Adult Stem Cell Discovery

Matt Kavanagh
Scientific Revolutions
Core 210-10
Stem Cell Discovery
LINKS
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091018141615.htm
http://stemcells.nih.gov/index.asp

Early Monday morning, on the 19th of October 2009, ScienceDaily.com reported great progress on the efficiency of stem cells from adult tissue, as opposed to that of the controversial embryonic stem cells.
A science team from The Scripps Research Institute recently developed a way of creating stem cells from human adult tissue, without the use of any embryonic cells whatsoever.
The new method they discovered uses three tiny drug-like chemicals and has proven to be 200 times more efficient and twice as fast turning human cells into stem cells.
“Both in terms of speed and efficiency, we achieved major improvements over conventional conditions. This is the first example in human cells of how reprogramming speed can be accelerated. I believe that the field will quickly adopt this method, accelerating iPS cell (induced plurpotent stem cells) research significantly,” said Scripps Research Associate Professor Sheng Ding, Ph. D., also known as the man leading the study.
The team ran into two big problems along the way, preventing progress to be made to bring forth the day when stem cells can be used. First was that two of the chemicals that are used are proven cancer-causing genes (c0Myc and Oct4) must be made completely safe to avoid genetic manipulation. The second problem was that they needed to make for a more efficient process as the current success rate was one in about 10,000 cells would turn out to be a usable stem cell, of which took approximately four weeks from start to finish. This information on the creation of human stem cells was released in December of 2007, and from there on out Ding and his team worked hard to figure out how to fix the problems.
The first problem regarding safety was solved earlier this year when the researchers found out they could use purified proteins to reduce the adult cells back to a state similar to embryonic cells, which are more capable of acting as scientist hope stem cells can be used in the future, which will be explained later.
To cure the efficiency problem, Ding and his team tested many, many drug-like molecules, looking for TGFb (transforming growth factor beta) and MEK (mitogen-activated protein kinase). When they found the most active compounds, they looked to see how this could help improve the efficiency of the stem cell creation.
The science team found that the chemicals ALK5 inhibitor SB43142 and MEK inhibitor PD0325901 used together is extremely successful in transforming the adult cells into stem cells. The use of these two chemicals boosted the process speed 100 times faster than the former genetic method.
However, Ding thought he could do better and he was right. Using a compound known as Thiazovivin with the two other chemicals, the speed improved to 200 times faster than the genetic method, and the completion time also got better, rather than it taking four weeks to create the stem cells, it only takes two.
Also worth noting is Ding’s emphasis that this new method, while fast, is also safe as the process is based on natural biological processes, and the substances used in creating the new and improved, faster and safer stem cell transformation have been tested in humans.
So what qualifies a proper stem cell that can be used for transplant?
• Ability to create significant amount of tissue
• Transform into desired cell type
• Survive in the patient after being introduced into their body
• Adapt/ integrate into surrounding tissue after transplant
• Function as expected for the recipients life time
• Doesn’t harm recipient
For those that don’t know, stem cells have the ability to transform themselves into many different types of cells such as muscle cells, red blood cells, or even brain cells. They also have the remarkable ability to divide and either remain a stem cell, or adapt into another type of cell, of which they will then work to repair the bodily damage brought on by disease or injuries.
The list of problems stem cells can fix is quite impressive to say the least, but what is really miraculous is that scientists will be able to use the stem cells to test new drugs and medicines, which could potentially lead to even more curing discoveries. What is known about stem cells is that they can transform into different cells which means they can be used to replace damaged cells in order to treat countless health problems such as Alzheimer’s disease, spinal cord injury, stroke, burns, heart disease, forms of arthritis, cancer, and even birth defects, etc. The length of which stem cells can be used is unknown.
As we’ve discussed in class, new science is built on old science/discoveries. It must be understood that stem cell research began in the early 80’s, and it’s over time that improvements have led Ding and his colleagues to develop this great achievement in adult stem cell research.
In conclusion, to discuss my feelings on why this is an important scientific finding almost feels like I wasted the last two pages explaining how this new method is far superior to the ways of the past. Clearly, it’s a huge step in the right direction as the safety and efficiency of stem cells has been improved so drastically by Ding and his team that it would take a very distant person to downplay the significance of these discoveries. Ding’s accomplishments greatly advance the study of adult stem cells.
The impact this will have on our world will be huge. When summing up what stem cells are capable of doing, that is transforming to heal the body in many ways that no other things can sometimes do, it’s impossible not to believe that the day stem cells are ready for human use, the world will change as diseases, injuries, health conditions, and body conditions suffered by people throughout the world will have the best possible chance to be cured. It’s the medicine of all medicine.
Sources Used

Scripps Research Institute. "Major Step In Making Better Stem Cells From Adult Tissue." ScienceDaily 19 October 2009. 19 October 2009 .

"What are the potential uses of human stem cells and the obstacles that must be overcome before these potential uses will be realized? [Stem Cell Information]." NIH Stem Cell Information Home Page. Web. 19 Oct. 2009. .