The level of signal-joint TRECs (sjTRECs) in the blood appears to directly reflect the ability of the transplant recipient's thymus gland to process donated stem cells. High levels of sjTRECs indicate a successful reconstitution of the T cell population, improving patient outcomes.
A new study has provided proof of principle for a combined stem cell-gene therapy approach as a potential treatment for cystic fibrosis. The researchers were able to correct the CFTR gene defect using adult stem cells and ex vivo gene therapy, which may offer advantages in screening and long-term function.
Researchers transplanted BM-SP stem cells into mice with cardiomyopathy, but found that only 2 muscle fibers expressed restored sarcoglycan levels. The study suggests alternative approaches should be investigated for regenerative medicine.
Researchers identified a complete deficiency in the CD3 epsilon chain of the T cell receptor causing SCID, leading to normal B cells but no T cells. Early diagnosis via bone marrow stem cell transplantation can result in a survival rate as high as 97% for patients with this mutation.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic demonstrate the potential of embryonic stem cells to rebuild damaged heart tissue, improving contractile function and ventricular remodeling. The study found that stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes integrated into infarcted areas without adverse effects.
Researchers at the NIH will conduct a clinical study to assess the safety and efficacy of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in treating severe forms of lupus. The study aims to create a new immune system that doesn't attack healthy cells, offering hope for patients with limited treatment options.
The Oregon Stem Cell Center aims to develop therapies using adult stem cells for human diseases through a rapid approach from basic research to animal trials and human studies. The center's focus will be on the liver and pancreas, building on OHSU's existing expertise in cell therapy.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine discovered a rare stem cell in multiple myeloma that gives rise to malignant bone marrow plasma cells. Current treatments may not be effective against this errant stem cell, leading scientists to explore dual-therapy approaches to target both the visible and root causes of the disease.
The University of Minnesota has been awarded a major NIH contract to bring new cellular therapies to human clinical trials. The project will focus on developing biological therapies using adult stem cells, umbilical cord blood, tumor vaccines, and genetically modified immune system cells.
Researchers found that intravenous infusions of human umbilical cord blood stem cells delayed ALS disease progression by at least two to three weeks and improved survival in mice. The cells also circulated to organs outside the central nervous system, suggesting an immune-protective mechanism.
Researchers have developed a method to extend the shelf life of cultured fetal neural stem cells, enabling the generation of enough cells to treat diseases like Parkinson's and ALS. The study characterized long-term neural stem cell lines using gene chip analysis, which may help create customized cells for therapy.
Researchers at Stanford Medicine have successfully isolated a key protein that helps maintain the youthful state of hematopoietic stem cells. The discovery, led by Irving Weissman and Roeland Nusse, reveals how this protein, Wnt, triggers stem cell division and expansion.
Researchers found that thalidomide therapy works for approximately one year on average, with benefits not being transient. The study's findings offer significant hope for improved survival rates in multiple myeloma patients, an incurable cancer.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Lupus Center and Kimmel Cancer Center found that high-dose intravenous cyclophosphamide can lead to complete responses and partial responses in lupus patients who failed standard therapy. The treatment also had fewer side effects compared to traditional treatments.
Researchers are exploring a new stem cell therapy, called therapeutic angiogenesis, to grow new blood vessels in damaged heart muscle. The treatment, which uses cord blood stem cells, aims to improve outcomes for people with severe coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure.
A new gene therapy protocol has successfully treated a child born without an immune system, reversing severe combined immunodeficiency. The procedure improved genetically altered stem cells, giving them a biological advantage and allowing them to prevail over the abnormal cells.
A new program will bring together experts to discuss criteria for selecting stem cell lines and address concerns over safety, transplant rejection, privacy, genetic diversity, and public access. The project aims to anticipate emerging issues and provide a reasoned backdrop for policy decisions.
Scientists have identified a crucial protein called DE-cadherin-mediated cell adhesion, or 'cell glue', which enables stem cells to locate their niche and receive essential instructions for survival. The discovery sheds light on the importance of microenvironment in determining stem cell fate.
