Articles tagged with Stem Cells
Researchers at UCSF have discovered that animal cells use cytonemes to transmit signals over long distances through physical contact. This challenges the standard understanding of cell communication and highlights a new mechanism for signal transfer in tissues.
Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center have discovered a control mechanism that can trigger the development of myelodysplastic syndromes by promoting inflammation and preventing healthy blood cells from developing. The study found that targeting this mechanism may lead to new treatment options for people with certain blood cancers.
A systematic review of animal studies found that stem cell therapy can improve sensory and motor outcomes for spinal cord injury patients, with average improvements of 25% in both areas. The study's meta-analysis also revealed important lessons on how to design future animal studies.
Mary Ann Liebert, President and CEO of Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., will receive the 2013 Education Award from the Genetics Policy Institute. She is being honored for her work educating patients, researchers, and the broader stem cell community about the promise and applications of stem cells in medicine.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center have developed a novel procedure to prepare human amniotic membrane for use as a scaffold for specialized stem cells, which may treat corneal diseases such as blindness. The new method promises to streamline clinical applications of cell therapies and accelerate research in this area.
Researchers have developed nanoscale patches that can be used to sensitize targeted cell receptors, making them more responsive to signals. This technology holds promise for promoting healing and facilitating tissue engineering research.
Researchers at the University of Granada have successfully grown artificial skin using Wharton jelly mesenchymal stem cells from the umbilical cord. This breakthrough could provide instant use for burn victims, reducing the need for weeks-long growth periods.
Researchers found that two salamander species have distinct ways of regrowing muscles, with one relying on dedifferentiation and the other on stem cells. This discovery may lead to a better understanding of human muscle regeneration and potentially treat muscular dystrophy.
Researchers identified critical role of stem cell factor in cardiac repair and regeneration, showing potential clinical benefits of gene transfer to reverse heart damage. The study demonstrated significant improvement in cardiac function and reduced heart muscle cell death.
San Diego State University has received a $8.5 million grant to study how the heart heals and ways stem cells can help repair it. Researchers aim to clear away limitations that limit cardiac function and restore quality of life for patients suffering from heart failure.
A study by the American Society of Hematology found that bone marrow transplant is linked to diminished sexual health in both men and women. Chronic graft-versus-host disease and total body irradiation are particularly damaging, with men experiencing a decline in libido and dysfunction.
Scientists at VIB and Ghent University identified a new protein, ERF115 transcription factor, which regulates quiescent center cells. This discovery explains why plants can live for hundreds of years while animals typically do not.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE reveals that sweat gland stem cells have the ability to differentiate into multiple cell types, including hair follicles and skin layers. This discovery offers exciting possibilities for developing stem cell-based treatments for conditions like hyperhidrosis and hypohidrosis.
A team of researchers at the University of Copenhagen has developed a new 3D method to efficiently expand pancreatic cells, allowing for the growth of miniature human pancreas models. These models can be used to test new drugs and therapies for diabetes without the need for animal models.
A team led by Chris Sullivan found that RNA interference does not play a role as an antiviral in most body cells in mammals. Researchers suggest that RNAi may have evolved to regulate the protein-based immune response instead.
Human skin stem cells have been found to possess a natural internal clock, which helps them regulate functions such as UV protection in response to circadian changes. This finding could lead to new strategies for preventing premature aging and cancer.
A study found that binge drinking slows bone healing by impairing the formation of hard bony tissue and recruiting stem cells to the injury site. Alcohol also increases oxidative stress, which can lead to weaker bones.
A team of engineers has developed a new approach that marries computer vision and hardware optimization to sort cells up to 38 times faster than current techniques. The approach improves on imaging flow cytometry, which uses camera mounted on a microscope to capture cell features.
A researcher at UT Arlington is working on a new method using nanoparticles to recruit stem cells and build needed stents in failing blood vessels. The goal is to treat peripheral artery disease, which affects about 8 million Americans, with a less invasive approach that could save patients' lives.
Researchers at Rice University and MD Anderson Cancer Center will analyze protein networks in stem cells using a combination of technologies. The goal is to understand how cells change their status and behaviors, which could lead to new insights into cancer development.
