Surprise: Lost stem cells naturally replaced by non-stem cells, fly research suggests

By adminApril 18, 2014Stem Cell Medical Center

12 hours ago

Johns Hopkins researchers have discovered an unexpected phenomenon in the organs that produce sperm in fruit flies: When a certain kind of stem cell is killed off experimentally, another group of non-stem cells can come out of retirement to replace them.

The discovery sheds light on the tiny "environments" that stem cells occupy in animal bodies and may help explain how stem cells in tumors replenish themselves, the researchers report in the May 8 issue of the journal Cell Reports. Damage of the kind duplicated in the laboratory occurs naturally after exposure to radiation and perhaps also after ingestion of toxic chemicals such as those used in chemotherapy.

The research group, led by Erika Matunis, Ph.D., a professor of cell biology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, has been using the fruit fly as a model living system in which to study stem cells in their natural state. Most stem cell research is done on cells grown in the laboratory, but in real life, stem cells reside in tissues, where they are sequestered in tiny spaces known as niches. Adult stem cells keep dividing throughout life to make various kinds of cells, like new blood cells and germ cells.

Matunis's group studies such niches in fruit fly testes, the sperm-producing organs shaped like a coiled tube whose end houses a niche. In the niche are three kinds of cells: germ line stem cells, which divide to produce sperm; somatic cyst stem cells, which make a kind of cell that helps the sperm-producing cells out; and hub cells, which make signals that keep the other two kinds of cells going.

The hub cells are not stem cells; they have settled on their final form, incapable of dividing further or changing their functionor so everyone thought.

However, in a bid to figure out what happens when the somatic cyst stem cells are killed off, Matunis suggested that graduate student Phylis Hti figure out how to best do away with them, thinking the task would be straightforward.

Instead, she says, "it took a lot of heroic, patient combinations" of different genes working together to kill the somatic cyst cells, Matunis says.

"When we finally figured out a way to kill all of the somatic stem cells, we thought that the rest of the tissue would probably just empty out," she says. In 35 percent of testes, that's just what happened. But in the rest, the somatic stem cells grew back.

This was a surprise, Matunis says, and left a puzzle: Where were the new somatic stem cells coming from?

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Surprise: Lost stem cells naturally replaced by non-stem cells, fly research suggests

Center denies hand in Ateneo alum's death, calls for probe into all hospitals and docs she consulted

By adminApril 12, 2014Stem Cell Medical Center

By: InterAksyon.com April 12, 2014 12:57 PM

InterAksyon.com The online news portal of TV5

The Green and Young Health and Wellness Center, the facility at the center of allegations of malpractice that allegedly led to the death of an Ateneo de Manila alumna in 2013, on Saturday called for a broader investigation into "all hospitals where she was admitted and all doctors who treated her right before she died".

Stressing that the student, Katherine Grace Tan, "was never given stem cell treatment by the Center or Dr. Antonia Park," the Green and Yough Health and Wellness Center said it was unjustly singled out and wrongly portrayed as accountable for the young womans death.

A cum laude graduate from the Ateneo de Manila University, Tan was reported to be suffering from Hodgkin's lymphoma, when she allegedly underwent treatment at Parks wellness center.

The girl's father, Bernard Tan, claimed his daughter underwent stem cell therapy there after allegedly being advised by Park.

In a statement, however, the Green and Young Health and Wellness Center in Tagaytay City said: "Ms. Katherine Grace Tan was never given stem cell treatment by the Center or Dr. Antonia Park. The allegation is not true."

The Center's statement, released through its lawyer, Stephen Cascolan, added: "As to the cause of death, Ms. Tan's memory deserves to be honored in a manner that is true, fair, and just. Mr. Bernard Tan, the father who brought his daughter to many other physicians right before Ms. Tan died, and long after she visited the Center in July 2012, should show to the public the competent and actual medical findings showing cause of death. All hospitals where she was admitted and all doctors who treated her right before she died should be investigated. An autopsy be conducted to ascertain real and actual cause of death. Only in this manner can the issue be resolved."

Not licensed in the Philippines

Earlier this month, it was reported that Park hadadmitted that she wasn't licensed to practice in the Philippines. Records from the theProfessional Regulatory Commission as of August 2013 showed that Park was not on the list of physicians authorized to practice medicine in the country.

