MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR MEDICINE ADVANCES = ETERNAL YOUTH?

hybrids, is a long one. However, during 1999 there were several reports indicating the isolation of SC from adult tissue of rats, mice and humans. What is more promising is that they are also pluripotent. They have produced blood cells from stem liver cells. Stem cells from the nervous tissue can also be transformed into blood cells. Blood stem cells have been transformed into nerve and liver cells. In the lab they have been used to build human arteries and corneas.

Scientists of the University of Massachusetts, who isolated SC from the dorsal spines of adult rats, induced them to divide in the lab and implanted them in adult rats whose spines had been severed, have reported one of the most promising results. Two weeks later, the paralyzed animals started to move, and three months later some of them could stand up and walk. Also, blood stem cells are being used with apparent success in the treatment of some kinds of cancer, in particular, leukemia. It was reported by the Associated Press three weeks ago that the American Heart Association is considering endorsing and even paying for research on embryonic SC.

Thus, it seems that while the road to use embryonic SC is somewhat long and tortuous, and that those obtained from human-cow hybrids are farther away into the future, SC obtained from adult tissue could prove to be an easier way for the replacement and regeneration of organs.

There are, however, at least two major problems with adult stem cells. One is the small amount of SC present in adult tissue. In bone marrow, for example, it comprises only one in every 10.000 cells. And, of course, its isolation from other adult tissues will be more difficult still, requiring biopsies or other means to obtain them. In view of this problem scientist are working hard to develop the tools that will allow them to multiply adult SC in the lab.

Of course, there is so much money involved in this research that I have no doubts that the field will advance rapidly enough as to let some of us learn about the regeneration of hearts and other organs. For the time being, it is possible that the use of artificial organs could offer a much more expedient way to repair the human body--which will be the topic of my next article.

If you want to learn more about this subject I

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