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Cells From Liposuction Function As Stem Cells?

Posted by Hemos on from the and-make-fine-soap-products dept.

texchanchan writes "Plastic surgeon Peter Fodor MD filtered stem cells out of fat sucked from people's oversized body parts, then cultured them into 'bone, cartilage, skeletal muscle and nerve cells.' At the rate of 10,000 stem cells per cm3 that's a lot of stem cells. Combine that with this and you might be on the road to regeneration. And, you can have your stem cells banked for later disasters after your liposuction."

17 of 323 comments (clear)

  1. Damn by Spicy+Bisquit · · Score: 4, Funny

    And all this time I have been using it to make plastic explosives. Stupid Brad Pitt.

  2. Fat as unwanted cells by Husaria · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The cells that come out of fat are unwanted anyway, so why not just use them. The right really shouldn't have a problem, as long as they don't use it to grow babies for research, otherwise, they'll be howling to the moon, although they probably will anyway..

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    Slashdot Hypocrisy at work?
    1. Re:Fat as unwanted cells by Drachemorder · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Actually, you're wrong. I'm as conservative as they come, and I have no problem with using fat cells for research. Neither do most people I know. I think this sort of research is a good thing because if it works out, I think there would be less pressure to use embryonic stem cells.

    2. Re:Fat as unwanted cells by mcg1969 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      you just know that's what they're going to say because they are opposed to science in general.

      Oh for crying out loud, this is the biggest case of exaggeration I've seen on /. in awhile.

      Fundamentalists have never been against medical research. You must be confusing them with that Mary Baker Eddy cult. Their objections to embryonic stem cell research come from the belief that life begins at conception, and nothing more. You may find their position objectionable, but it's consistent and contained.

      They are going to trumpet this new reserach into stem cell harvesting as proof that there is no need to use embryos for medical study.

  3. That'll be my excuse from now on... by fatphil · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'm not fat, I'm merely continually regenerating.

    FatPhil

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    Also FatPhil on SoylentNews, id 863
  4. 10,000? by AlaskanUnderachiever · · Score: 5, Interesting

    10,000 per every 100cc is the rate I saw on the article. But even at 100 per cc that's still a lot of stem cells. So even with the total costs you're talking about a nice bank of totally rejection proof stem cells at under 20k. That's almost 1/10 of the price I've seen quoted as a "reasonable estimate" in the last few articles. "attention Kmart shoppers, stem cells kits are now on blue light special!"

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    Find out about my new childrens book: SS Death Camp Criminal Batallion Go To Monte Carlo For The Massacre
  5. Re:Of course it's illegal by Drachemorder · · Score: 5, Informative
    I know I'm feeding a troll, but I should point out that the conservative objection to stem cell research is based on the belief that an embryo is a human life and should be treated as one. It isn't out of any "fear of science" or things of that nature.

    You may not agree with that belief, and you have every right to disagree with it, but you should respect the fact that some conservatives actually have reasons for our positions ;)

  6. Re:It looks like someone may have found a way by jdavidb · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Yes. I don't believe in killing embryos and I'm thankful that we are still looking for alternatives. I only hope that these initial results pan out. (Those who are biased against the religious sometimes seem to take a particular glee when something like this doesn't pan out.)

    The religious accuse the embryonic stem cell people of murder. On the other hand, those who could help people with embryonic stem cell research lay a similar charge back at the religious. The real problem is the people who try to pretend this is a clear cut issue and call you stupid if you don't take their side.

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    Secession is the right of all sentient beings.
  7. Re:Of course it's illegal by jdavidb · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Is this why everyone was so mad at the right? Because of a misunderstanding?

    We don't oppose stem cell research. We oppose the destruction of embryos. We believe, rightly or wrongly, that embryos are people and deserve protection. The other side should admit that that claim at least has merit, even if they don't agree. (Meaning it's a respectable, legitimate opinion; not just being hard to get along with or obstructionist.)

    I don't think you'll find anyone on the right (at least, anyone who fully understands the issues) who will oppose stem cell research that does not involve killing embryoes. Hopefully the distinction is very clear to everyone.

