Fat Cells Transformed To Resemble Nerve Cells

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http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/05/020531072749.htm

Source: Duke University Medical Center (http://www.mc.duke.edu/)

Date: Posted 5/31/2002

Fat Cells Transformed To Resemble Nerve Cells

DURHAM, N.C. -- Like biochemical alchemists, investigators from Duke University

Medical Center and Artecel Sciences,

Inc., have transformed adult stem cells taken from fat into cells that appear to

be nerve cells.

During the past several years, Duke researchers and scientists from Artecel

demonstrated the ability to reprogram adult

stem cells taken from human liposuction procedures into fat, cartilage and bone

cells. All of these cells arise from

mesenchymal, or connective tissue, parentage. However, the latest experiments

have demonstrated that researchers can

transform these stem cells from fat into a totally different lineage, that of

neuronal cells.

Although it is unclear at this point whether or not the new cells will function

like native nerve cells, the researchers

are optimistic that if future experiments are as successful as the ones to date,

these new cells have the potential to

treat central nervous system diseases and disorders.

" These experiments are proof of principle that it is possible to change one

lineage of adult stem cells into another

using fat, " said Duke's Henry Rice, M.D., pediatric surgeon and senior author of

the paper published today (May 31,

2002) in the journal Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications (BBRC),

a journal that publishes fast-breaking

research in experimental biology. " If future studies in animal models are

successful, we'll have gone a long way toward

demonstrating the power of these cells to treat human diseases. "

The research was supported by the American College of Surgeons and Artecel

Sciences in Durham. Rice is a consultant for

Artecel Sciences.

The team conducted parallel experiments in mice and human cells. In both cases,

mouse adipose (fat) cells and fat cells

taken from human liposuction procedures were treated with chemicals and growth

factors and allowed to grow in the

laboratory.

" Within hours the treated cells in both models began to look like neuronal cells

and began to produce measurable amounts

of proteins normally expressed by nerve cells, " Rice said.

" This is a promising first step in the use of an abundant source of adult stem

cells in the setting of central nervous

system repair, " said Gimble, M.D., chief scientific office at Artecel

and co-author of the BBRC paper. " While it

is known that you can create neuronal cells from adult stem cells taken from

bone marrow, we feel that our approach with

fat offers a limitless supply of readily obtainable adult stem cells. "

Until recently, it was believed that organisms were born with the full

complement of neuronal cells, and that new

neurons could not be formed. According to the scientists, their research, as

well as the experiments performed by others

on bone marrow stem cells, open up new possibilities for the treatment of

nervous system disorders or injuries.

" We are trying to think about human disease in a new way, " Gimble said.

" Everyone is used to the concept of surgical,

medical or pharmacological approaches to the treatment of disease -- we're

looking at one of the next steps in

biotechnology, which is using cellular therapies. "

The researchers are quick to point out that there are still many hurdles to be

overcome before the use of these cells

can occur in a clinical setting.

First, the cells were grown in tissue culture and survived after neuronal

differentiation for several days. The

researchers are confident that as they refine their techniques and evaluate

different growth factors, they can extend

the lifespan of these cells.

Secondly, while the new nerve cells have a form and function that resemble

native nerve cells, it is not known if they

will function in the same way as native nerve cells. The next series of

experiments in the mouse model will test how the

new cells react in a living system and if they will function like nerve cells,

the researchers say.

The researchers believe the first animal models will focus on acute injuries

such as stroke, in which blocked blood flow

to the brain causes brain cell death, and spinal cord injuries. Other members of

the team are, from Duke, e

Safford and Safford, M.D., and from Artecel Sciences, Hicok, Ph.D.,

Yuan-Di Halvorsen, Ph.D., and

Wilkison, Ph.D.

Editor's Note: The original news release can be found at

http://news.mc.duke.edu/news/article.php?id=5543

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by Duke University

Medical Center for journalists and other

members of the public. If you wish to quote from any part of this story, please

credit Duke University Medical Center as

the original source. You may also wish to include the following link in any

citation:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/05/020531072749.htm

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