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Major Advance In Understanding Cell Reprogramming

Posted by kdawson on from the stemming-the-tide dept.

Researchers at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital have taken a major step toward eventually being able to reprogram adult cells to an embryonic stem cell-like state without the use of viruses or cancer-causing genes. In a paper released online today by the journal Cell Stem Cell, Konrad Hochedlinger and colleagues report that they have both discovered how long adult cells need to be exposed to reprogramming factors before they convert to an embryonic-like state, and have "defined the sequence of events that occur during reprogramming."

10 of 54 comments (clear)

  1. few comments from TA by mapkinase · · Score: 2, Informative
    Organism: mouse. Source cells: fibroblasts:

    Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) are often used as "feeder cells" in human embryonic stem cell research. However, many researchers are gradually phasing out MEF's in favor of culture media with precisely defined ingredients of exclusively human derivation. Further, the difficulty of exclusively using human derivation for media supplements is most often solved by the use of "defined media" where the supplements are synthetic and achieve the primary goal of eliminating the chance of contamination from derivative sources.

    What is interesting is that they are using adult cells.
    Article says, that

    Fibroblasts were isolated from tail-tip biopsies of newborn (3-8 days of age) mice as well as from embryos and expanded in fibroblast medium
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  2. A amjor milestone for stem cell therapies... by ZonkerWilliam · · Score: 2, Informative

    This is actually a very major step because up until now most of the stem cell used caused cancerous tumors in the test subject, a definite problem and stumbling block.

    1. Re:A amjor milestone for stem cell therapies... by repapetilto · · Score: 2, Informative

      Where does it say anything about the activity of the cells after they are implanted in an organism? As far as I can tell without paying anything they just figured out which transcription factors need to be expressed and in what order and for how long in order for a cell to be in a pluripotent state, a series of signaling factors trigger that gene expression, and developed a way to tell whether the cells are pluripotent or not. Nothing about what your talking about...

  3. This is a big deal by PIPBoy3000 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I read the abstract (the article is for-purchase) and it looks like they have a better feel for what it takes to turn adult cells into embryonic stems cells. Furthermore, they identified cell markers that let you better isolate these cells from other cells that haven't made the transitions between the two states.

    I think what you'll start seeing is much better efficiencies for upcoming cloning experiments (currently it's incredibly poor), as well as people starting to talk about theraputic stem cell treatments (since you can better guarantee the "purity" of the cells you're injecting into people).

  4. Thank you! by kenthorvath · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Thank you for being one of the few people who actually links to the original publication when citing a scientific advance. I can't tell you how aggravating it is to try to look these things up when half the time they don't even tell you the name of the researcher who made the break through.

  5. Cell aging by bindo · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I was under the impression that this is half the problem. Build replacements.

    The other half is rejuvenate cells and especially their DNA. Are the two separate or do embrionic cells behave differently in the handling of telomers as I understand gametes do ?

    If not this is useful to repair broken bits and pieces not to rejuvenate aging tissue.
    bindo

  6. Can it run Linux? by Fex303 · · Score: 3, Funny
    So, now that we're reprogramming mouse cells, how long till someone gets Linux working on one? And would that be the greatest hardware hack of all time?

    I can't wait till I'm my own websever.

  7. Better wait till gdb is ready too by JSBiff · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I'd hate to think what would happen with Genetic programming without a Genetic Debugger. =)

  8. This is playing at being God by Malevolent+Tester · · Score: 2, Funny

    I fully oppose this up until the day I get cancer.

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  9. As a Christian, I disagree by clonan · · Score: 2, Interesting

    As a Christian, I have no problem with embryonic stem cell research either.

    The bible clearly states that the unborn are chattle and while they are human life, they aren't a human person. Virtually all references to the start of life include breath/breathing etc. You actually have to strain very hard to find biblical support for embryonic protection.

    I just personally disagree with the creation of embryo's for the sole purpose of destroying them. They may not be a person but they are still valuable.