem cell research

Source: San Francisco Chronicle
Date: November 15, 2007

Summary:

Researchers revealed that they have successfully cloned embryos of rhesus monkeys and obtained stem cells from them that could be turned into heart and nerve tissue - a laboratory breakthrough that could one day lead to similar work in human beings. The study renews the belief, previously dashed by fraud, that a similar process using cloned human embryos could create transplant tissue genetically matched to patients, thus avoiding the risk of rejection.

Scientists Use Monkey Clones to Extract Stem Cells

Source: New York Times
Date: November 15, 2007

Summary:

The New York Times reports researchers have obtained stem cells from cloned monkey embryos:

"Researchers in Oregon are reporting that they used cloning to produce monkey embryos and then extracted stem cells from the embryos."

The story mentions this new discovery could eventually be applied to treat human medical conditions:

"Not only is this the first time such cells have been produced in any animal other than a mouse, but the method, the researchers say, should also work in humans. In 2004, South Korean researchers reported making stem cells from cloned human embryos, but the claim turned out fraudulent."

The study's lead author believes this new cloning technique could also be used to produce human embryonic stem cells:

'We hope the technology will be useful for other labs that are working on human eggs and human cells,” the lead researcher of the group, Shoukhrat Mitalipov at Oregon Health and Science University in Beaverton, said in a telephone interview. “I am quite sure it will work in humans.'”

Monkey embryos cloned in stem cell first

Source: Financial Times
Published: November 15 2007 04:31 | Last updated: November 15 2007 04:31

Summary:

The Financial Times reports researchers derived stem cells from cloned monkey embryos:

"Scientists in the US have for the first time made cloned embryos from adult monkeys and extracted stem cells from them. The success, published online by the journal Nature, will encourage researchers who want to create cloned human embryos for stem cell experiments."

Stem-Cell Researchers Clone Monkey Embryo

Source: NPR
Date: November 14, 2007

Summary:

In a streaming radio broadcast, National Public Radio (NPR) reports scientists have cloned a money embryo:

" Scientists have announced another first in cloning: They have cloned a primate embryo. The researchers in Oregon say they used those cloned monkey embryos to derive embryonic stem cells. Researchers hope to one day use such a process in humans to create customized stem-cell therapies for individual patients."

Human embryonic stem cells derived from preimplantation genetically diagnosed embryos

Source: Cell Press
Date: November 14, 2007

Summary:

Science Daily summarizes a Cell Press report that a human stem cell line derived from embryos that were identified by preimplantation genetic diagnosis to carry the mutation for fragile X syndrome has provided an unprecedented view of early events associated with this disease. In addition to giving scientists fresh insight into fragile X, results from this unique model system have emphasized the value of this new source of embryonic stem cells and may have a significant impact on the way that genetic diseases are studied in the future.

Researchers clone monkeys for stem cells

Source: Reuters
Posted: November 14, 2007 1:02pm ET

Summary:

Reuters reports researchers have derived stem cells from cloned monkey embryos:

"U.S. researchers have cloned monkeys and used the resulting embryos to get valued embryonic stem cells, an important step towards being able to do the same thing in humans, they reported on Wednesday. Shoukhrat Mitalipov and colleagues at Oregon Health & Science University said they used skin cells from monkeys to create cloned embryos, and then extracted embryonic stem cells from these days-old embryos."

OHSU Scientists First To Successfully Create Primate Embryonic Stem Cells

Source: Oregon Health & Science University
Date: November 14, 2007

Summary:

Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University’s Oregon National Primate Research Center have made a significant breakthrough in efforts to develop human stem cell therapies that may be used to combat numerous devastating diseases. For the first time, scientists have successfully derived embryonic stem cells by reprogramming of genetic material from skin cells while studying rhesus macaque monkeys. The breakthrough follows several previously unsuccessful attempts by the OHSU-based team and other scientific teams worldwide. The results of the work were released online today by the scientific journal Nature. The work will also be published in next week’s edition of the journal.

Cloned monkey stem cells produced: Stem cells extracted from cloned primate embryos.

Source: Nature
Published online 14 November 2007

Summary:

Researchers have for the first time created cloned primate embryos and used them to make embryonic stem-cell lines. The achievement has led to speculation about when similar success in humans might open up the door for therapeutic cloning.

A first: Stem cell lines made from embryos of primates

Source: USA Today
Date: November 13, 2007

Summary:

USA Today reports Oregon scientists have created embryonic stem cell lines from cloned monkey embryos:

"Scientists in Oregon have successfully cloned monkey embryos and used them to make two embryonic stem cell lines. It is the first time this has been accomplished in primates and brings the possibility of human stem cell lines one step closer to reality.
Researchers at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland removed the DNA from a rhesus macaque egg and replaced it with genetic material from a different macaque's skin cell. The two were fused with electricity. After five to seven days, this early-stage embryo was destroyed to harvest the stem cells."

Scientists claim to clone monkey embryos, potential boon for stem cell research

Source: Associated Press
Posted: November 13, 2007 2:39 p.m. PST

Summary:

The Associated Press reports on the derivation of stem cells from cloned monkey embryos:

"Scientists in Oregon say they've reached the long-sought goal of cloning monkey embryos and extracting stem cells from them, a potentially major step toward doing the same thing in people. The research has not been published yet or confirmed by other scientists. But if true, it offers fresh hope in field that has been marked by frustration and even fraud. The claim of a similar breakthrough with human embryos by a South Korean scientist in 2004 turned out to be false. The hope is that one day, such a procedure could be used to create transplant tissue that's genetically matched to an ailing patient. Because stem cells can form all types of tissue, the approach might one day help treat conditions like diabetes and spinal cord injury without fear of rejection by the patient's body."

