Our aim at the Australian Stem Cell Centre is to keep you informed about the latest developments across the stem cell field including recent highlights in research, clinical translation and relevant policy and regulations.
We value your suggestions and contributions. If you wish to make a contribution please email us at info@stemcellcentre.edu.au.
STEM CELL RESEARCH NEWS
INDUSTRY NEWS
POLICY, REGULATION & ETHICS NEWS
Stem Cell Research News
USC RESEARCHERS CREATE HIV RESISTANT CELLS
Researchers at the Keck School of Medicine have successfully transplanted blood stem cells modified to be resistant to HIV into mice, allowing the animals to control HIV infections. This approach uses gene and stem cell therapy to target a gene called CCR5 - which is one of two pathways that HIV uses to infect human cells. By altering this gene using gene therapy this infection pathway is then closed. This strategy arose from the observation that people with a mutation in the CCR5 gene are naturally resistant to infection from the most common strains of HIV and do not develop AIDS. If the approach can be translated to human patients, it would enable the long term generation of HIV-resistant T cells in a patient's body, and the potential for the patient's own cells to suppress HIV.
Holt N et al (2010). Human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells modified by zinc-finger nucleases targeted to CCR5 control HIV-1 in vivo. Nature Biotechnology doi: 10.1038/nbt.1663, with commentary from Press Telegram.
MOUSE LUNGS GROWN FROM STEM CELLS
Scientists at the University of Minnesota have created functional mouse lungs. The researchers used a process called decellularisation, meaning they took a mouse lung and stripped away all its cells. Then, the leftover matrix was injected with iPS cells which successfully grew into lung tissue. The resulting lung was then attached to a ventilator to make it breathe and train the stem cells to act as lung cells. It is important to note that this process requires a donor lung. The hope is one day human lungs could be re-created for transplant with a greater chance of success. There is a severe shortage of lungs available for transplant and it is a dangerous procedure as there is no tissue matching for these transplants. This research provides the first step to being able to create tissue for an organ that is derived from the patient and therefore would not be recognised as foreign by the immune system and rejected. It also may provide a model for the study of lung regeneration from pulmonary stem cells.
Price AP et al (2010). Development of a Decellularized Lung Bioreactor System for Bioengineering the Lung: The Matrix Reloaded. Tissue Engineering Part A. doi: 10.1089/ten.tea.2009.0659, with commentary from CBS4.
STEM CELLS SOURCED FROM FROZEN BLOOD
A team at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research has concluded that frozen blood from stored samples can be used to make iPS cells. To date the usual source for deriving these cells has been skin fibroblasts obtained by taking a skin biopsy and expanding fibroblasts through several stages. This work shows for the first time that cells from blood samples commonly drawn in doctor's surgeries and hospitals can be used to create iPS cells. These cells can be multiplied and used to study the genetic and molecular mechanisms of blood disorders and other diseases. Using blood to generate iPS cells has a number of advantages, in that it is easy to obtain and store.
Staerk J et al (2010) Reprogramming of human peripheral blood cells to induced pluripotent stem cells. Cell Stem Cell, Volume 7, Issue 1, doi:10.1016/j.stem.2010.06.002, with commentary from SBS and the Whitehead Institute.
EXERCISING MAY MAKE YOU BRAINIER
Researchers at the Salk Institute have proved that our brains produce new brain cells and that exercise increases this production. The brain contains adult stem cells which when required produce early stage neurons. In the experiments, rats and mice that ran on wheels developed many new neurons, and then put them to good use by acing mazes and other rodent IQ tests. This process of increasing the production of brain cells (known as neurogenesis) therefore may improve thinking. Related studies led by Dr Jack Kessler at Northwestern University have also shown that exercise increases neurogenesis. Scientists are yet to determine the exact mechanisms behind the results and the experiments are all on rodents at this stage. Interestingly, it appears that you do not need to be a marathon runner to gain the benefit of exercise on the brain. Just a small amount of exercise has an effect.
Mira H et al (2010). Signaling through BMPR-IA Regulates Quiescence and Long-Term Activity of Neural Stem Cells in the Adult Hippocampus. Cell Stem Cell 7 doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2010.04.016.
Gobesk KT et al (2010). BMP Signaling Mediates Effects of Exercise on Hippocampal Neurogenesis and Cognition in Mice. PLoS ONE 4(10): doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0007506.