Researchers discovered that the transcription factor EBF1 is crucial for maintaining B cell identity and preventing alternative fates. When EBF1 was switched off, transplanted B cells forgot their previous identity and developed into T cells and natural killer cells.
Researchers at Caltech have discovered a new mechanism for creating macrophages by increasing the accumulation of regulatory protein PU.1 through slowed cell division. The process involves an unexpected cycle where cell division slows, allowing higher PU.1 levels to accumulate and prompt macrophage generation.
Researchers have developed a new biomaterial that can deliver reparative cells to the nucleus pulposus, or jelly-like cushion found between spinal discs. The gel mix holds cells in place upon injection and provides environmental cues to promote their persistence and biosynthesis.
Lamins are essential proteins supporting the organization of stem cell niches, which regulate proliferation and differentiation of germline stem cells. This discovery could lead to a better understanding of diseases caused by lamin mutations and their impact on tissue degeneration.
Scientists have successfully targeted a malfunctioning immune system enzyme to eliminate diseased cells from patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a blood disorder and precursor to leukemia. The research provides a molecular target for designing new drugs, offering a promising treatment option.
In a Phase 2 study, ibrutinib demonstrated an overall response rate of 68% and complete response rate of 21% in patients with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma. The treatment showed promise with fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy approaches.
A new study from USC researchers has found that a genetic mutation in testis stem cells increases the production of sperm carrying the disease trait, making older fathers more likely to pass it along to their children. This mutation gives an edge over normal stem cells, resulting in higher frequencies of new cases every generation.
Researchers found that amniotic fluid stem cells can communicate with mature heart cells through channels in the membrane, forming functional gap junction connections. However, these cells do not differentiate into cardiac tissue under these conditions.
Researchers found that human brown adipose tissue is abundant in deep neck regions and can be grown into functional cells. These findings open possibilities for studying BAT's role in metabolism and developing treatments to combat obesity.
UCSF scientists discovered that muscle repair requires the action of two types of cells: eosinophils and fibro/adipogenic cells. Eosinophils help clear cellular debris and collaborate with FAP cells to trigger muscle regrowth.
Researchers at RIKEN have identified a compound that could be used to prevent relapse in acute myeloid leukemia patients, particularly those with the FLT3-ITD mutation. The compound targets human primary AML stem cells and reduces AML cell counts in mouse models.
A new study identifies osteopontin as a potential new leukemia treatment target. The protein helps leukemia cells avoid the effects of chemotherapy by appearing dormant in the bone marrow environment.
Researchers found that intestinal stem-cell regeneration in fruit flies varies with the time of day, with gut healing being more effective at certain times. This study sheds light on how circadian rhythms control daily functions and has potential applications for human health, including optimizing chemotherapy timing.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University developed a new material system that permits 3D patterning to regulate stem cell behavior, offering promise for studying influences on cell fate decisions. The technique enables local control over cell proliferation and differentiation, potentially allowing the engineering of complex tissues.
Researchers grew and analysed stem cells from patients with von Willebrand disease to identify the cause of the disease in individual patients, enabling more effective treatments. The technique may also be used to treat diseases of the heart, blood and circulation, including haemophilia.
Researchers envision cell-based therapeutics as a promising approach to treat critical diseases. Cells can adapt and respond better than small-molecule drugs, offering a more predictable treatment option.
A study led by University of Washington researchers shows that genetic engineering can increase dATP levels in heart cells, leading to improved heart muscle function and greater force of contraction. The findings suggest a potential therapeutic treatment for heart failure conditions.
A new technique allows researchers to create complex tissues with any spatial organization, mimicking the body's natural complexity. The 'lock-and-key' method uses tiny shapes that lock into templates, allowing for rapid assembly of large tissues and precise control over cell alignment.
Researchers at RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology successfully cloned mice multiple times using somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) technique, overcoming previous limitations. The study published in Cell Stem Cell reveals no accumulation of genetic or epigenetic abnormalities after repeated cloning.
Researchers used a 'homing' signal to activate stem cells in heart failure patients, improving symptoms and heart function. The study found that 50% of patients showed positive effects one year after treatment, indicating potential for this therapy to widely treat heart failure patients.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University discovered a missing RNA element that significantly improves the effectiveness of gene therapy. The element, called Genomic RNA Packaging Enhancer element (GRPE), coordinates the production and filling of genetic material in viral vectors.