GERON’S HUMAN EMBRYONIC STEM CELL-BASED THERAPEUTIC FOR SPINAL CORD INJURY EVADES DIRECT ATTACK BY HUMAN IMMUNE SYSTEM

Source: Geron Corporation
Date: November 13, 2007

Summary:

In an official company news release, Geron Corporation, a biotechnology company in the field of stem cell research, reported its embryonic stem cell therapy to treat spinal cord injury evaded attack by the immune system:

"Geron Corporation today announced the publication of study results showing that GRNOPC1, the company's human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-based therapeutic for the treatment of spinal cord injury, evades direct attack by the human immune system in vitro. Published in the November online issue of the Journal of Neuroimmunology, the results of research conducted by Ross Okamura, Ph.D. and other Geron scientists suggest that unlike whole organ transplants, cellular therapeutics derived from hESCs may provoke only minimal immune reactions and that rejection may be controlled or prevented by short courses of low-dose immunosuppressive drugs. The results also support the position that patient-specific hESC lines are not needed to prevent immune rejection."

Scientists discover stem cell cue: Hope to regenerate injured spinal cords

Source: Montreal Gazette
Date: November 13, 2007

Summary:

The Montreal Gazette reports researchers have discovered a protein to guide embryonic stem cells in order to repair injured spinal cords in mice:

"Montreal researchers have identified what might be a pivotal first step toward regenerating injured spinal cords using the body's own stem cells. The repair mechanism that works well in developing our embryonic nervous system seems to work in reverse in adults following injury, explained neuroscientist Tim Kennedy of the Montreal Neurological Institute. The mechanism involves a protein that acts like a guidance cue for directing embryonic cells."

Developing Drugs To Limit Massive Cell Death After Spinal Cord Injury

Source: Helmholtz Association
Date: November 12, 2007

Summary:

Neurons die 'en masse' when the spinal cord is injured or when a person suffers a stroke. Researchers have now unraveled the molecular mechanism which causes the death not only of damaged neurons, but also of healthy nerve cells. In animal experiments, they have now been able to demonstrate that neuronal cell death can be reduced when the gene of one the key players in this process is knocked out.

Cancer Gene Drives Pivotal Decision In Early Brain Development

Source: Washington University in St. Louis
Date: November 12, 2007

Summary:

A gene linked to pediatric brain tumors is an essential driver of early brain development, researchers have found. The study reveals that the neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) gene helps push stem cells down separate paths that lead them to become two major types of brain cells: support cells known as astrocytes and brain neurons.

Researchers take first steps towards spinal cord reconstruction following injury

Source: Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital
Date: November 12, 2007

Summary:

A new study by researchers at McGill University's Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital has identified what may be a pivotal first step towards the regeneration of nerve cells following spinal cord injury, using the body's own stem cells. This seminal study, published in this week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, identifies key elements in the body's reaction to spinal injury, critical information that could lead to novel therapies for repairing previously irreversible nerve damage in the injured spinal cord.

VistaGen Publishes Preclinical Data Supporting the Therapeutic Potential of AV-101 for Parkinson's Disease

Source: VistaGen Therapeutics, Inc.
Posted: November 12, 2007 8:30 am ET

Summary:

VistaGen Therapeutics, Inc. announced publication of preclinical data suggesting that AV-101, its lead drug candidate for treatment of neurological disorders, may be useful for treating Parkinson's disease.

The Birth of a Brain Cell: Scientists Witness Neurogenesis

Source: Scientific American
Date: November 9, 2007

Summary:

Scientific American reports scientists have discovered a new way to track and view stem cells in the brains of animals, including humans:

"For the first time, researchers have developed a way to view stem cells in the brains of living animals, including humans—a finding that allows scientists to follow the process neurogenesis (the birth of neurons). The discovery comes just months after scientists confirmed that such cells are generated in adult as well as developing brains."

Scientists Find Way to Track Stem Cells in Brain

Source: HealthDay News
Date: November 8, 2007

Summary:

HealthDay News reports researchers have discovered a new genetic marker that is enabling them to track stem cells in the brain:

"The identification of a new marker is making it possible to track brain stem cells for the first time, U.S. researchers report. The achievement is already opening doors to new research into depression, early childhood development and multiple sclerosis, the team's senior author said. The study was funded by U.S. National Institutes of Health and is published in the Nov. 9 issue of Science."

Imaging neural progenitor cells in the living human brain

Source: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Date: November 8, 2007

Summary:

For the first time, investigators have identified a way to detect neural progenitor cells (NPCs), which can develop into neurons and other nervous system cells, in the living human brain using a type of imaging called magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). The finding, supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), may lead to improved diagnosis and treatment for depression, Parkinson's disease, brain tumors, and a host of other disorders.

SBUMC Researchers First To Image A Biomarker Of Neurogenesis; Finding May Impact Treatment of MS, Depression, Other Diseases

Source: Stony Brook University
Date: November 8, 2007

Summary:

Mirjana Maletic-Savatic, M.D., Ph.D., and co-investigators from Stony Brook University Medical Center, Brookhaven National Laboratory and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have discovered a way to image a biomarker of neural stem and progenitor cells (NPCs) in the living human brain. This discovery allows researchers to monitor neurogenesis, the development of nerve tissues. The finding may also prove to be monumental in the diagnosis and treatment of multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, depression, and other disorders of the central nervous system where neurogenesis is disrupted. The investigators are the first in the world to detect NPCs in this way. Their findings are published in the November 9 issue of the journal Science.

