Stem Cells in Bone Marrow

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Rochester Area Right To Life

Bone marrow stem cells - a "brainy" success in the lab

Stem Cells 
and the brain
and in heart attack

Dr. John S. Yu recently completed a study in which stem cells from adult rat bone marrow were successfully transported into the brains of rats who had ischemic brain lesions.

In this study, the stem cells were injected into the arteries of adult rats along with modified viruses to assist the transport into the brain. Within 48 hours, the cells were distributed in the brain, showing that they had crossed the barriers protecting the brain from infection or other attack.

The bone marrow stem cells differentiated into three different types of neural cells: astrocytes, neurons, and ologodendroglia. Dr. Yu found it interesting that the cells seemed to have migrated to the areas of the brain that had been damaged, the areas in need of repair. This suggests that the stem cells may move to areas of damage regardless of the source of the damage, whether from stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, brain cancer, or Parkinson’s disease.

Regarding application of the findings, Dr. Yu says he thinks the door is "wide open" for treating those diseases. Further research will be required to verify functioning of the new cells, of course. but one advantage is that the bone marrow is a ready reservoir of stem cells. A patient treated with his own stem cells is free from the common rejection risk of transplant procedures.

He noted that the use of a patient’s own cells both reduces the risk to the patient and also eliminates the ethical problems posed by using stem cells obtained by sacrificing embryos.

Source: UPI; December 20, 2002 as quoted in Pro-Life Infonet 12/24/02 #2598  The Pro-Life Infonet is a daily compilation of pro-life news and information. To subscribe, send the message "subscribe" to: [email protected]. Infonet is sponsored by Women and Children First (http://www.womenandchildrenfirst.org). For more pro-life info visit http://www.prolifeinfo.org and for questions or additional information email [email protected]


 Bone marrow stem cells helpful for heart attack

Researchers in Germany have found that heart attack victims can benefit from injections of stem cells from their own bone marrow. A team at the University of Rostock extracted the cells from the bone marrow of six heart attack victims and injected them back into the patients' hearts. Although every patient was also given conventional treatment, doctors are confident that the stem cell injections improved blood flow to the heart by prompting the growth of new heart tissue. [BBC News online, 3 January] This is yet further evidence that ethical adult stem cell technology has greater therapeutic potential than the use of stem cells extracted from embryos and so-called therapeutic cloning.

Source: "SPUC information" <[email protected]>


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