Using just four ingredients, human skin cells can be converted into embryonic stem cell-like cells, scientists from Japan and the United States reported in research released Tuesday.
In research published in two journals, Cell and Science, teams from Kyoto University in Japan and the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the United States, said they had created cells that shared many physical, growth and genetic features of embryonic stem cells in a series of lab tests.
Scientists are trying to create embryonic stem cells because they can turn into virtually any kind of cell in the body and genetically match the donor, meaning tissue would be transplantable into that person without fear of rejection.
'It's a bit like learning how to turn lead into gold'— Dr. Robert Lanza
While scientists warn that any such payoff from this technique would be far in the future, the process used by the two teams avoids the obstacles that have halted embryonic stem cell research through embryonic cloning. For example, it doesn't require a supply of unfertilized human eggs, which are destroyed in the cloning process, leading to ethical, religious and political opposition.
The Japanese team used skin cells from the face of an unidentified adult woman, while the U.S. team worked with foreskin cells from a newborn. Both labs used similar methods to achieve what they call "direct reprogramming," using viruses to carry four genes into the skin cells. The genes were known to turn other genes on and off, but how they produced the embryonic stem cell-like cells is a mystery.
The two teams used two of the same genes and two different ones. The resulting cells are induced pluripotent stem, or iPS, cells.
Scientists found the iPS cells to be indistinguishable from embryonic stem cells in terms of their appearance and behaviour. The iPS cells also share genetic markers and similar patterns of global gene activity.
The researchers said the converted cells can differentiate to produce other tissue types, including neurons and heart tissue. The Japanese team reported that clumps of cells converted into heart muscle starting beating in laboratory dishes after 12 days of differentiation.
"This work represents a tremendous scientific milestone — the biological equivalent of the Wright Brothers' first airplane," said Dr. Robert Lanza, chief science officer of Advanced Cell Technology. "It's a bit like learning how to turn lead into gold."
Lanza cautioned that the work is far from providing medical payoffs.
Japanese team member Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University in Japan agreed, saying in a release that it would be "premature to conclude that iPS cells can replace embryonic stem cells."
Currently, the technique requires disrupting the DNA of skin cells, which creates the potential for developing cancer. As a result, cells created in this way would not be acceptable for creating transplant tissue to treat medical problems such as Parkinson's and spinal cord injuries. Experts said they believe disruption could be avoided.
Additional research is required to determine how the cells compare to true embryonic stem cells in their behaviour and potential. In the meantime, the researchers said the cells can be used in laboratory experiments.
"We should now be able to generate patient- and disease-specific iPS cells, and then make various cells, such as cardiac cells, liver cells and neural cells," Yamanaka said.
"These cells should be extremely useful in understanding disease mechanisms and screening effective and safe drugs. If we can overcome safety issues, we may be able to use human iPS cells in cell transplantation therapies," he added.
With files from the Associated PressRelated
Video
- Allison Smith reports for CBC-TV (Runs: 2:29)
- Play: QuickTime »
- Play: Real Media »
External Links
(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - links will open in new window)
More Technology & Science Headlines »
- Queen uses web to give Christmas speech
- Although she hadn't used a computer until two years earlier, Queen Elizabeth marked the 50th anniversary of her televised Christmas message with an unprecedented web broadcast Tuesday.
- Yellowknife looks to old mine for geothermal energy
- The N.W.T. capital will soon begin studying what could become Canada's first large-scale geothermal heat plant. Experts say heat from the defunct Con gold mine could supply enough power to serve half of the city's residents.
- Toyota announces plan to sell 9.85 million vehicles in 2008
- In a neck-and-neck race that could dethrone General Motors as the world's top automaker, Toyota said it plans to sell 9.85 million vehicles globally in 2008.
- Church donation collecting goes 2.0
- No cash for the collection basket at church? No problem. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati has made online giving an option for its 230 parishes, and 110 parochial and diocesan schools in its 19-county region.
- Airborne internet may generate turbulence
- Airlines and service providers will have to grapple with questions of etiquette, openness and free speech as they bring internet access to the skies in the coming months.
Technology Features
Blog Watch
Most Blogged about CBC.ca Articles
Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - link will open in new window