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Center denies hand in Ateneo alum's death, calls for probe into all hospitals and docs she consulted

Researchers identify transcription factors distinguishing glioblastoma stem cells

By adminApril 11, 2014Stem Cell Medical Center

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

10-Apr-2014

Contact: Sue McGreevey smcgreevey@partners.org 617-724-2764 Massachusetts General Hospital

The activity of four transcription factors proteins that regulate the expression of other genes appears to distinguish the small proportion of glioblastoma cells responsible for the aggressiveness and treatment resistance of the deadly brain tumor. The findings by a team of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators, which will be published in the April 24 issue of Cell and are receiving advance online release, support the importance of epigenetics processes controlling whether or not genes are expressed in cancer pathology and identify molecular circuits that may be targeted by new therapeutic approaches.

"We have identified a code of 'molecular switches' that control a very aggressive subpopulation of brain cancer cells, so-called glioblastoma stem cells," says Mario Suv, MD, PhD, of the MGH Department of Pathology and Center for Cancer Research, co-lead author of the Cell article. "Understanding what drives these aggressive cells will give us insights into alternative ways of eliminating them and potentially changing the course of this very deadly tumor."

Normal biological development follows an orderly hierarchical progression from stem cells, capable of differentiating into almost any type of cell, to progenitor cells, giving rise to specific subtypes of cells and tissues, to fully differentiated cells. While the process usually proceeds in a one-way direction, artificially inducing the activity of key transcription factors can reprogram differentiated cells back into a stem-like state, a discovery honored with the 2012 Nobel prize.

Small populations of adult stem cells with somewhat limited developmental potential are responsible for the body's ability to heal injuries and replace worn out cells and tissues, and evidence is growing that rare cancer stem cells are responsible for the uncontrolled growth of some malignant tumors, including glioblastoma. Several studies have used cell-surface markers proteins found on the outer membranes of tumor cells to identify glioblastoma stem cells; but the specific markers used have been controversial and cannot reflect molecular processes going on within tumor cells. The current study was designed to clarify the cellular hierarchy underlying glioblastoma, to identify epigenetic factors that distinguish glioblastoma stem cells from more differentiated tumor cells and to suggest potential therapies targeting those factors.

In a series of experiments, the researchers first identified a set of 19 transcription factors that were expressed at significantly greater levels in cultured human glioblastoma stem cells capable of tumor propagation than in differentiated tumor cells. Testing each of these factors for their ability to return differentiated tumor cells to a stem-like state, identified a combination of four POU3F2, SOX2, SALL2 and OLIG2 that was able to reprogram differentiated tumor cells back into glioblastoma stem cells, both in vitro and in an animal model.

The investigators then confirmed that these four factors and their corresponding regulatory elements the DNA segments to which transcription factors bind were active in from 2 to 7 percent of human glioblastoma cells, cells that also expressed a known stem cell marker. They also showed that inhibiting the action of an important regulatory protein complex that involves a known target gene of one of the core transcription factors a gene active in stem-like glioblastoma cells but not differentiated cells caused glioblastoma stem cells to lose their stem-like properties and die.

"This study brings us back to the fundamental idea that there are many reasons that cancer cells can be aggressive," explains senior author Bradley Bernstein, MD, PhD, of MGH Pathology and the MGH Cancer Center. "Just as normal cells with the same genome differentiate into many different cell types, a single tumor characterized by specific genetic mutations can contain many different types of cells stem-like and more differentiated cells with the difference being rooted in their epigenetic information. Identifying the drivers of these different cellular states in glioblastoma stem cells could offer us the best opportunity for treating what remains an extremely difficult-to -treat tumor."

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Researchers identify transcription factors distinguishing glioblastoma stem cells

Arroyo's stem cell doctor charged with illegal practice

By adminApril 10, 2014Stem Cell Medical Center

The NBI says Park 'misrepresented herself as a licensed physician in several occasions'

CHARGED. The NBI files charges against an alternative medicine doctor based in Tagaytay. File photo by Buena Bernal/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Thursday, April 10, filed before the Tagaytay City Prosecutor's Office a case against former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's stem cell physician for illegal practice of medicine.

Antonia Carandang-Park, an alternative medicine doctor based in Tagaytay City, was charged for having violated Republic Act 2382 or The Medical Act of 1959. Park is the owner and operator of the Green & Young Health & Wellness Center.

The bureau's investigation found that Park "misrepresented herself as a licensed physician [on] several occasions."

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The NBI Anti-Organized and Transnational Crime Division (AOTCD) was acting on a complaint filed before the bureau by physician Eunice Salazar-Abad, who worked as an aesthetic physician with Park.

