Harnessing the Power of Stem Cells

Researchers at the Wellcome Trust Center for Stem Cell Research have recently been able to uncover a potential crucial link that helps to uncover the remarkable properties of stem cells. This research team at the University of Cambridge has been able to find the last and most crucial step in a complex procedure that results in stem cells having their ability of being able to develop into different cells within the body such as skin cells or even liver cells. The reports which were published in the journal Cell, have resulted in greater efforts for the harnessing of stem cells to be able to treat any medical conditions.

There has been a lot of research that has been conducted in the field of stem cells during the last few years. It is now possible for scientists to transform adult brain or skin cells into embryonic stem cells. Very similar to natural stem cells, such embryonic stem cells can be adapted to function just like any other cells of the body. This ability which is known as pluripotency, is now being used as the basis for the development and modification of stem cells that will one day be able to help in fighting diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer's or even diabetes.

Dr Jose Silva along with his colleague Dr Jennifer Nichols of the Cambridge research team state, “Inspite of having uncovered many exciting developments, we were still a long way away from actually finding out how cells become pluripotent. It was a mystery that had to be solved in order for us to be able to create safe, reliable and efficient methods for the generation of these medical cells. It is vital that we are able to understand how and what exactly brings about this process.”

Funded by charitable institutions, it was discovered that a protein called Nanog helps in achieving pluripotency. “We always knew that Nanog was a very important substance, although we did not know how exactly it helped. We now know that it is this protein that aids in a complex process helping in pluripotency." If there were no Nanog, it would be impossible for the embryo to develop or to be reprogrammed into adult cells. The next step in the research process is to actually find out how Nanog can help in influencing other molecules that it is surrounded by."

This research conducted was supported by the Wellcome Trust, the EC Framework and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.

Monkey Teeth Help in the Stimulation of Brain Cells

A newly conducted study by researchers at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, has shown that stem cells in teeth can be used to aid in the generation and growth of different neural cells. This study which was recently made available in ‘Stem Cells’ October issue details how it is possible for dental pulp stem cells to actually bring about regeneration and aid in cell therapy thereby helping any individual who is undergoing therapy in relation to the central nervous system.

Stem cell research is usually divided into two main branches out of which dental stem cells is one. These dental stem cells which are adult stem cells have the ability of regeneration into many different types of cells thereby increasing the possibility of therapeutic treatment for potentially dangerous diseases such as Parkinson’s and Huntington’s. Earlier tests have already concluded the ability of dental pulp stem cells of being able to aid in the re-growth and restoration of craniofacial and dental cells.

The team of scientists at the Yerkes researcher at Emory University, led by Anthony Chan, DVM, PhD, conducted their experiments by using dental pulp stem cells extracted from the teeth of the rhesus monkey better known as the rhesus macaque, and then directly implanting them into the hippocampus of mice. “We noted that there was greater formation of neurons and at the same time an increase in the stimulation of growth of new neural cells. Our research has shown that it is possible to stimulate the growth of neurons through dental pulp stem cells. We now know that this will result in great therapeutic benefits and that dental pulp stem cells will soon one day be able to achieve a much broader goal,” says Chan, an assistant professor at the Emory School of Medicine studying human genetics.

The fact that it is possible to isolate dental pulp stem cells at any age from any patient by a simple visit to the dentist interests Chan as it is an indication of the possibility of banking such dental stem cell. “The chances of rejection by the body would greatly be reduced if it were possible to use one’s own stem cells for therapy,” says Chan.

The next step in the experiment for Chan and his research team is to determine whether dental pulp stem cells from Huntington suffering monkeys would help to improve, augment as well as enhance the development of any brain cells in mice.