Adult stem cells from bone marrow used to reverse a rare genetic disease
Adult stem cells from bone marrow have been used to reverse a rare genetic disease. Scientists at the Scripps Research Institute used a mouse model of cystinosis, a genetic disease that can afflict children as young as six months old, causes deteriorating kidney function and inevitable kidney failure. Stephanie Cherqui, the scientist who developed the mouse model, said that adult bone marrow stem cell therapy is particularly well suited as a potential treatment for cystinosis because these cells target all types of tissues, and also reside in the bone marrow for the duration of a patient’s life.
Scientists at the Hohenstein Institute discovered that allows adult human stem cells to colonize the surface fibers of textile implants. The implants could be used as patches in surgery and for injured tissues to hold adult stem cells in place and facilitate repair.
A heart patient who was dying has been saved by combining implantation of a mechanical heart with injection of his own adult stem cells to heal his damaged heart.
Prof. Jennifer Elisseeff, a bioengineer at Johns Hopkins, is developing biological scaffolds and directional signals that will coax the body’s own stem cells to regenerate tissues such as knee cartilage and corneas that have been damaged by trauma. In their first clinical trial, conducted in Europe, Elisseeff’s team had good results treating 15 adults who had at least a two-year history of knee cartilage injuries.
So stem cells from bone marrow have been used to reverse rare genetic diseases and will prove future boon.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
