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Embryonic Stem Cells Emit Healing Molecules

Posted by timothy on from the not-many-babies-have-cancer dept.

gim_alelen writes "The Associated Press (found here on Salon.com) is reporting that a new study finds that embryonic stem cells, even if they may not grow new limbs and organs may have other healing properties. The study reports that embryonic stem cells emitted molecules that reversed a lethal birth defect in mice."

3 of 58 comments (clear)

  1. Not that surprising by FiReaNGeL · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Many cells express extracellular factors involved in regulation, growth, etc. These can be cytokines (protein-based molecules) or chemokines (small non-proteic molecules). So this discovery is not that surprising, but cool nonetheless. The 'article' (4 lines?) don't give much details, and Science magazine is subscription only... I wonder if they identified the said molecule. Would be interesting to see if it's something we already knew but involved in a process we didn't suspect, or something new altogether. Will have to go to my University library to get details I guess :(

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    Eureka Science News - automatically updated
    1. Re:Not that surprising by Rikurzhen · · Score: 4, Interesting

      They did find the molecules involved. They are IGF-1 and WNT5a. The interesting twist was that the ES cells partially corrected the defect even if they were injected into the mother during pregnancy. The cells don't cross the placenta, rather it is the IGF-1 that does.

  2. Re:How Handy... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I refuse to accept that life exists until it can carry on a conversation. No, really, we should go a bit further: life doesn't exist until it learns to drive. Of course, that would include teenagers and THEY certainly shouldn't count as life. No, I think we should define life to include moving out of the house, graduating college, and getting a job. Well, even then, I know some grad students who shouldn't count...