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ESC Congress 2003: Stem cell therapy for myocardial repair & regeneration
September 01, 2003IMPORTANT: This press release accompanies both a presentation and an ESC press conference given at the ESC Congress 2003. Written by the investigator himself/herself, this press release does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Society of Cardiology
Heart attack and the resulting heart failure is still one of the leading causes of death in the western world. Therefore, new theraepeutical approaches to restore damaged heart tissue are indispensable. Prof. Hescheler's research group has been working with murine embryonic stem cells for over 14 years now and was the first group worldwide to obviously measure physiological functions on embryonic stem cells.
Recently his group demonstrated that cardiac precursor cells, especially differentiated out of pluripotent embryonic stem cells and injected in infarcted heart tissue, are able to build up new functioning heart muscle tissue.
Embryonic stem cells can differentiate into nearly 200 different tissues. The main focus in his institute in Cologne is placed on the special development of so called cardiac precursor cells, "fore-runners" of differentiated, adult heart muscle cells. But how can we manage to lead many early embryonic stem cells on a physiological way to become fresh functioning heart cells?
For this reason many molecular biological steps are necessary, including some genetic "tricks". At first a special protein-promotor is combined, which only works in cardiac precursor cells, with a green fluoescent protein, which stems from an atlantic jellyfish. If a cardiac precursor cell develops, this cell can be identifed by its green colour in the fluorescent microscope.
Furthermore to this "genetic double-construct" a gene is bound, which makes the cardiac precursor cells resistant against special antibiotics. If the antibiotics are then given into the cell suspension, only cardiac precursor cells survive.
In a mouse model a heart-attack-like damage by cryoinfarction is induced and the prepared cells injected into the infarcted area. After two weeks the heart is examined and wonderful green fluorescent tissue can be found, where before only dead material had been.
The physiological engraftment of the cells can be by different investigations such as echocardiography, heart-catheterization and many cellular processes. Even better: a significant benefit in the survival rate of infarcted and then cell-transplanted mice compared to animals without the transplantation can be proven.
Due to the promising results, the same will be performed on human embryonic stem cells. Prof. Hescheler's group is one of three in Germany, found to be ethically sound and allowed by the government to import human embryonic stem cells for scientific purposes.
Professor Dr. med. Jürgen Hescheler
Institute of Physiology at the University of Cologne, Cologne
Germany
European Society of Cardiology (ESC)
Embryonic stem cells can differentiate into nearly 200 different tissues. The main focus in his institute in Cologne is placed on the special development of so called cardiac precursor cells, "fore-runners" of differentiated, adult heart muscle cells. But how can we manage to lead many early embryonic stem cells on a physiological way to become fresh functioning heart cells?
For this reason many molecular biological steps are necessary, including some genetic "tricks". At first a special protein-promotor is combined, which only works in cardiac precursor cells, with a green fluoescent protein, which stems from an atlantic jellyfish. If a cardiac precursor cell develops, this cell can be identifed by its green colour in the fluorescent microscope.
Furthermore to this "genetic double-construct" a gene is bound, which makes the cardiac precursor cells resistant against special antibiotics. If the antibiotics are then given into the cell suspension, only cardiac precursor cells survive.
In a mouse model a heart-attack-like damage by cryoinfarction is induced and the prepared cells injected into the infarcted area. After two weeks the heart is examined and wonderful green fluorescent tissue can be found, where before only dead material had been.
The physiological engraftment of the cells can be by different investigations such as echocardiography, heart-catheterization and many cellular processes. Even better: a significant benefit in the survival rate of infarcted and then cell-transplanted mice compared to animals without the transplantation can be proven.
Due to the promising results, the same will be performed on human embryonic stem cells. Prof. Hescheler's group is one of three in Germany, found to be ethically sound and allowed by the government to import human embryonic stem cells for scientific purposes.
Professor Dr. med. Jürgen Hescheler
Institute of Physiology at the University of Cologne, Cologne
Germany
European Society of Cardiology (ESC)
Stem Cells Current Events and Stem Cells News RSSGene mismatch influences success of bone marrow transplants
A commonly inherited gene deletion can increase the likelihood of immune complications following bone marrow transplantation, an international team of researchers reports in the November 22 advance online issue of Nature Genetics.
New research shows versatility of amniotic fluid stem cells
For the first time, scientists have demonstrated that stem cells found in amniotic fluid meet an important test of potential to become specialized cell types, which suggests they may be useful for treating a wider array of diseases and conditions than scientists originally thought.
First reconstitution of an epidermis from human embryonic stem cells
Stem cell research is making great strides. This is yet again illustrated by a study carried out by the I-STEM* Institute (I-STEM/ Inserm UEVE U861/AFM), published in the Lancet on 21 November 2009. The I-STEM team, directed by Marc Peschanski has just succeeded in recreating a whole epidermis from human embryonic stem cells.
Bone Implant Offers Hope for Skull Deformities
A synthetic bone matrix offers hope for babies born with craniosynostosis, a condition that causes the plates in the skull to fuse too soon.
Your Own Stem Cells Can Treat Heart Disease
The largest national stem cell study for heart disease showed the first evidence that transplanting a potent form of adult stem cells into the heart muscle of subjects with severe angina results in less pain and an improved ability to walk. The transplant subjects also experienced fewer deaths than those who didn't receive stem cells.
Is hepatic differentiation of embryonic stem cells induced by valproic acid and cytokines?
Embryonic stem (ES) cells, known for their capacity to proliferate indefinitely and differentiate into almost all types of cells including hepatocytes, have raised the hope of cellular replacement therapy for liver failure.
Paradoxical protein might prevent cancer
One difficulty with fighting cancer cells is that they are similar in many respects to the body's stem cells. By focusing on the differences, researchers at Karolinska Institutet have found a new way of tackling colon cancer. The study is presented in the prestigious journal Cell.
U of M researchers find 2 units of umbilical cord blood reduce risk of leukemia recurrence
A new study from the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota shows that patients who have acute leukemia and are transplanted with two units of umbilical cord blood (UCB) have significantly reduced risk of the disease returning.
The use of stem cells in regenerative medicine may also be detrimental for health
The use of stem cells in regenerative medicine is not always beneficial for human health, it may even be harmful according to a work done by the University of Granada and University of León. Scientists have demonstrated that transplantation of human mononuclear cells isolated from umbilical cord blood exerted a deleterious effect in rats with liver cirrhosis.
Penn Study Provides First Clear Idea of How Rare Bone Disease Progresses
An international team of scientists, led by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, is taking the first step in developing a treatment for a rare genetic disorder called fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), in which the body's skeletal muscles and soft connective tissue turns to bone, immobilizing patients over a lifetime with a second skeleton.
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