Source: HealthDay News
Date: June 17, 2008
Summary:
HealthDay News reports on a study by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill using adult stem cells to improve healing of bone fractures:
"The UNC team used adult stem cells to heal fractures of the tibia (the long bone of the leg) in mice. The bone marrow-derived stem cells were engineered to express insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), which help bones grow in strength and size. The transplanted stem cells migrated to the site of the fracture and improved healing by increasing the bone and cartilage that bridged the break."
The story continues to describe the procedure implemented in and results obtained from the study:
"The UNC team used adult stem cells to heal fractures of the tibia (the long bone of the leg) in mice. The bone marrow-derived stem cells were engineered to express insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), which help bones grow in strength and size. The transplanted stem cells migrated to the site of the fracture and improved healing by increasing the bone and cartilage that bridged the break. The bone at the fracture site of the mice that received stem cell transplants was three time stronger than healed fractures in untreated mice, the team reported."