A new study from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and UC Berkeley uses blue light to activate specific proteins into large clusters, controlling cell signaling. This technique has potential applications in understanding cellular function and optimizing energy production.
Researchers at MIT have designed new synthetic biology circuits that combine memory and logic, enabling the creation of long-term environmental sensors and efficient controls for biomanufacturing. These circuits can be used to program stem cells to differentiate into other cell types and provide precise long-term memory.
Research reveals diabetes disrupts bone marrow's ability to produce and repair stem cells, exacerbating cardiovascular disease. MicroRNAs play a crucial role in this process, and targeting them may offer new treatments for diabetic patients.
Scientists at Forsyth Institute have made a groundbreaking discovery about latent tuberculosis, finding that the bacteria can lay dormant in bone marrow stem cells. This understanding has significant clinical implications, explaining why patients with TB remain sensitive to tests and treatment is so challenging.
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine reprogrammed eye cells to prevent degeneration and allowed mice with retinitis pigmentosa to see. The study aims to develop therapies that can alleviate many forms of visual impairment by modifying existing cells in the eye.
Researchers in Calgary have launched the world's first gene therapy clinical trial for Fabry disease, a rare inherited enzyme deficiency. The trial aims to transplant stem cells with a working copy of the GLA gene into patients, potentially curing the condition.
Scientists at UC Santa Cruz used a novel technique to study the structural and mechanical properties of telomeres, which could guide the development of new anti-cancer drugs. The research found that a small structural displacement causes the G-quadruplex structure to unfold, revealing its mechanical stability.
Stem-cell therapy has been shown to prevent the decline in heart function associated with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The treatment involves transplanting stem cells derived from normal mouse blood vessels into the hearts of mice with DMD, where it prevents dilated cardiomyopathy and promotes angiogenesis.
A Phase 2 clinical trial of ibrutinib in relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma reported a 68% overall response rate and 22% complete remission rate, with few side effects. The drug's efficacy was consistent across different patient populations, making it a promising treatment option for patients with this aggressive disease.
Researchers at the University of Sheffield recreated randomly distributed sticky spots in stem cells to maximize adhesion and act as internal scaffolding. The findings will help inform biomaterials development for optimal stem cell growth.
Researchers at the University of Sheffield have developed a new method for delivering stem cell therapy to treat corneal blindness. The technique uses biodegradable discs loaded with stem cells that can multiply and repair damaged eyes naturally. This approach has the potential to be more accessible and safer than current treatments.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a way to selectively kill some diseased cells while treating others in the same sample using tunable plasmonic nanobubbles. The process activates with a pulse of laser light and leaves neighboring healthy cells untouched.
A research team has uncovered the molecular structure of MITF, a master regulator central to melanoma and other diseases. The X-ray analysis revealed unexpected insertions that limit MITF's ability to bind to DNA, providing a rational basis for the development of tailor-made drugs targeting this protein.
A study by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine reveals how T-cell exhaustion occurs in chronic viral infections, with implications for novel therapies. The team found that two distinct classes of virus-specific CD8+ T cells work together to keep the infection in check, but their long-term pressure depletes progenitor pools.
Scientists at the University of Toronto have discovered a method to transform aged stem cells into functioning-like younger ones, paving the way for growing cardiac patches from patient's own cells. This breakthrough could potentially avoid rejection and treat damaged or diseased hearts.
A study published in Genome Biology reveals a link between transposable elements and the expression of stem cell-specific long noncoding RNAs. ERV transposition may have given rise to these lincRNAs, which have important regulatory roles.
A genetically-engineered vaccine aims to prevent HIV infection by continually producing disease-fighting cells. The new approach could provide long-term protection and potentially be adapted for use against other infections.
Researchers are using bioprinting to grow cells in 3D scaffolds that can be used to regenerate tissue, with the potential to treat diseases such as cavity wounds. However, limitations include cell survival rates and guaranteeing consistent quality.
A NIST team developed a model to predict cell behavior and change, using a data-driven landscape approach. The method provides reliable numbers for the complex evolution of cell populations, crucial for biomanufacturing and stem cell therapies.