THE DREAM OF IMPLANTING EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS INTO HUMANS WILL NOT COME TO PASS, THOUGH THE BILLIONS “RESEARCHERS ARE RIPPING OFF FROM TAXPAYERS WILL GO ON FOR YEARS. HOWEVER, THERE IS ONE LEGITIMATE USE FOR EMBRYONIC RESEARCH, AND THAT IS IN USING EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS TO TEACH US ABOUT DISEASES AND OTHER VITAL INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THE BODY WORKS.--DM

EXTRACTED FROM THE DECCAN HERALD, FEB 5, 2008.

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Feb52008/snt2008020550496.asp

Stem cell therapy, though in a nascent stage, has been a promising area. Here in Bangalore, Manipal Hospital has been at the forefront in the field. A drug based on stem cells will be ready by next year end, the researchers assure. Jayalakshmi K reports.

Predicting human birth defects in a developing foetus by studying embryonic stem cells on a Petri dish, as also testing drugs in a more quicker and cost-effective way, is now possible, thanks to work done by a group of scientists. Researchers at the Manipal Institute of Regenerative Medicine and Stempeutics have come up with a way of designing safer drugs and understanding their effects on pregnancy and the development of the foetus. Embryonic stem cells provide a reliable source for studying in a Petri dish, the formation of all the 220 different tissues of the human body. They produce early embryo-like entities, known as embryoid bodies (EBs). These make a population of cells representing all the germ layers (the ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm). The skin and the nervous system arise from the ectoderm, the mesoderm forms tissues like the cardiomyocytes, bone and blood, and the endoderm forms the liver, lungs, intestine, etc. of the developing embryo. The early embryo growing in the mother's womb can cross-talk with the maternal environment, and responds to the factors around it. Common bacterial infections of the maternal genital tract, like bacterial vaginosis, can lead to poor pregnancy outcomes. The EBs closely mimic a growing embryo in a mother's womb. As ethical issues limit studies on the molecular in human embryos, the EBs are handy. The team led by Dr Kaushik Deb (Group leader and Principal Scientist, Embryonic Stem Cell Program) has shown that the presence of very low amounts of bacterial lipopolysaccahrides (LPS), a toxin found in E-coli in the environment, can cause defects in the development of tissues like the bones in the growing foetus. By testing drugs and toxins on these cells, drug discovery can skip valuable time spent on animal studies as well as cost. "The time for drug discovery can be cut from 14 to seven years on an average," says Dr Satish Totey, Chief Scientific Officer, Stempeutics Research. It would also be a good tool for IVF clinics, he adds. The findings were recently published in the online version of the journal Regenerative Medicine. MIRM is a constituent institute of Manipal University focusing on fundamental research and education. Work done here is taken across by Stempeutics which does the pilot studies and clinical trails.

AS REGULAR READERS KNOW, I CONSIDER AMERICA “THE BANGLADESH OF STEM CELLS.  LIKE CHILDREN LOST IN A FOREST, AMERICA WANDERS AROUND, HOPELESSLY CAUGHT UP IN A POLITICAL/RELIGIOUS BATTLE OVER THE SCIENCE FICTION OF EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS. AS FAR AS THE REAL SCIENCE OF ADULT STEM CELLS IS CONCERNED, CHINA AND INDIA ARE SO FAR AHEAD OF THE USA THAT AMERICA MAY NEVER CATCH UP. 

 

HERE IS A FEB.2008 ARTICLE FROM INDIA.  IT IS SAFE TO SAY THAT WHILE A PRECIOUS FEW AMERICAN RESEARCHERS KNOW SOME OF THE FACTS IN THIS ARTICLE, NONE OF THEM WILL BE INVOLVED IN THIS CUTTING EDGE RESEARCH DURING THIS DECADE, IF EVER, IN THE LAND OF THE FREE.  FURTHER, IN MY OPINION, EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS WILL NOT BE IMPLANTED INTO HUMANS TO HELP CURE THE BELOW DISEASES DURING THE LIFETIMES OF AMERICANS SUFFERING FROM THESE DISEASES TODAY.---DM

 

EXTRACTED FROM THE DECCAN HERALD, FEB 5, 2008.

 

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Feb52008/snt2008020550496.asp

 

Stempeutics has been doing some pioneering work on stem cells with a focus on "benchside to bedside", as the manager, Manohar says. "We do not want to be doing research that is too basic to be applied."

At present, four major clinical trials with 100 patients each are ongoing in cerebral strokes (!), limb Ischemia (!), myocardial infarction and multiple sclerosis (!).  (OF THESE FOUR, ONLY MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION IS CURRENTLTLY IN CLINICAL TRIAL IN THE USA---DM)  These are some diseases for which pilot tests have shown satisfactory to good results. Parkinson's is another ailment that has responded well but as it involves brain surgery, is a bit more complicated.