Scientists develop non-invasive method to track nerve-cell development in live human brain

Source: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: November 8, 2007

Summary:

A team of scientists including researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) have identified and validated the first biomarker that permits neural stem and progenitor cells (NPCs) to be tracked, non-invasively, in the brains of living human subjects. This important advance could lead to significantly better diagnosis and monitoring of brain tumors and a range of serious neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Adult brain cells are movers and shakers

Source: Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
Date: November 8, 2007

Summary:

It’s a general belief that the circuitry of young brains has robust flexibility but eventually gets “hard-wired” in adulthood. As Johns Hopkins researchers and their colleagues report in the Nov. 8 issue of Neuron, however, adult neurons aren’t quite as rigidly glued in place as we suspect.

Seaweed Transformed Into Stem Cell Technology

Source: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)
Date: November 8, 2007

Summary:

Engineers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have transformed a polymer found in common brown seaweed into a device that can support the growth and release of stem cells at the sight of a bodily injury or at the source of a disease. The findings, which are detailed in the December 2007 edition of Biomaterials, mark an important step in efforts to develop new medical therapies using stem cells.

Progress toward new therapies for coronary artery disease

Source: Burnham Institute for Medical Research
Date: November 7, 2007

Summary:

Coronary artery disease is a leading cause of mortality in Western countries. It cannot be cured. Recent research, led by Pilar Ruiz-Lozano, Ph.D., at the Burnham Institute for Medical Research, may lead to new therapies for coronary artery disease. The research demonstrated that stimulation of the Wnt signaling pathway is essential for the formation of the coronary vasculature. The Wnt pathways of secreted factors has been known previously to play a role in embryogenesis and development, and it also functions as a regulator of some stem cell populations.

Stem cell find for child cancer

Source: BBC News
Posted: 8 November 2007, 12:47 GMT

Summary:

BBC News reports on the discovery of a type of stem cell in dogs that enable new cancer treatments:

"Scientists have uncovered a stem cell in dogs which could lead to new treatments for bone cancer in children. The cancer stem cell makes copies of the disease, enabling it to spread around the body. It appears notoriously resistant to treatment. But by identifying it, it may be possible to work out how to target it."

Stem cell hope for Alzheimer's

Source: Daily Telegraph
Posted: Last Updated: 12:01am GMT 08/11/2007

Summary:

The Daily Telegraph reports researchers believe stem cells could restore memory in people with brain injuries and diseases:

"Stroke victims and Alzheimer's patients could have their memories repaired through stem cell therapy, scientists say. Researchers believe their research opens up the possibility of new brain cells being grown to reverse memory loss in millions of people who suffer from dementia and brain injuries. Tests showed stem cells, the body's basic building blocks used for repair and growth, can turn into new brain cells and produce a chemical that protects existing damaged ones."

Stem cells 'may reverse Alzheimer's symptoms'

Source: Evening Standard
Date: 8 November 2007

Summary:

The Evening Standard reports scientists have used stem cells to treat memory loss using adult stem cells:

"Scientists have moved a crucial step towards reversing symptoms of Alzheimer's disease by using stem cells. In a breakthrough bringing hope to millions, the cells repaired damaged parts of the brain and restored lost memory. It is the first time that stem cells have been shown to reverse the type of memory problems associated with strokes, Alzheimer's and degenerative brain diseases."

Stem cells offer hope of Alzheimer's cure

Source: The Scotsman
Date: 8 November 2007

Summary:

The Scotsman reports scientists have used neural stem cells to reverse memory loss in mice, which could lead to effective treatments for Alzheimer's Disease:

"BRAIN diseases such as Alzheimer's and strokes could be treated by stem-cell therapy, a study suggests. Scientists have used the technique to repair the damaged memory of mice - and believe it could work in humans. US researchers injected neural stem cells into the brains of mice and after three months they seemed to have matured and made the right connections to reverse the memory deficit. The experiments provide the first evidence that stem cells could reverse cognitive damage lost through strokes, Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases."

Injecting stem cells sparks progress in repairing heart

Source: USA Today
Posted: November 7, 2007 9:30 PM EST

Summary:

USA Today reports on new findings that muscle stem cells can improve heart function after a heart attack:

"Researchers from Finland and California showed it is possible to inject heart attack patients with muscle stem cells and boost their hearts' pumping power. The studies, though preliminary, are the latest of several to open a window into the future of heart attack care."

Stem Cells Show Early Promise for Heart Problems

Source: HealthDay News
Date: November 7, 2007

Summary:

HealthDay News reports on news studies using adult stem cells to treat heart damage resulting from heart attacks

"Scientists are edging toward a better understanding of how stem cells might one day restore function to damaged hearts. One study found that patients' own stem cells, when injected into the heart after treatment for a heart attack, improved the heart's ability to pump effectively. But this finding is fairly preliminary."

Researchers uncover gene's role in type 1 diabetes

Source: University of Virginia Health System
Date: November 7, 2007

Summary:

Researchers at the University of Virginia Health System have identified an enzyme thought to be an important instigator of the inner-body conflict that causes Type 1 diabetes. A chronic condition that affects nearly three million American children and adults, Type 1 diabetes is more severe than Type 2. Type 1 diabetes, also called autoimmune diabetes, arises when the body’s infection-fighting white blood cells start destroying the beta-cells that produce insulin in the pancreas.