According to the NBI, Abad noticed some "irregularities" and the "unorthodox method" of treatment by Park. The NBI also found that Park, whose treatment of Arroyo gained her popularity, did not make an effort to correct news reports that referred to her as a medical doctor.

ILLEGAL PRACTICE. Dr Antonia Park in this Nov 17, 2012 photo taken by Kate Tan. Photo from Bernard Tan.

In her diagnosis of Arroyo, Park supposedly signed an official statement dated July 25, 2012 as "Dra. Antonia Park, M.D.," where she considered stem cell therapy for Arroyo, who's now under hospital arrest for plunder charges at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City. Mrs Arroyo is suffering from a debilitating neck and back pain.

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Arroyo's stem cell doctor charged with illegal practice

Lawmaker wants Arroyo stem cell doctor arrested

By adminApril 9, 2014Stem Cell Medical Center

A HOUSE member is urging law enforcement agents to arrest the alternative medicine doctor of Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in connection with the death of an Ateneo de Manila scholar last year.

OFW Family party-list Representative Roy Seneres said the Philippine National Police (PNP) can now arrest Antonia Park if found to be practicing medicine without any license.

Park, who is believed to be a South Korean, was blamed by the family of Katherine Grace Tan for her death last year.

Bernard Tan said his 23-year-old daughter died after undergoing embryonic stem cell therapy allegedly administered by Park at the latters Green and Young Health and Wellness Center in Tagaytay City.

Seneres called for an investigation of Park's operations, saying that unless she is a medical doctor and has a license to practice medicine, she is barred from conducting any medical procedure on sick patients.

The lawmaker also called on the Tan family to file the necessary charges against Park if they have enough evidence against her.

Park's service was previously sought by Arroyo when she was granted bail on electoral fraud charges two years ago.

The former chief executive motored to Tagaytay City reportedly to confer with Park regarding her spine problem.

Seneres noted that the former president's spine ailment has not improved since her Tagaytay trip but, in fact, doctors at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMCC) where she is under hospital detention had claimed that her health issue has turned for the worse.

Arroyo's sister, Cielo Macapagal-Salgado, and former spokesperson, Charito Planas, have reportedly recommended Park's services to the Pampanga lawmaker.

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Lawmaker wants Arroyo stem cell doctor arrested

Japan stem cell scientist stands by 'phoney' research

By adminApril 9, 2014Stem Cell Medical Center

53 minutes ago

A young female scientist accused of fabricating data made a tearful apology live on Japanese television Wednesday for "mistakes" in her research, but insisted her ground-breaking conclusions on stem cells were accurate.

Haruko Obokata, 30, blamed her youth and inexperience for errors in her methodology, but said she had managed to create the building-block cells capable of growing into the specialised cells of the brain, liver, heart or kidneys.

"I apologise with my whole heart to my co-authors... and many others for causing trouble because of my insufficient efforts, ill-preparedness and unskilfulness," a visibly shaken Obokata told a press conference.

"To many people there may be too many unbelievable mistakes, but that does not affect the conclusion," she said.

Obokata was feted as a modern-day Marie Curie after unveiling research that showed a simple way to re-programme adult cells to become a kind of stem cell.

So-called Stimulus-Triggered Acquisition of Pluripotency (STAP) cells were hailed as a breakthrough that could provide a ready supply of the base material for much-needed transplant tissue at minimal cost.

Campaigners said it represented a leap forward in the fight against degenerative diseases.

Her profilea young woman in a world dominated by middle-aged menwas seized on by Japan's media, which was charmed by eccentricities that included her insistence on wearing a housewife's apron in the laboratory, instead of a white coat.

But within weeks of her paper being published in the prestigious journal Nature, questions began to emerge, with fellow scientists saying they were unable to replicate her results.

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Japan stem cell scientist stands by 'phoney' research

Scientists smash barrier to growing organs from stem cells

By adminApril 4, 2014Stem Cell Medical Center

8 hours ago by Josh Barney U.Va. scientists Bernard and Chris Thisse have created a zebrafish embryo by instructing stem cells.

(Phys.org) Scientists at the University of Virginia School of Medicine have overcome one of the greatest challenges in biology and taken a major step toward being able to grow whole organs and tissues from stem cells. By manipulating the appropriate signaling, the U.Va. researchers have turned embryonic stem cells into a fish embryo, essentially controlling embryonic development.

