Institute chief: Adult stem cells better for research

Mlive.com ^ | 12.16.06 | JILL ARMENTROUT

[Coleus]

Despite celebrity endorsements and controversy surrounding embryonic stem cell research, the best promise for medicine lies with adult stem cells, says Verne D. Hulce, executive director of the Field Neurosciences Institute in Saginaw Township.

Politics too often trumps science, Hulce said this week in a talk to members of the Saginaw Club.

Hulce leads and develops research at the institute using stem cells to treat traumatic brain injury and Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. "Most people, including politicians and lawyers, know nothing about stem cells but all have an opinion, which can get in the way of science," he said.   President George W. Bush placed funding limits on embryonic stem cell research in 2001.  A stem cell is a primitive, unspecialized cell that has the capacity to develop a highly specialized function when nurtured in a suitable environment.

"They hold the greatest promise for curing many diseases," Hulce said. "The ethical question involves acquisition of the cells."   Researchers take embryonic stem cells from fertilized eggs. These cells have the potential to turn into an entire organism or into individual organs. Embryonic cells researchers use mostly come from fertilized eggs discarded after assisted reproduction treatments in which doctors gather eggs and join them with sperm in a lab. They don't implant all the eggs.

Proponents of embryonic research say the cells likely will lead to quicker breakthroughs because they more easily grow into any kind of cell. Critics such as Hulce, however, say adult stem cells are easier to control and are just as effective in research.  The ability of embryonic cells to become anything can make them dangerous if implanted in humans, Hulce said.   "Embryonic cells are wild cards," he said. "They can go wherever they want. We've seen animals benefit from implanted cells and then develop tumors."

Doctors have created hundreds of uses for adult stem cells but none from embryonic cells, Hulce said.   He said doctors have worked with blood stem cells for years, transplanting bone marrow to treat cancer. There are several sources of adult stem cells, including umbilical cord blood, skin and muscle biopsies.  "If a patient has burns, we can take some of his skin cells and grow a sheet of new skin," Hulce said. "If they are going to implant tissue into me, I'd rather it be my own cells."

Researchers at the Catholic-affiliated Field Neurosciences Institute focus on studies involving adult stem cells but also investigate the mechanisms of fetal stem cells derived from laboratory mice.

[SuziQ]

Politics too often trumps science, Hulce said this week in a talk to members of the Saginaw Club.

Truer words were never spoken!