Sangamo BioSciences Announces ZFP Therapeutic Data From Nerve Regeneration Program at Society for Neuroscience Meeting

Source: Sangamo BioSciences, Inc.
Date: November 7, 2007

Summary:

Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. announced today the presentation of preclinical data from its ZFP Therapeutic(TM) program in nerve regeneration at Neuroscience 2007, the 37th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. A statistically significant effect on both recovery of hind-limb function and spinal cord tissue preservation was demonstrated in a severe model of spinal cord injury (SCI) following treatment at the time of injury with a zinc finger DNA-binding protein activator of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF ZFP TF).

Data Show Geron's Cell-Based Therapeutic for Spinal Cord Injury Survives and Exhibits Remyelination for at Least Nine Months Following Injection

Source: Geron Corporation
Posted: November 7, 2007 7:30 am ET

Summary:

In an official company news release, Geron Corporation, a biotechnology company in the field of stem cell research, reported its embryonic stem cell therapy to treat spinal cord injury regenerated parts of spinal cord nerve coating tissue in rats called myelin:

"Geron Corporation today announced that data show GRNOPC1, the company’s human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-based therapeutic for spinal cord injury, survives and exhibits durable and robust human remyelination in spinal cord-injured rats for at least nine months following a single injection. The data also demonstrate that GRNOPC1 does not amplify neuropathic pain or the reaction to painful stimuli. This finding is in contrast to research that shows many other cell types, when injected into the spinal cord, amplify neuropathic pain, a common long-term complication of spinal cord injury in man."

Fat cells send message that aids insulin secretion

Source: Washington University School of Medicine.
Date: November 6, 2007

Summary:

The body's fat cells help the pancreas do its job of secreting insulin, according to new research. This previously unrecognized process ultimately could lead to new methods to improve glucose metabolism in type 2 diabetic or insulin-resistant people. In a study using laboratory mice, published in the November 7, 2007 issue of Cell Metabolism, scientists at the Washington University School of Medicine report that fat cells release a protein that aids insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells, which are the sole source of insulin. The protein is an enzyme that the pancreatic cells themselves produce in only minimal amounts. The enzyme works to enhance glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells.

Pioneering mini cell transplants for cancer patients will save lives, say doctors

Source: Daily Mail - UK
Last updated at 19:51pm on 5th November 2007

Summary:

The Daily Mail reports on a new cell transplant procedure to treat cancer patients:

"Cancer sufferers are being given pioneering mini cell transplants that "reverse" conventional treatment. The ground-breaking procedure uses stem cells taken from donor blood, making it safer and faster for patients. ...low doses of chemotherapy stun tumour cells into submission for a short period of time, while injections of donor stem cells can take hold within the body and multiply. The transplanted cells then take up the battle against the cancer. The technique also removes the need for donors to undergo an operation to extract the bone marrow which contains stem cells.'

New stem cell delivery system is developed

Source: United Press International
Published: November 5, 2007 at 4:27 PM EST

Summary:

A new neural stem cell drug delivery system has been created by U.S. scientists to fight Hunter syndrome and ultimately a variety of genetic disorders.

New Clinical Trials Could Open 'Golden Era' In Spinal Cord Injury And ALS Research

Source: Society For Neuroscience
Date: November 5, 2007

Summary:

New experimental therapies are being -- or soon may be -- tested in clinical trials that could open the doors to a "golden era" for research to improve the treatments of people with spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, stroke, and other severe movement disorders, scientists say.

New research reveals critical knowledge about the nervous system

Source: Rutgers University
Date: November 5, 2007

Summary:

Uncover the neural communication links involved in myelination, the process of protecting a nerve’s axon, and it may become possible to reverse the breakdown of the nervous system’s electrical transmissions in such disorders as multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, diabetes and cancers of the nervous system.

Researchers discover 'instruction manual' that tells cancers how to hide from immune system

Source: University of British Columbia
Date: November 5, 2007

Summary:

A mechanism that creates an “invisibility cloak” for certain cancer cells and allows them to hide from the immune system has been uncovered by a team of researchers at the University of British Columbia.

Researchers they've taken a step forward in stem cell transplants

Source: The Canadian Press
Posted: November 4, 2007 5:00 PM EST

Summary:

Scientists at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children say they've taken a step forward in stem cell transplant research. They say 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.

New Territory Mapped in Stem Cell Transplantation

Source: The Hospital for Sick Children
Date: November 4, 2007

Summary:

Transplant research has taken another step forward at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) where scientists have
discovered a gene with properties that allow for the successful engraftment of stem cells from human bone marrow into mice. Researchers hope further studies will lead to the development of a therapy so more children with blood diseases can receive bone marrow transplantation.

Scientists map gene flaws linked to lung cancer

Source: Agence France Presse (AFP)
Posted: Nov 4, 2007 4:03 PM ET

Summary:

Scientists have mapped the genetic aberrations underlying lung cancer and discovered a gene that plays a critical role in spreading the deadly disease, according to a study

Sweep of lung cancer genome reveals new gene

Source: Reuters
Posted: November 4, 2007 12:46pm EST

Summary:

An effort to map the genetic landscape of lung cancer has turned up a host of new genes, including one that controls the growth of cells essential for lung function, an international team of researchers said

Transplant key to success in diabetes cure

Source: Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia
Posted: November 04, 2007 12:00am AST

Summary:

MELBOURNE scientists claim they are just days from conducting a pioneering therapy that will effectively cure Type-1 diabetes. They are set to transplant insulin-producing cells from healthy donor tissue into a diabetic - removing the need for daily insulin injections. Researchers at St Vincent's Institute say the procedure will help the patient produce insulin naturally.

