Posted on 09/06/2006 9:51:45 PM PDT by Coleus
Adult kidney, liver cells can repair organs, studies say
(ANSA) - Florence, September 6 - Two teams of Italian scientists have made important advances in stem-cell research that could pave the way for new treatments for kidney and liver disease. What is more, the researchers say the cells appear able to turn into an array of other body cells.
Importantly, amid controversy over the use of embryos for stem-cell research, both discoveries were made in adults.
A Florence team led by top immunologist Sergio Romagnani has identified kidney stem cells that have proved capable of helping damaged kidneys repair themselves. The discovery is of particular importance because kidney disease is growing to critical mass in modern society, striking the overweight and obese whose problems are now viewed as an epidemic.
"Chronic renal diseases and terminal renal insufficiency are viewed as the medical emergency of the new century," Romagnani told a press conference after the publication of his team's findings in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. In mice affected by kidney degeneration, Romagnani explained, the stem cells proved effective in repairing the damaged organs .
"This is particularly important because the drugs we currently have are only able to slow down kidney damage". Furthermore, he went on, the cells can be cultivated in the lab so as to "multi-differentiate" into other types of cells: bone cells, adipose (fatty tissue) cells and even nerve cells. This, Romagnani said, held out hope of reversing degenerative diseases that hit those organs too.
A day after Romagnani's press conference in Florence, Turin scientists announced a remarkably similar discovery involving adult stem cells in livers. Their study, published in the latest edition of the journal Stem Cells, showed that the cells can not only be used to repair livers but are also capable of becoming "pluri-potent", lead researcher Benedetta Bussolati said.
Until now, such cells had only been identified in specially treated lab animals. "The progenitor cells identified by our team are able to differentiate into liver cells, bone cells, blood cells and even pancreatic cells that produce insulin," she said. "The diffentiating capacity of these cells holds promise that they can be used in regenerative medicine such as cell therapy, an alternative to the use of embryonic stem cells" .
Fine with me. Where's it written that America has to do all the research?
Moses said "Choose Life". Adult Stem cells=Life, Embryonic Stem cells? Hmmmm.
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