Method To Duplicate Primitive Stem Cells And Prevent Cell Differentiation Discov

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Method To Duplicate Primitive Stem Cells And Prevent Cell

Differentiation Discovered At USC

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/108466.php

Research from the University of Southern California (USC) has

discovered a new mechanism to allow embryonic stem cells to divide

indefinitely and remain undifferentiated. The study, which is

published in the May 22 issue of the journal Nature, also reveals how

embryonic stem cell multiplication is regulated, which may be

important in understanding how to control tumor cell growth.

" Our study suggests that what we believe about how embryonic stem

cell self-renewal is controlled is wrong, " says Qi-Long Ying, Ph.D.,

assistant professor of Cell and Neurobiology at the Keck School of

Medicine of USC, researcher at the Eli and Edythe Broad Center for

Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC, and lead author

of the paper. " Our findings will likely change the research direction

of many stem cell laboratories. "

Contrary to the current understanding of stem cell self-renewal and

differentiation, the findings suggest that embryonic stem cells will

remain undifferentiated if they are shielded from differentiation

signals. By applying small molecules that block the chemicals from

activating the differentiation process, the natural default of the

cell is to self-renew, or multiply, as generic stem cells.

" This study presents a completely new paradigm for understanding how

to grow embryonic stem cells in the laboratory, " says Pera,

Ph.D., director of the Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative

Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC. " The discovery has major

implications for large scale production of specialized cells, such as

brain, heart muscle and insulin producing cells, for future

therapeutic use. "

Embryonic stem cells have only been derived from a very small number

of species.

" We believe the process we discovered in mice may facilitate the

derivation of embryonic stem cells from species like pigs, cows or

other large animals, which have not been done before, " continues

Ying. " If deriving embryonic stem cells from cows, for instance, is

possible, then perhaps in the future cows might be able to produce

milk containing medicines. "

With better understanding of the multiplication process of embryonic

stem cells, researchers have additional insight on tumor cell growth

as these cells share similar qualities. " Our study reveals part of

the little known process of how embryonic stem cells multiplication

is regulated. This is important for us in understanding how to

control tumor cell growth moving forward in cancer research, " says

Ying.