Calling it experimental therapy, Manohar says that almost 80 patients have been treated using mesenchymal stem cells, found in the bone marrow. "In the last six months alone almost 40 patients have been treated and in 25 per cent of the cases, the results were good. While the Parkinson's patients showed remarkable recovery (TAKE NOTE, MICHAEL J. FOX. AS CHRISTOPHER REEVE DID, YOU ARE WASTING YOUR LIFE CHAMPIONING EMBRYONIC SCIENCE FICTION WHICH EXISTS ONLY BY PRETENDING THAT WHAT CAN HELP YOU NOW---ASC-- DOES NOT WORKDM)  with many even stopping the drug, with spinal cord injuries there was mixed results," says Dr Totey. It was found that the cells were not migrating to the site.

One of the reasons he cited could be the mode of delivery of stem cells. Usually it is delivered at the site of injury, or through lumbar puncture or the arterial route. The site of injury is the best approach, though in the case of brain diseases, this means complications.

The stem cell treatment works well for fresh injuries but some experts believe that the body sends stem cells naturally in this period. After six months or so, the scar tissue forms and can hinder the migration of stem cells administered.

A patient from Rajkot had been paralysed after falling from a giant wheel at Essel World. After two years the family contacted Manipal hospital in 2006. "We did the MRI scan and identified the injury points on the spine and at these places we made incisions to take out the scar tissue. It became a fresh injury so the stem cells we injected went unhindered to the damaged spot," notes Dr Totey.

Now she has recovered to a large extent, can move around and has control of the bladder, etc. She required two injections so far, of stem cells drawn from her bone marrow.

Unlike usual bone marrow transplants where a litre of the liquid is drawn each time, with mesenchymal adult stem cells, all that is required is 30-60 ml which can be cultured in the lab for future use as well, he says.
Unlike most other adult stem cells, mesenchymal are pluripotent and can grow into any tissue. The other big advantage is that there is no need for matching. Any donor can donate cells from his bone marrow. As it takes 20-25 days to culture the stem cells in lab, this is an advantage as readily available cells can be administered in emergency situations instead of having to draw from the patient's bone marrow and culture.

"The problem is in isolation and culturing. Very small quantities of the cell are present in the bone marrow. We have patented the technology," says Totey.

In the case of cerebral stroke, the problem arises in delivering stem cells due to the blood brain barrier. This is a natural barrier of the body which prevents most antibodies and toxins, even cells, from going into the brain. During an injury, just for very short time the diaphragm is also damaged and allows passage. Unless the patient comes in this time, stem cells can't be delivered through the blood route.

Despite the country still lacking a law on stem cell therapy, the DCGI has allowed Stempeutics to conduct trials at multiple sites. The draft guidelines have been awaiting discussion almost since two years now. It is expected to be tabled in Parliament this summer.

There are plans to add a few more diseases to the present list under study. These include vitiligo (a skin eruption), dilated cardiomyopathy, end-stage liver disease, etc.

"By end 2009, we hope to have the first defined stem cell based drug for standard therapy on the shelf, just like all other medicines. This will be for a few of the diseases studied," says Manohar.

In the area of transplants too, stem cells can do miracles as witnessed when a heart taken from a cadaver came alive when a "stem cell scaffold" was introduced. Essentially, a 3-dimensional makes it easy for stem cells to multiply and form a whole new organ.

"This needs some amount of tissue engineering and we are working with some US universities as also Sri Thirunal Institute in Trivandrum who are experts in polymer science. Using biomimetic material which is also bio-degradable, we introduce a small heart inside the dead one. Eventually the scaffolding falls off and the stem cells have done their job," explains Dr Totey. This will be a big boon for transplants because stem cells can only help repair a damaged tissue if the damage is small but if the whole organ has failed, we need transplants, he adds.

February 21, 2008

Janaina Ferreira da Silva Lima MD reports that Natalie Quintana of Miami, who suffers from Spinal Muscular Atrophy (FSMA), was treated with adult stem cell therapy in Latin America by Dr. Fernandez Vina on  14 September 2007. Prior to the therapy, Natalie used two canes to support her weight with her shoulders. Recent electromyography studies indicate some muscles have regenerated.  See her video under the blogroll to the right (same title).

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DON MARGOLIS IS A STRONG SUPPORTER OF AUTOLOGOUS STEM CELLS (CELLS DERIVED FROM THE PATIENT'S OWN BODY). HE RECOGNIZES ADVANCES ARE BEING MADE USING UMBILICAL CORD BLOOD AND/OR PLACENTA-DERIVED CELLS, ESPECIALLY IN THE NEW STEM CELL SPECIALTY OF NEUROLOGY. QUITE NATURALLY, THESE NON-AUTOLOGOUS ADULT STEM CELLS CAN ONLY BE PARTIALLY MATCHED TO THE PATIENT, AND WHILE SHORT TERM SUCCESSES HAVE BEEN VALIDATED, HE SUGGESTS SOME CAUTION UNTIL THE LONG TERM BENEFITS ARE CLEARER. WE ARE TRYING TO GET PROOF OF ONE-YEAR VIABILITY TO PUBLISH HERE.

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For the 10th time in four years, Geron has announced an upcoming clinical trial. Maybe THIS time will turn out to be true, but I'm not betting on it. ~MASC

Geron aims to be first in human trials with ESCs
by admin

In a first, Geron made headlines at the BIO CEO conference in New York with its announcement that it could begin its first human trials using embryonic stem cells to treat spinal cord injuries as...

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