Stem Cell Breakthrough: Mass-Production Of 'Embryonic' Stem Cells From A Human Hair

[n2doc]

ScienceDaily (Oct. 18, 2008) — The first reports of the successful reprogramming of adult human cells back into so-called induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, which by all appearances looked and acted like embryonic stem cells, created a media stir. But the process was woefully inefficient: Only one out of 10,000 cells could be persuaded to turn back the clock.

Now, a team of researchers led by Juan Carlos Izpisúa Belmonte at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, succeeded in boosting the reprogramming efficiency more than 100-fold, while cutting the time it takes in half. In fact, they repeatedly generated iPS cells from the tiny number of keratinocytes attached to a single hair plucked from a human scalp.

Their method, published ahead of print in the Oct. 17, 2008 online edition of Nature Biotechnology, not only provides a practical and simple alternative for the generation of patient- and disease-specific stem cells, which had been hampered by the low efficiency of the reprogramming process, but also spares patients invasive procedures to collect suitable starting material, since the process only requires a single human hair.

"Having a very efficient and practical way of generating patient-specific stem cells, which unlike human embryonic stem cells, wouldn't be rejected by the patient's immune system after transplantation brings us a step closer to the clinical application of stem cell therapy," says Belmonte, PhD., a professor in the Gene Expression Laboratory and director of the Center of Regenerative Medicine in Barcelona, Spain.
more:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081017164917.htm


A new method provides a practical and simple alternative for the generation of patient- and disease-specific stem cells, since the process only requires a single human hair. (Credit: iStockphoto/Sebastian Kaulitzki)

[Tuesday Afternoon]

1. this is great news !! K&R

:bounce:

[gateley]

2. I heard a girl on a radio show who had been treated with her own stem cells

(had to go out of the country to get it done). She had been in a car accident and her doctors here told her she would be paralyzed for life.

She had the surgery, and has been working really hard with physical therapists. It's been maybe 2-3 years, but she can walk on her own now. I hope she continues to improve!

There is a medical writer, Christian Wilde, who keeps abreast of the latest trials, approaches and studies if you're interested.

www.myheartbook.com

Kind of a cheesy site, but he actually tries to answer all his e-mails personally. He's a fount of information!

So when I heard about this, and other procedures with one's own stem cells -- which, by the way, he claims are garnering better results than with embryonic cells, I can't help but think this is such a win/win. We need to pursue it more vigorously here.

Thanks for the post!

[Spinzonner]

3. A whole new meaning to hair therapy

Will it be packaged and put on the drugstore shelves next to the hair coloring in 10 years ?

Hell, it may be used to reprogram your hair coloring.

[n2doc]

4. of course, if they can reprogram them to make new hair in pace, voila, big bucks