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    Secession is the right of all sentient beings.
  8. Re:I wonder... by RailGunner · · Score: 5, Insightful
    I can't speak for all Religious people, but I can certainly speak for myself. (In case you want clarification, I am a Christian. Catholic, more specifically.)

    I'm against embryonic stem cell research, because the stem cells came from aborted human babies, and I personally believe abortion is murder.

    However, I can't see anyone having a problem with stem cell research where the stem cells come from human fat. Nor can I see any reason to oppose stem cell research when the stem cells come from the umbilical cord of a newborn baby.

    If you can, then you are probably also against blood transfusions, organ transplants, and other medical necessities because you mis-read your Bible.

    But please.. not all of us religious people are "nuts". If you are a liberal and think that all religious people are nuts, then maybe you should practice some of that "tolerance" you like to preach about.

  9. compare the costs... by morcheeba · · Score: 3, Funny

    Liposuction fee = $2049
    Stem cell processing = $1200
    Stem cell storage = $100/yr

    The self-storage option begins to look attractive!

    --
    HIV Crosses Species Barrier... into Muppets
  10. Combine this with by stoolpigeon · · Score: 3, Interesting

    the fact that thin people are 4.8 times more likely to develope ALS and I've got to confess that I'm somewhat glad that I haven't kept any of my new years resolutions.
    .

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    It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
  11. Re:Of course it's illegal by mcg1969 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The problem is, that if someone believes an embryo is a human being worthy of protection, then it's incumbent upon them to protect it, no matter who it belongs to.

    I'm sure you don't have a problem if someone intervenes in child abuse case, after all. A parent may have quite a bit of latitude in how to raise a child, but intervention to prevent that parent from injuring or killing that child is entirely justified.

    If you believe, then, that embryos deserve the same rights as a child, what else can you do but "force your beliefs" on those who are killing them?

  12. Of limited use (but still great news)... by HorsePunchKid · · Score: 5, Informative
    As I understand it, there are (at least) several types of stem cell that form a kind of heirarchy. At the top, there are totipotent stem cells, which can become any cell (more or less) in the human or the placenta. Once those cells differentiate, you get pluripotent stem cells, which can form any kind of tissue in the developing human. The next differentiation leads to various kinds of multipotent stem cells, which each have a more limited set of things they can eventually form. Note that these differentiations are difficult for biologists to control, since you need a rather precise mixture of biological chemicals in the cell's environment for it to turn into what you want it to.

    So anyway, in this particular case, it's great that they can isolate such large quantities of stem cells safely from an adult human, but it's still rather limiting. All those cells will ever be able to form is bone, cartilage, and whatever else that particular type of multipotent cell can give rise to. This is why it's still important to many biologists to be able to collect less-differentiated stem cells. With only that type of cell, we may not be able to learn much about diseases that aren't specifically related to that limited set of tissues. (Though of course there's still a lot left to be learned about even a specific type of multipotent stem cell.)

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    Steven N. Severinghaus
  13. Re:It looks like someone may have found a way by Boulder+Geek · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), a man with impeccable pro-life credentials, has actually come around on the stem cell question. Unlike most conservatives, he actually educated himself on the issue.

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    A well-crafted lie appears unquestionable - Dama Mahaleo
  14. Perhaps because that's not what it really means? by FaithAndReason · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Perhaps the parent poster was referring to the collection of umbilical cord blood. Or perhaps, even more likely, the parent was simply referring to the continuing search for other sources of totipotent stems cells within the adult human body. Your huge leap to the conclusion that the post was somehow an apologism for abortion was utterly unjustified and off-topic. How on earth did anybody get the idea that people were going around inducing abortions to collect the stem cells??

    I'd say "Godwin" is definitely appropriate. (Was that just a typo on your part, or is "Godwin" a verb now?)

  15. Re:Better Living Through Fat by blair1q · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Economic reality: the price of stem cells drops so much you still end up paying $5K net for lipo.

    --Blair
    "I'll have the Genome McMuffin and a medium RNA rings."