The Lancet Neurology aims to report the most important advances in neurology, predicting risk of neurological conditions through genetics and imaging. Experimental therapies like gene therapy and stem cells offer potential for treating neurological disorders.
A team of researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children has discovered two distinct types of stem cells within the blood system, short-term repopulating and long-term repopulating stem cells. These stem cells have different functions and could lead to improved cancer treatment and gene therapy outcomes.
Carolina scientists have identified and purified hepatic stem cells, which can regenerate liver and bile duct tissue. The accomplishment marks a milestone for future liver regeneration through cellular therapy, potentially reducing the need for whole-organ transplants in patients with various liver diseases.
OHSU researchers successfully used bone marrow stem cells to repair liver damage in mice with genetic disease Tyrosinemia. The study shows that hematopoietic stem cells are required for liver cell regeneration, offering hope for new therapies using stem cells.
Researchers at UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center are testing an immunotherapy treatment that involves collecting stem cells from a patient's sibling to attack the cancer. The trial aims to confirm previous NIH study results and explore its potential in treating solid cancers, including prostate and melanoma.
Researchers at BresaGen are working on developing cell-based therapies for Parkinson's Disease and genetic diseases using human embryonic stem cells. The company is focusing on deriving stem cells from normal adult cells to overcome ethical concerns.
Researchers found that high-dose immune suppression and stem-cell transplantation can lead to long-term remission in lupus patients. The treatment approach has implications for the treatment of other immune disorders, including multiple sclerosis and some types of cancers.
Researchers at NYU Langone Health and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have discovered that hair follicles are the source of new cells for the skin's outermost layer, the epidermis. These stem cells reside in a protected area called the bulge, which migrates to the epidermis, replenishing the skin throughout life.
Researchers find functional liver tissue in human patients, solving organ shortages and rejection issues. The discovery also enables the growth of artificial livers and targets gene therapy for inherited liver diseases.
Researchers have identified over 2,000 genes active in blood stem cells, shedding light on how they replenish themselves and potentially inform treatments for diseases like leukemias. The discovery offers a powerful tool for understanding blood cell production and development.
Researchers from HHMI at Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School discovered that stem cells can deliver therapeutic genes to diseased organs, potentially remodeling genetically defective tissues. The study suggests that adult stem cells may be manipulated to heal genetic defects in various organs and tissues.
Researchers have developed a new method to identify and isolate stem cells from umbilical cord blood using an enzyme that changes a fluorescent tag. This technique could help investigate fundamental questions about stem cells and potentially improve success rates of stem cell transplants by eliminating unwanted mature blood cells.
Researchers at the Weizmann Institute developed a molecule that allows blood stem cells to multiply without differentiation in the test tube, improving bone marrow transplantation and gene therapy research. This breakthrough could enable scientists to insert genes into human stem cells for treating genetic disorders.
Researchers at University of Washington successfully grew large numbers of mouse blood stem cells in lab for up to four months. The discovery may allow better care of cancer patients and create possibilities for genetic cures by enabling the multiplication of blood stem cells outside the body.
Researchers found that vaccinated patients had a significantly lower chance of death and relapse compared to non-vaccinated patients. The THERATOPEO vaccine increased specific killing activity against cancer cells, leading to longer remission periods.
Researchers discovered that human stem cells use a specific receptor, CXCR4, to migrate to bone marrow. Treating stem cells with growth factors increased their ability to express this receptor and migrate successfully, improving transplant success rates from 25% to over 90%.
Human neural stem cells have been cloned for the first time in a solid organ, validating decades of research on mouse cell biology. These cells hold potential for future therapies in conditions like Tay-Sachs disease and brain cancer.
A study by scientists at NIAID found that gene therapy can result in prolonged production of functionally normal white blood cells in patients with chronic granulomatous disease. This finding has important clinical implications for the treatment of this rare immunologic disorder.