Stem Cells May Restore Memory after Brain Damage

Source: Journal of Neuroscience / Ivanhoe Newswire
Date: November 2, 2007

Summary:

Ivanhoe Newswire reports that a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience revealed that a stem cell treatment restored memory in mice with brain injuries:

"Stem cells may help reverse a persons memory loss after they’ve had a brain injury. A new study from the University of California Irvine looked at mice with brain injuries. It finds the memory of the mice was restored to a similar level found in healthy mice after they got a stem cell treatment for up to three months. Researchers believe the stem cells secrete proteins called neurotrophins that protect vulnerable cells from dying, thereby saving the memory."

Doctors use stem cell therapy for genetic skin disease

Source: University of Minnesota
Date: November 2, 2007

Summary:

University of Minnesota Children's Hospital, Fairview doctors have performed the first bone marrow and cord blood transplant to treat recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. Children with RDEB lack a protein that anchors skin to the body, resulting in fragile skin that sloughs off with little movement or friction. They suffer painful wounds and must be bandaged at all times to protect their skin from further damage and infection.

Carnegie Mellon researchers to develop new drug delivery system

Source: Carnegie Mellon University
Date: November 2, 2007

Summary:

Scientists at Carnegie Mellon University are using adult neural stem cells to develop a new stem-based drug delivery therapy that may ultimately help treat a variety of inherited disorders like Hunter syndrome. They are creating genetically engineered adult neural stem cells for delivery to patients' brains, where they will be programmed to produce an essential missing protein.

Scientists discover protein cue that allows limb regrowth in newts

Source: Agence France Presse (AFP)
Posted: November 2, 2007 12:39 EST

Summary:

Scientists have discovered a protein's molecular signal that apparently plays a key role in allowing newts -- which are amphibians -- to regrow severed limbs, a report in the journal Science said Friday. The finding could provide insights in the field of regenerative medicine relating to mammals and humans, said researchers at the University College London (UCL).

Newts 'may help humans to regenerate limbs'

Source: Daily Mail - UK
Posted: Last updated at 10:03am on 2nd November 2007

Summary:

British scientists have found a key protein that helps newts regrow severed limbs and may guide future research into human regenerative medicine.

Limb regrowth a step closer after 'regenerative medicine' breakthrough

Source: Daily Telegraph
Last Updated: 7:01pm GMT 01/11/2007

Summary:

The Daily Telegraph reports British scientists have gained insights into how newts regenerate limbs, potentially also enabling human limb regeneration in the future:

"Scientists have taken another step towards the dream of devising a potion that can regenerate digits and lost limbs without scarring. Today, a British team reports the discovery of a molecular signal that allows newts to re-grow a body part if it fails, is severed or is damaged. The discovery of how newts can regenerate their limbs - and their hearts, eyes and jaws - gives Prof Jeremy Brockes of University College London new hope that it could one day be possible to do the same in people."

Bystander Stem Cells Keep Original Neurons Humming

Source: Scientific American
Date: November 1, 2007

Summary:

Scientific American reports stem cells restored memory and learning abilities in mice:

"A new study finds that neural stem cells may be able to save dying brain cells without transforming into new brain tissue, at least in rodents. Researchers from the University of California, Irvine, report that stem cells rejuvenated the learning and memory abilities of mice engineered to lose neurons in a way that simulated the aftermath of Alzheimer's disease, stroke and other brain injuries."

Newt protein may offer clues for human regeneration

Source: Reuters
Posted: November 1, 2007 3:01pm EDT

Summary:

Scientists have found a key protein that helps newts regrow severed limbs and which may guide future research into human regenerative medicine. Biologists have long been intrigued by the ability of newts and salamanders to renew damaged body parts. But how they do it has been unclear.

How Salamanders Sprout New Limbs

Source: LiveScience
Posted: 01 November 2007 02:04 pm ET

Summary:

Limb loss for a salamander is nothing to get up in arms about—they just re-grow a new one. But how? One molecule could be behind their remarkable limb-sprouting ability, according to a new study that could also grow the field of human regenerative medicine.

Spinal Stem Cells Offer Hope Against Back Pain

Source: HealthDay News
Date: November 1, 2007

Summary:

HealthDay News reports a discovery of stem cells in the human spine that could repair spinal discs and treat back pain:

"For the first time, researchers have found stem cells within the intervertebral discs of the human spine. They say it may someday be possible to use these stem cells to help repair degenerating discs in order to treat neck and lower back pain."

Jefferson researchers find stem cells in degenerating spinal discs, potential for repair

Source: Thomas Jefferson University
Date: November 1, 2007

Summary:

Orthopedic researchers at Jefferson Medical College have for the first time found stem cells in the intervertebral discs of the human spine, suggesting that such cells might someday be used to help repair degenerating discs and remedy lower back and neck pain.

Cancer cells enlist adult stem cells to promote metastasis

Source: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Date: October 31, 2007

Summary:

Everyone knows that tumors are packed with cancer cells, but many normal cells live among these deviants. The normal cells form a structural framework called the stroma, which was once thought to resemble passive scaffolding. But a growing body of research suggests that cancer cells actively recruit normal cells from local and distant sites to the scaffolding, where they release signals that help the tumor thrive.

Scientists create colorful 'brainbow' images of the nervous system

Source: Harvard University
Date: October 31, 2007

Summary:

By activating multiple fluorescent proteins in neurons, neuroscientists at Harvard University are imaging the brain and nervous system as never before, rendering their cells in a riotous spray of colors dubbed a "Brainbow."

