Fwd: [TMIC] FYI - FROM STEM CELL TO A FULL ORGAN

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I thought you might find the following articles to be of interest:

The Australian

June 18, 2002, Tuesday

SECTION: LOCAL; Pg. 5

Stem-cell research to treat HIV, cancer

BYLINE: Helen Tobler * Medical reporter

SCIENTISTS have succeeded in rebuilding an organ crucial to the human immune system entirely from stem cells, opening the way for the treatment of HIV and cancer.

Stem cells in the thymus -- the organ that is crucial to the normal functioning of the immune system -- have been identified by a team at Monash University in Melbourne. T-cells, the cells that fight infection, are only created in the thymus. In an article, published today in the international journal Nature Immunology, research scientists Boyd and Gill reveal they were able to rejuvenate a damaged thymus and then regenerate the immune system in mice.

Associate professor Boyd, who led the research, said the discovery had opened an opportunity to rebuild a patient's thymus after it had been destroyed. But the real significance of the research was the ability to create T-cells, Dr Boyd said.

The research, which took 15 years and was funded by the federal Government, could lead to treatments for conditions in which the T-cells have been severely depleted, such as AIDS, and after radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

"It will also be useful in controlling organ transplantation and correcting auto-immune diseases. We know these diseases are caused by abnormal T-cells," Dr Boyd said.

In auto-immune diseases, such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis and lupus, a malfunctioning thymus is symptomatic.

Dr Gill said the studies on mice enabled them to generate a fully functional organ from stem cells.

"It's the first time people have generated a fully functional organ that has been shown to conduct every function exactly the same from very few starting stem cells.

"We haven't effectively shown that the cells we're looking at are able to give rise to themselves, which is an issue we bring up in the paper. But we've clearly shown that these cells are able to give rise to all the other cells within the thymus, and that these cells are able to attract other various cells in, and make a fully functioning organ."

The thymus normally was fully functional before puberty and replenished the blood with T-cells, Dr Gill said.

"But after puberty, when the sex steroids come out, the thymus drastically decreases its function. Normally it's not a big issue but when you have to replenish the immune system, say in diseased states, it can be a problem.

"So we're looking at therapies to be able to activate these stem cells and give rise to a fully functional thymus in the adult situation."

If the epithelial cells -- cells in the thymus that are essential to the immune response -- can be stimulated to produce a thymus, this will regenerate the T-cell pool.

Dr Gill said human trials were still some way off.

Australian scientists have grown a complete organ from adult stem cells. I have been unable to find a single U.S. news publication that has reported on this development.

Courier Mail

June 18, 2002, Tuesday

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 5

Student uncovers stem cell secret

A MELBOURNE immunology student has become the first person in the world to successfully grow an entire body organ from stem cells.

Gill, from the Monash University Medical School, made the dramatic breakthrough after isolating the stem cells which form the sponge-like material in the thymus. The thymus, found just above the heart, is a crucial part of the body's immune system and assists the body by manufacturing disease-fighting T-cells.

Until now no one has managed to grow a fully functional organ, apart from skin which is technically classed as an organ.

Mr Gill treated laboratory mice with about 1000 stem cells grafted on to the capsule or shell of a kidney.

In just six weeks the tissue turned into a fully functioning thymus able to churn out healthy T-cells.

Although the technique was trialled on mice, Mr Gill hoped that within 12 months he would be able to track down the stem cells responsible for building a human thymus.

The technique promised enormous benefits for AIDS patients, bone marrow transplant patients and other people with poor immune systems.

Herald Sun

June 18, 2002, Tuesday

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 3

Our scientists grow body part

BYLINE: ROBYN RILEY

IN a world first, Melbourne scientists have successfully grown an organ from stem cells.

A team from Monash Medical School grew a functioning thymus, a small organ that is critical to the immune system.

Human trials could begin within two years. Stem cells are the body's building blocks and have unlimited capacity to grow and replace all the cells within a particular tissue or organ.

"When I realised what we had finally done after 15 years of research, I went weak at the knees," Professor Boyd said.

He said understanding the thymus, located near the heart, was the holy grail of immunology.

Professor Boyd believes the discovery will be an important part of a cure for many diseases of the immune system such as cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis and diabetes. It should also help prevent rejection in people who have an organ transplant.

Professor Boyd referred to the thymus as the fountain of youth.

"Without a functioning immune system you get a disease called death," he said.

"This organ, along with bone marrow, is the engine room of the immune system.

"It is the key to good health because without it, the body has no protection against any viruses."

Professor Boyd said despite its importance for immunity, the thymus went into hibernation naturally once humans reach puberty.

