Human Stem Cells Used to Manufacture Red Blood Cells that can Glow

 Scientists at the Monash University in Victoria have managed to modify human embryonic stem cells so that they can ‘glow’ when transformed into red blood cells. These customized embryonic cells are representations of the first focal step taken towards the generation of completely functional red blood cells. Although human embryonic stem cells have the capability of being modified to fit any required cell within the body, it still remains a challenge to try and turn these embryonic cells in any specific helpful cells. For this reason, the findings at Monash have represented a major breakthrough in scientific study.

Studies are now being conducted on such human embryonic stem cells so as to try and find an answer to a variety of complex questions regarding human development. One of the primary objectives in the study of such stem cells is to find out how they can become differentiated cells forming part of the organs and tissues of the body. Many diseases such as cancer as well as birth defects have been attributed to the abnormal separation of such embryonic cells. To completely understand the controls of such cells, human embryonic stem cell research is currently being carried on.

Led by Professor Ed Stanley and Professor Andrew Elefanty as well as other leading scientists from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, the findings of the research which were funded by the Australian Stem Cell Center (ASCC) were published in the journal, ‘Nature Methods’. The ASCC helps to track the demarcation and transfiguration of the embryonic stem cells into red blood cells.

The ASCC’s Scientific Director, Professor Joe Sambrook was quoted as saying, “The fantastic work ethics of the Elefanty-Stanley team has finally paid dividends and has brought to light the differentiation pathway which has finally led to our better understanding of the manifestation of adult hemoglobin genes.”

For quite some time, it had remained a scientific challenge to be able to turn human embryonic cells into other types of cells. Through their research, the team managed to incandesce red into the ErythRED embryonic stem cells when mixed with hemoglobin. This brings hope to the fact that in future, researchers would be able to enhance the conditions that bring about the thriving of such cells. This ErythRED cell line can lead to the improved creation of red blood cells and can also be used as a means for monitoring any transplanted animal model cells.

The research was supported by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the National Health and Medical Research Foundation and the Australian Stem Cell Centre.