With commentary from the New York Times.
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iPIERIAN CLOSES US$22MILLION FUND RAISING TO FOCUS ON NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES
iPierian has just announced closure of a $22 million equity financing deal. iPierian is the first company to apply cellular reprogramming and directed differentiation to cells that are derived from patients representing a broad spectrum of diseases. The money will allow the company to drive its programs into the clinic while securing pharmaceutical partnerships. The company is developing and applying cellular reprogramming and differentiation technologies to harness the power of pluripotent stem cells for the discovery and development of small molecules or biologics. Its initial focus is on neurodegenerative diseases including spinal muscular atrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease.
See iPierian's announcement.
MESOBLAST MOVES FORWARD WITH THE FDA ON PHASE III CLINICAL TRIAL
Australian regenerative medicine company, Mesoblast will meet with the FDA to discuss moving forward with a Phase III clinical trial program using its mesenchymal precursor cells in bone marrow transplants. Mesoblast's objective is to develop a therapy that results in effective bone marrow reconstitution without the potentially life threatening complication of graft-versus-host disease that occurs in as many as 60 per cent of patients who receive bone marrow transplants from unrelated adult donors.
See Mesoblast's announcement.
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Policy, Regulation & Ethics News
INTERNATIONAL STEM CELL REGISTRY LISTINGS EXCEED 1000 CELL LINES
The International Stem Cell Registry has passed a milestone and now lists over 1000 human embryonic stem cell and iPS cell lines. The Registry is a continuously updated, searchable online database that provides published and validated unpublished information about the derivation, characterisation and applications for specific cell lines. This unique literature database currently lists over 1,500 published articles and is searchable by cell line name, year and keywords in the abstract. Search results are listed with cell line names as links to PubMed. Visit the Registry.
US STEM CELL POLICY LEGAL CHALLENGE
The latest legal challenge to the US stem cell policy poses a serious threat to the federal funding system. Last year a number of Christian groups, together with two scientists, filed a suit against the Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health claiming that the embryonic stem cell policy violates the Dickey-Wicker Amendment which prevents federal funding for research that destroys an embryo. For example, under the Dicky-Wicker Amendment federal funding cannot be used to create an embryonic stem cell line, but can fund research that uses a pre-existing embryonic stem cell line. The suit was dismissed by the court on the grounds that the plaintiffs did not have 'a standing interest' to benefit from such a suit. However the Court of Appeals has just reversed this decision on the basis that the plaintiffs do actually have a case as they claim that the policy has increased competition for federal funding for stem cell research which now covers both adult and embryonic stem cell research. This would seem to imply that all researchers are legally entitled to a portion of eligible funding regardless of the merit of their research. Needless to say this sets a dangerous precedent for funding mechanisms and for scientific research.
Read more from Nature.
DOCTOR STRUCK OFF FOR 'SECRET STEM CELL TREATMENT'
A doctor has been struck off Queensland's medical register after being found guilty of unconventional practice by the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal. West Australian Harvey Tarvydas was prosecuted by the Medical Board of Queensland for giving a Queensland patient what was claimed to be a secret 'stem cell treatment'. The doctor was introduced to patients through the Adhesive Arachnoiditis Sufferers Queensland group, whose members suffer chronic and debilitating pain. He led these patients to believe that he was conducting a trial and that his treatment would stimulate the growth of stem cells and revitalise them.
See story from the Courier Mail.
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2010 International Travel Awards Applications Now Closed
The ASCC International Travel Awards provide financial support for PhD students and early career postdoctoral fellows in Australia to present their research at international meetings and associated laboratory visits and seminars. APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED.
Stem Cells and the Tour de France
It is that time of the year again, when grown men don brightly coloured lycra to sweat their way through the Tour de France...which is timely as there has been some interesting research lately about how exercise affects the stem cell in our brain.
Stem Cell Therapies: Now and in the Future, a Free Public Lecture
CSIRO, in conjunction with the ASCC, is holding a free public lecture on stem cell research. Come along, listen and ask questions of three of Australia's leading experts in embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells and umbilical cord blood stem cells. Topics covered will be current stem cell therapies, current stem cell research and the future potential of stem cells.
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