"This may be why many auto-immune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and cancers and infections increase in adults."

Professor Boyd said his team, led by Dr Gill, was working on rebuilding the immune system by "rebooting" the thymus into action.

The Monash scientists put thymus stem cells into the kidney cavity of a mouse.

"To see the thymus grow, complete and working, was exciting," Professor Boyd said.

"We were looking at the missing link, that final piece of the jigsaw."

Professor Boyd said the mouse immune system was similar to a human's.

"The clinical trials indicate that the human thymus responds in the same way as a mouse, which is why we are confident this will translate very easily to humans," he said.

The thymus produces, educates and distributes special white cells called T lymphocytes (T-cells) which help to control the immune system and fight infection.

But T-cells are destroyed when cancer patients undergo chemotherapy and also by the AIDS virus. The cells are also suppressed in people who have had organ transplants.

There has been limited success with thymus transplants, which are usually rejected by recipients. Stem cell therapy may offer a more reliable alternative.

Professor Boyd said he was confident the transition from animal to human clinical trials would be quick -- "because it has to be".

He said the discovery fits "beautifully" with the global picture of Melbourne as a world leader in stem cell research.

"This really is a Melbourne story. It was created by Melbourne scientists and its international commercial capabilities are being explored by Norwood Abbey, a Melbourne-based biotechnology company that has exclusive rights to the science."

Professor Boyd said the international science journal Nature Immunology would publish details of the research today.

WHAT IS THE THYMUS?

Small organ near the heart

Called the engine room of the immune system

Produces special white cells called T lymphocytes (T-cells)

T-cells help fight infection

Looks like a bunch of thyme,hence its name

It 's the size of an apple in children

Shrinks to the size of a walnut in adulthood

The Mercury, Hobart

June 18, 2002, Tuesday

Leap for life Stem-cell organ grown in Aussie world-first

BYLINE: ROBYN RILEY

IN a world first, Australian scientists have successfully grown an organ from stem cells.

The breakthrough will be an important part of a cure for many diseases of the immune system such as cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis and diabetes.

A team from Monash Medical School in Melbourne grew a functioning thymus, a small organ that is critical to the immune system, and human trials could begin within two years.

Stem cells are the body's building blocks and have unlimited capacity to grow and replace all the cells within a particular tissue or organ. "When I realised what we had finally done after 15 years of research, I went weak at the knees," Professor Boyd said yesterday.

Professor Boyd said understanding the thymus, located near the heart, was the holy grail of immunology. He believes the breakthrough will also help prevent rejection in people who have had an organ transplant.

He referred to the thymus as the fountain of youth.

"Without a functioning immune system you get a disease called death," he said. "This organ, along with bone marrow, is the engine room of the immune system. It is the key to good health because without it the body has no protection against viruses."

Professor Boyd said he was confident the transition from animals to human clinical trials would be quick "because it has to be -- this is something we desperately need."

The Monash team placed thymus stem cells into the kidney cavity of a mouse.

"To see the thymus grow, complete and working, was exciting," he said.

"We were looking at the missing link, that final piece of the jigsaw."

All medical research is carried out on small animals, like mice, for practical reasons.

Professor Boyd said the immune system of a mouse was very similar to a human system.

"In fact the thymus in all species, including humans, shows remarkable similarities," he said.

"The clinical trials indicate that the human thymus responds in the same way as a mouse, which is why we are confident this will translate very easily to humans."

The thymus produces, educates and distributes special white cells called T lymphocytes (T-cells). These help to control the immune system and fight infection.

But these cells are destroyed when cancer patients undergo chemotherapy and also by the AIDS virus. The T-cells are also suppressed in people who have had organ transplants.

"Despite its importance for immunity, the thymus goes into hibernation naturally once humans reach puberty," Professor Boyd said.

"This may be why many auto-immune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, and cancers and infections increase in adults."

Professor Boyd said his team, led by Dr Gill, was working on rebuilding the immune system by "re-booting" the thymus into action.

There has been limited success with thymus transplants, but these are usually rejected by recipients. Stem cell therapy may offer a more reliable alternative.

Professor Boyd said not only would this discovery give people with a defective thymus or one functioning too slowly the opportunity to grow a new one, but gene therapy would also allow scientists to correct gene mutations that led to thymus problems.

He said in humans the stem cells would be grown on a matrix, like a sponge, and inserted under the skin. The matrix would then attract other stem cells in the blood stream carrying epithelium, vital to help grow a new thymus.

The function of the thymus epithelium is another recent discovery of the Monash team.

The scientists worked out that it helped the organ to convert stem cells into infection-fighting T-cells; it also allowed T-cells to stop invaders attacking body tissue.