Next step in stem cells: Human tests

Source: CNN Money
Posted: October 31, 2007: 11:56 AM EDT

Summary:

Companies that develop drugs using embryonic stem cell research could soon enter a bold new phase: human testing. Human tests are the most advanced form of testing and one of the final hurdles before the FDA approves a drug.

Stem Cells Restore Memory in Mice

Source: HealthDay News
Date: October 31, 2007

Summary:

HealthDay News reports researchers at the University of California, Irvine have used neural stem cells to restore memory in mice:

"A new U.S. study involving mice suggests the brain's own stem cells may have the ability to restore memory after an injury. These neural stem cells work by protecting existing cells and promoting neuronal connections. In their experiments, a team at the University of California, Irvine, were able to bring the rodents' memory back to healthy levels up to three months after treatment. The finding could open new doors for treatment of brain injury, stroke and dementia, experts say."

Genetic selection of target stem cell populations

Source:University of Nottingham.
Date: 31 October 2007

Summary:

Human embryonic stem cells can be genetically manipulated to help select out desirable cell types, according to a University of Nottingham study published online in Molecular Therapy. This advance could help scientists develop better ways of deriving useful cell populations for therapeutic and research purposes.

Gene, Stem Cell Therapy Only Needs to be 50 Percent Effective to Create a Healthy Heart

Source: University of Missouri-Columbia
Date: October 31, 2007

Summary:

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and greatly affects the quality and length of life for individuals with specific forms of muscular dystrophy. Recent discoveries have demonstrated that gene and/or stem cell therapy could help a variety of organs in the body, but until now scientists have been unsure whether the heart could benefit from these treatments. According to a new study, recently published in Circulation Research, a journal of the American Heart Association, University of Missouri-Columbia researchers have demonstrated that a muscular dystrophy patient should be able to maintain a normal lifestyle if only 50 percent of the cells of the heart are healthy.

Saving Memories: Stem-cell transplants improve memory in brain-injured mice.

Source: MIT Technology Review
Date: October 31, 2007

Summary:

Using a clever new technique, researchers at the University of California, Irvine, have shown that stem-cell transplants may improve memory after brain injury, at least in mice. Their work adds to growing evidence that stem cells might eventually help combat the devastating memory loss associated with traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer's disease, and stroke.

Stem cells can improve memory after brain injury

Source: University of California - Irvine
Date: October 30, 2007

Summary:

New UC Irvine research is among the first to demonstrate that neural stem cells may help to restore memory after brain damage. In the study, mice with brain injuries experienced enhanced memory – similar to the level found in healthy mice – up to three months after receiving a stem cell treatment. Scientists believe the stem cells secreted proteins called neurotrophins that protected vulnerable cells from death and rescued memory. This creates hope that a drug to boost production of these proteins could be developed to restore the ability to remember in patients with neuronal loss.

Could stem cells be used to cure Crohn's Disease?

Source: University of Nottingham
Date: October 30, 2007

Summary:

Scientists are investigating whether stem cells could be used to 're-boot' the immune system and provide a cure for Crohn's Disease. University of Nottingham researchers are launching a major clinical trial to find out whether stem cells taken from a sufferer's own body could provide effective long-term remission for tens of thousands of people in the UK and many more worldwide.

New Brain Cells Listen Before They Talk

Source: Yale University
Date: October 30, 2007

Summary:

Newly created neurons in adults rely on signals from distant brain regions to regulate their maturation and survival before they can communicate with existing neighboring cells--a finding that has important implications for the use of adult neural stem cells to replace brain cells lost by trauma or neurodegeneration, Yale School of Medicine researchers report in The Journal of Neuroscience.

New Type of Retinol Cell Discovered in Primates

Source: National Science Foundation
Date: October 29, 2007

Summary:

Scientists are one step closer to understanding how the retinas of humans and primates turn incoming light into coded messages communicated to the brain. A team of researchers funded by the National Science Foundation recently reported their discovery of a type of cell in the output (ganglion cell) layer of the retina that likely plays a key role in transforming visual images, received by the rods and cones, into coded messages headed to the brain. Ultimately, their research could help guide the design of devices to provide artificial sight to the blind.

Preclinical Efficacy Data Demonstrate Ability of Tengion’s Neo-Bladder Augment to Restore Bladder Function

Source: Tengion, Inc.
Posted: October 29, 2007 8:00 am ET

Summary:

Tengion, Inc., a leader in regenerative medicine, announced today that findings from a preclinical study being presented today at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference and Exhibition demonstrate the ability of the Tengion Neo-Bladder Augment™ to restore bladder function in a well-established preclinical model of a bladder augmentation cystoplasty.

Osiris Therapeutics Initiates Phase II Clinical Trial Evaluating Prochymal(TM) for Type 1 Diabetes

Source: Osiris Therapeutics, Inc.
Date: October 25, 2007

Summary:

Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. announced the initiation of a Phase II clinical trial evaluating Prochymal, a stem cell therapy, as a treatment for type 1 diabetes. Through a partnership with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), the organization has provided $4 million in funding to support the development of Prochymal as a treatment for the preservation of insulin production in patients with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Scientists Discover Tiny RNAs Play a Big Role in Controlling Genes

Source: Yale University
Date: October 25, 2007

Summary:

A study by researchers at the Yale Stem Cell Center for the first time demonstrates that piRNAs, a recently discovered class of tiny RNAs, play an important role in controlling gene function, it was reported this week in Nature. Haifan Lin, director of the stem cell center and professor of cell biology at Yale School of Medicine, heads the laboratory that originally identified piRNAs. Derived mostly from so-called "junk DNA," piRNAs had escaped the attention of generations of geneticists and molecular biologists until last year when Lin's team discovered them in mammalian reproductive cells, and named them. The lab's current work suggests that piRNAs have crucial functions in controlling stem cell fate and other processes of tissue development.

