Don’t Go Changing: New Chemical Keeps Stem Cells Young

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Don't Go Changing: New Chemical Keeps Stem Cells Young

Scientists at the Universities of Bath and Leeds have discovered a

chemical that stops stem cells from turning into other cell types,

allowing researchers to use these cells to develop new medical

treatments more easily.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090203081620.htm

Stem cells have the ability to develop into many other cell types in

the body, and scientists believe they have huge potential to treat

diseases or injuries that don't currently have a cure.

Professor Welham's team at the University of Bath's

Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology, collaborating with Professor

Adam at the University of Leeds, have discovered a chemical

that can be added to embryonic stem cells grown in the lab, allowing

them to multiply without changing into other cell types.

This breakthrough will help scientists produce large stocks of cells

that are needed for developing new medical therapies.

Professor Welham, who is co-director of the University of Bath's

Centre for Regenerative Medicine, explained: " Stem cells have great

potential for treating spinal injuries and diseases like type I

diabetes because they can change into a range of specialised cell

types including nerve or pancreatic cells, which could be used to

repair damaged tissues.

" Unfortunately, when you grow stem cells in the lab, they can

spontaneously develop into specialised cells, making it difficult to

grow large enough stocks to use for medical research.

" We've identified a chemical that will put this process on hold for

several weeks so that we can grow large numbers of them in their

unspecialised state. This is reversible, so when you take it away

from the cells, they still have the ability to change into

specialised cells. "

Professor Adam 's team, at the Astbury Centre for Structural

Molecular Biology, made more than 50 chemical compounds that were

tested for activity in the stem cells.The researchers found that the

chemicals worked by blocking an enzyme, called GSK3, that can control

when the stem cell switches to a more specialised cell type.

Professor , who is Director of the Astbury Centre at the

University of Leeds, said: " This research is a great example of how

small molecules can be used as tools to understand biological

mechanisms. "

The research, supported by funding from the Biotechnology &

Biological Sciences Research Council.