Adam's Apple
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- Apr 25, 2004
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Skin Stem Cells Made into Bone and Muscle
LiveScience.com
June 23, 2005
Researchers have isolated stem cells from human skin and coaxed them into becoming fat, muscle and bone cells.
Stem cells are able to become any type of tissue. Harvesting of stem cells from embryos has been highly controversial, so researchers have looked for alternatives that, while not as useful, might fulfill some needs.
The new study, detailed today in the journal Stem Cells and Development, is among the first to actually show the ability of a single adult stem cell to become multiple tissue types.
"These cells should provide a valuable resource for tissue repair and for organs as well," said Anthony Atala, director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine and senior researcher on the project. "Because these cells are taken from a patient's own skin, there would not be problems with organ or tissue rejection."
The researchers grew mesenchymal stem cells, a type normally found in bone marrow. The tissue came from 15 donors who had routine circumcisions. When the cells were cultured and then seeded onto three-dimensional molds and implanted in mice, they maintained features consistent with bone, muscle and fat tissue.
for full article:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20050623/sc_space/skinstemcellsmadeintoboneandmuscle
LiveScience.com
June 23, 2005
Researchers have isolated stem cells from human skin and coaxed them into becoming fat, muscle and bone cells.
Stem cells are able to become any type of tissue. Harvesting of stem cells from embryos has been highly controversial, so researchers have looked for alternatives that, while not as useful, might fulfill some needs.
The new study, detailed today in the journal Stem Cells and Development, is among the first to actually show the ability of a single adult stem cell to become multiple tissue types.
"These cells should provide a valuable resource for tissue repair and for organs as well," said Anthony Atala, director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine and senior researcher on the project. "Because these cells are taken from a patient's own skin, there would not be problems with organ or tissue rejection."
The researchers grew mesenchymal stem cells, a type normally found in bone marrow. The tissue came from 15 donors who had routine circumcisions. When the cells were cultured and then seeded onto three-dimensional molds and implanted in mice, they maintained features consistent with bone, muscle and fat tissue.
for full article:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20050623/sc_space/skinstemcellsmadeintoboneandmuscle