The new source of islet cells

Source: World Journal of Gastroenterology
Date: October 25, 2007

Summary:

The shortage of islet cells limits the development of islet transplantation. One new approach was reported in the October 21 issue of the World Journal of Gastroenterology because of its great significance in enhancing the output of islet cells. This article will undoubtedly bring benefit to diabetic patients.

Enzyme switch may open way to 'eye in a dish': scientists

Source: Agence France Presse (AFP)
Posted: October 24, 2007 1:48 PM ET

Summary:

Researchers say they have identified a key enzyme that triggers eye development, in a discovery that could one day lead to "eye in a dish" replacement tissue for the visually impaired.

The Eyes Have It: A Step Toward Creating Peepers in a Petri Dish

Source: Scientific American
Date: October 24, 2007

Summary:

An accidental discovery could pave the way to one day coaxing stem cells to develop into human eyes in the lab. A team of scientists at the University of Warwick in England studying the development of motility in frogs found that a certain ectoenzyme (a cell-surface protein) injected into a tadpole embryo triggered the development of tissues that eventually form eyes.

Researchers discover important tool in understanding differentiation in human embryonic stem cells

Source: Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine
Date: October 24, 2007

Summary:

Researchers at the University of Minnesota’s Stem Cell Institute have described how an existing genetic tool can be used to study how human embryonic stem cells differentiate. The research appears in the November 2007 issue of Experimental Biology and Medicine.

Researchers find signal that switches on eye development -- could lead to 'eye in a dish'

Source: University of Warwick
Date: October 24, 2007

Summary:

Researchers at the University of Warwick have uncovered a crucial signal that switches on eye development. This discovery will greatly assist researchers looking at stem cells connected to eye development and opens up an avenue of research that could eventually lead to an “eye in a dish”.

Sea Cucumbers Fast Track Organ Regrowth By Healing Their Wounds

Source: BioMed Central
Date: October 22, 2007

Summary:

Sea cucumbers are the champions of organ regrowth because they direct their wound healing abilities towards restoring their organs. The discovery that Holothuria glaberrima uses similar cellular mechanisms during wound healing and organ regeneration gives us the opportunity to discover how to repair our own wounds and, perhaps eventually, how to regenerate body parts.

AN EYE FOR AN EYE: Using stem cells to treat damaged eyes and a rare skin disorder

Source: European Science Foundation
Date: October 22, 2007

Summary:

At a meeting organized by the European Science Foundation, doctors and scientists in Italy have shown how stem cells can be used to treat damaged eyes and, in combination with gene therapy, a rare and debilitating skin disease. Doctors and scientists in Italy have shown how stem cells can be used to treat damaged eyes and, in combination with gene therapy, a rare and debilitating skin disease. The team then used gene therapy to insert the correct laminin gene into the growing cells and grafted the new tissue onto the patient’s body. The graft was successful and after several months the skin remained to all intents normal, without the blistering and flaking.

MIT works toward novel therapeutic device: Applications include zapping cancer cells

Source: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Date: October 22, 2007

Summary:

MIT and University of Rochester researchers report important advances toward a therapeutic device that has the potential to capture cells as they flow through the blood stream and treat them. Among other applications, such a device could zapp cancer cells spreading to other tissues, or signal stem cells to differentiate. Their concept leverages cell rolling, a biological process that slows cells down as they flow through blood vessels. As the cells slow, they adhere to the vessel walls and roll, allowing them to sense signals from nearby tissues that may be calling them to work. Immune cells, for example, can be slowed and summoned to battle an infection.

Stem Cells From Patient's Fat Used To Grow New Nerves

Source: Medical News Today
Article Date: 21 October 2007 - 0:00 PDT

Summary:

Stem cells from a patient's fat may be used to create new nerves that can repair severed peripheral nerves (nerves outside the spinal cord), say scientists from Manchester University, England. The researchers say this route for creating new nerves could be part of medical practice by the year 2011.

New nerves grown from fat cells

Source: BBC News
Posted: 19 October 2007, 23:48 GMT 00:48 UK

Summary:

BBC News reports British scientists have transformed stem cells from fat into nerve cells:

New nerves grown from stem cells taken from a patient's fat could be available by 2011, researchers have said. They could potentially be used to repair peripheral nerves left severed by surgery or accidents. Manchester University scientists plan to place the new nerve tissue inside a biodegradable plastic tube, which can be used to rejoin the two broken ends."

Aastrom Stem Cell Therapy Demonstrates Positive Results in Severe Long Bone Non-Union Fracture Trial

Source: Aastrom Biosciences, Inc.
Date: October 18, 2007

Summary:

Aastrom Biosciences, Inc, announced final results from a U.S. Phase I/II clinical trial designed to collect safety and efficacy data utilizing Bone Repair Cells (BRCs) in the treatment of severe non-union fractures. In the study, patients with non-union tibia, humerus or femur fractures that had failed to heal after one or more medical procedures showed an overall healing rate of 91% after one year.

St. Jude researchers identify retinoblastoma cell

Source: Memphis Business Journal
Posted: October 18, 2007 - 3:24 PM CDT

Summary:

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital researchers have identified the cells that cause the eye cancer retinoblastoma. The discovery overturns a widely held belief about the disease and opens up the possibility that scientists may be able to coax the injured brain into healing itself.

