Source: HealthDay News
Date: April 17, 2008
Summary:
HealthDay News reports researchers have reprogrammed immune cells to have properties of embryonic stem cells:
" Without using an egg, researchers have been able to reprogram certain mature cells back to an embryonic-stem-cell-like state, a new report says. A research team from Massachusetts Institute of Technology performed the feat on mature B cells, immune cells that can bind to specific antigens, such as proteins from bacteria, viruses or microorganisms. They said their finding, confirmed when they were able to develop mice from the reprogrammed cells, may help enable the creation of models that will lead to a better study and understanding of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes."
