Stem cells
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Stem cells are a point of pride for the University of Wisconsin, where the first human embryonic stem cell line was developed in 1998 by now-UW School of Medicine and Public Health professor James Thomson's lab.
Since Thompson's breakthrough, the stem cell field has made a vast amount of steps forward, with many advancements coming out of UW. Most notably, in November of 2007 members of Thomson's research group published findings detailing the production of cells that operated like embryonic stem cells from adult skin cells. The induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells, solve for many the ethical dilemma presented by the use of embryonic stem cells.
Until February of 2010, Madison was home to the National Stem Cell Bank, which housed embryonic stem cell lines previously approved to be used in federally funded research. WiCell, which housed the national bank, has since started offering iPS lines as well. After the end of a contract with the United States government that funded NSCB, WiCell began offering stem cell lines at a unsubsidized, higher price.
UW is also a center for research on many kinds of adult stem cells, which are already used in a variety of of treatments.
The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation holds patents for stem cell technology used all over the world. It is hoped stem cell research will lead to further breakthroughs in the treatment of human disease.
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Stem cell basics
Stem cells are cells found in multi-cellular organisms such as humans. They are of interest to the scientific community because of their ability to differentiate into specific, mature types of cells. While there are multiple kinds of stem cells that can develop into specific types of human cells, UW's well known breakthroughs have dealt with pluripotent cells, which can change into almost any mature type of cell.
Stem cells are also of interest because of their self-renewing nature. They are capable of dividing and renewing themselves for very long periods of time. This "proliferation" has given rise to the lines used for research today.
Stem cells are divided into embryonic and adult varieties. Adult stem cells differ from embryonic as most are established in their purpose in the human body. However, induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells have also been developed, which are reprogrammed from human skin cells to adopt the flexible nature of embryonic stem cells.
It is hoped stem cells will someday be used to treat diseases such as cancer, muscle damage and Parkinson's. While embryonic stem cells have not yet reached the human clinical trial stage, adult stem cells have been used to treat leukemia and other cancers through bone marrow transplants.
History
UW at the forefront
Thomson's lab developed the first lines of embryonic stem cells in 1998, marking the first time the cells had been successfully sustained, leading to the development of pluripotent cells. The breakthrough came after a group led by Thompson isolated first primate embryonic stem cells in 1995. The discovery thrust UW into a worldwide spotlight, and it is still known as a center for stem cell research.
In August of 2001, former president George W. Bush announced the federal government would only fund already existing stem cell lines for research. After WARF, which held the patent to UW's developments, claimed all of the qualifying lines fell under its patent (the final tally was they patents for five of 72 lines worldwide), an agreement was reached with the National Institute of Health. The deal allowed WARF to retain its commercial rights but allowed NIH to distribute the cells. WARF also agreed to make the cell lines accessible for non-profit researchers. While stem cells were available from institutions all over the world, UW's lines were especially well-established and accessible, making them among the most commonly distributed.
Since their development, UW scientists had successfully created blood, brain and spinal motor neuron cells, among others. Other advancements made the cells potentially safer for use in humans, such as a new method for development of the pluripotent cells discovered in 2005 that did not make use of "feeder" cells from mice. The cells from mice were considered to be potential contaminants, creating suspicion about their use in human clinical trials.
In October of 2005, UW's WiCell Research Institute, led by Thomson, was selected to house the National Stem Cell Bank, which would house all federally accepted stem cell lines.
iPS cells developed
In November of 2007, a group led by Thomson made another monumental breakthrough with the development of iPS cells. Obtained by introducing four genes into human skin cells, the embryonic-like stem cells were much easier to obtain and overcame many of the moral concerns associated with research on embryonic cells. WiCell began housing the iPS cells in a separate bank in late 2008 and in early 2009 they were successfully used to produce heart cells. A significantly safer variety was introduced in March of 2009 when researchers began using a small circle of DNA instead of a virus to induce the cells. The new variety could still become any variety of cell, but the risk of mutating into a harmful variety such as cancer was gone.
However, a later UW study indicated the iPS cells are not as reliable as natural stem cells.
External links
Notable articles
- NIH, WARF reach deal
- Blood cell created from stem cells
- New stem cell line approved
- Brain cells developed from stem cells
- "UW at center of stem cell debate"
- Stem cells go worldwide
- Spinal motor neurons created from stem cells
- Mouse-derived "feeder" cells no longer necessary
- UW houses nation's first stem cell bank
- iPS cells developed
- WARF signs licensing agreement with biotech company
- WARF patent upheld
- iPS cell bank opens
- Stem cell companies merge
- Heart cells created from iPS cells
- Safer iPS cells developed
- WARF, Pfizer reach research deal