Cross-species transplant in rhesus macaques is step toward diabetes cure for humans

Source: Washington University in St. Louis
Date: October 18, 2007

Summary:

With an eye on curing diabetes, scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have successfully transplanted embryonic pig pancreatic cells destined to produce insulin into diabetic macaque monkeys – all without the need for risky immune suppression drugs that prevent rejection.

St. Jude identifies the specific cell that causes eye cancer, disproving long-held theory

Source: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Date: October 18, 2007

Summary:

Investigators at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have identified the cell that gives rise to the eye cancer retinoblastoma, disproving a long-standing principle of nerve growth and development. The finding suggests for the first time that it may one day be possible for scientists to induce fully developed neurons to multiply and coax the injured brain to repair itself.

Scientists develop 'bionic nerve' to put patients back on their feet

Source: Daily Mail - UK
Last updated at 23:50pm on 17th October 2007

Summary:

A 'bionic nerve' that could bring damaged limbs and organs back to life is being developed by British scientists. The bionic nerve would repair broken "peripheral nerves" - those found outside the brain and spinal cord.

New Stem Cells by Reprogramming

Source: European Science Foundation
Date: October 17, 2007

Summary:

Researchers are discovering new ways to help ‘de-program’ specialised cells so that they can be re-programmed to form a range of different types of tissue, an international meeting of stem cell biologists was told. If this approach can be made to succeed, it could circumvent many of the ethical and moral objections that have been raised to using human stem cells derived from embryos – the ‘blank’ cells (‘toti- or ‘pluripotent’) that have the potential to turn, or differentiate, into multiple types of specialised cell and which could be used to treat many diseases where cells are not functioning correctly.

'Bionic' Nerve To Bring Damaged Limbs And Organs Back To Life

Source: University of Manchester
Date: October 17, 2007

Summary:

University of Manchester researchers have transformed fat tissue stem cells into nerve cells — and now plan to develop an artificial nerve that will bring damaged limbs and organs back to life.

The genetics of MLL leukemogenesis

Source: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: October 16, 2007

Summary:

In the November 1st issue of Genes & Development, Dr. Michael Cleary (Stanford University School of Medicine) and colleagues identify the gene Meis1 as a critical player in the establishment of leukemia stem cells, and the development of mixed lineage leukemia (MLL).

Stem cell growth 'may help hip replacements'

Source: Daily Telegraph
Posted: 16/10/2007 12:01am BST

Summary:

The Daily Telegraph reports scientists are researching a new way to use bone marrow stem cell to improve outcomes of hip replacements:

"British scientists are developing a promising way to harvest a patient's stem cells in the hope it can boost the success rate of 'revision hip replacements'."

The article continues to explain how the procedure would be performed and what outcome is expected if a potential treatment is created:

"The cells would be removed from bone marrow and extracted from the patient's hip under anaesthetic. Stem cells from the marrow are isolated, then grown in the laboratory in sterile conditions and used to seed new growth in the bone chips. It is hoped this will create a more effective way to fix bone damage and inflammation caused by debris from the old artificial joint."

Regulating Embryonic Stem Cell Self-Renewal

Source: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: October 15, 2007

Summary:

Researchers have identified two genes – called Jmjd1a and Jmjd2c – that regulate self-renewal in embryonic stem cells. This finding will have important ramifications for embryonic stem cell research.

Hi-ho stem cells

Source: Stanford Medicine Magazine
Date: Fall 2007

Summary:

Stanford University Medical school researchers have found that human neural stem cells transplanted into the brains of rats and mice successfully navigate toward areas damaged by stroke. The discovery and the new technique the researchers used to make it add up to encouraging news for researchers hoping to use stem cells to treat human neural disorders such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson’s disease or radiation damage.

Study raises notion of 'printing' tissue, and one day organs

Source: Agence France Presse (AFP)
Posted: October 12, 2007 2:23 PM ET

Summary:

The inkjet printer may appear to be an unlikely solution to the organ donor shortage problem, but it might not be as far-fetched as it sounds. Scientists have already used inkjet printers to "print" bacteria, yeast and even human stem cells and they are exploring how to use the office workhorse to create 3D cell structures in a tissue matrix. If they can figure out how to create more complex tissues, they will be one step closer to creating implantable organs, a scientist said in a paper published in the journal Science

Stem cells may help beat colon cancer

Source: United Press International
Date: October 12, 2007 at 12:12 AM EDT

Summary:

An Italian research team says stem cells may help neutralize cells that undermine chemotherapy in patients with colon cancer.

Stem cell nuclei are soft 'hard drives,' study finds

Source: University of Pennsylvania
Date: October 11, 2007

Summary:

Biophysicists at the University of Pennsylvania have discovered that the nuclei of human stem cells are particularly soft and flexible, rather than hard, making it easier for stem cells to migrate through the body and to adopt different shapes, but ultimately to put human genes in the correct nuclear ¡°sector¡± for proper access and expression.

Parkinson's researchers focus on 'designer' cells

Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Date: October 11, 2007

Summary

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports on a new study to test if adult brain cells can deliver a protein to the brain to protect the brain from Parkinson's disease and other neurological disorders:

"University of Florida regenerative medicine researchers have received a $1.6 million federal grant to study whether "designer" cells can be used to rescue the brain from Parkinson's and other neurological diseases. Using cell cultures and a rodent model of Parkinson's disease, scientists want to study whether stemlike cells from mice and from adult human brains and bone marrow can be adapted to deliver a potentially protective protein to the brain."