The research will have dramatic impact on the future use of stem cells to better the human condition, providing a framework for future studies in the field of regenerative medicine aimed at constructing tissues and organs from populations of cultured pluripotent cells.

In accomplishing this, U.Va. scientists Bernard and Chris Thisse have overcome the most massive of biological barriers. "We have generated an animal by just instructing embryonic cells the right way," said Chris Thisse of the School of Medicine's Department of Cell Biology.

The importance of that is profound. "If we know how to instruct embryonic cells," she said, "we can pretty much do what we want." For example, scientists will be able one day to instruct stem cells to grow into organs needed for transplant.

Directing Embryonic Development

The researchers were able to identify the signals sufficient for starting the cascade of molecular and cellular processes that lead to a fully developed fish embryo. With this study came an answer to the longstanding question of how few signals can initiate the processes of development: amazingly, only two.

The study has shed light on the important roles these two signals play for the formation of organs and full development of a zebrafish embryo. Moreover, the Thisses are now able to direct embryonic development and formation of tissues and organs by controlling signal locations and concentrations.

The embryo they generated was smaller than a normal embryo, because they instructed a small pool of embryonic stem cells, but "otherwise he has everything" in terms of appropriate development, said Bernard Thisse of the Department of Cell Biology.

Their next steps will be to attempt to reproduce their findings using mice. They expect molecular and cellular mechanisms will be extremely similar in mice and other mammals including humans.

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Scientists smash barrier to growing organs from stem cells

Oklahoma Medical and Cosmetic Center Introduces Xcell to the State

By adminApril 2, 2014Stem Cell Medical Center

Oklahoma City, OK (PRWEB) April 02, 2014

Vitality Medical and Cosmetic Center is excited to announce that they have added Xcell Therapy, a revolutionary stem cell therapy process, as a service for its patients. This will mark Vitality Medical and Cosmetic Center as the only facility in Oklahoma state to offer Xcell. The process is used to improve the look of scars, stimulate hair growth, ease joint discomfort, combat certain degenerative cell diseases, and provide an overall revitalizing effect on the skin.

Xcell Therapy was developed by Florida based research clinician Robert Brandt and has been introduced to Vitality Medical and Cosmetic Center by its CEO, Ron Nerad. The process involves utilizing a patients blood and repurposing the blood to act as a catalyst for the healing process. This is done by drawing blood from the patient, then manipulating the blood in order to remove the red and white blood cells from the patients blood plasma. Whats left is a concentration of super-rich growth factors that Nerad refers to as a golden serum. The serum is then applied topically or injected into the affected area.

The golden serum is full of activated platelets that have released healing proteins called growth factors. These growth factors will excite the recovery process for patients, said Nerad. It is the next generation PRP and we are excited to introduce Xcell and all of its benefits to Oklahoma City and beyond.

PRP, or rather platelet rich plasma, has been used extensively in sports medicine to relieve and accelerate the healing process with athletes who have suffered muscle tears or joint discomfort. The new generation of PRP is referred to as CRP, cytokine rich plasma. The Xcell process falls under the CRP category, the advanced and purer form of PRP, and therefore acts more efficiently than its PRP counterpart.

Nerad combines the healing power of the CRP process of Xcell Therapy with his in-house staffs medical experience to create the perfect environment for healing. Jennifer Collins, the Centers Medical Physician, is responsible for applying the Xcell treatment onto the patient, while chiropractor physician Darren Risley, specializing in soft tissue injuries, gets the body working together in alignment to expedite the recovery process.

While this treatment is still considered experimental it is safe because your healing capable cells are utilized. Non-surgical cortisone injections alleviate pain and inflammation for a short time and can cause side effects like calcification of ligaments and tendons. This regenerative procedure restores and heals the injured cells enabling rehabilitation sooner. The whole process, from consultation to application, takes about an hour.

Along with Xcell Therapy, Vitality Medical and Cosmetic Center offers an array of treatments including spa and laser treatments such as Micro-Needling, Laser Skin Resurfacing treatments, and Botox Cosmetic. To learn more about the medical staff and their work, visit http://www.vitalitymcc.com.

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About Vitality Medical and Cosmetic Center Vitality Medical and Cosmetic Center offers the latest technology and best in class products and procedures at a price that is affordable and offers tremendous value. Vitality offers procedures for skin care & wellness that not only meets but exceeds patient expectations raising the bar in terms of quality and patient experience.

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Oklahoma Medical and Cosmetic Center Introduces Xcell to the State

Scientist accused of manipulating data in 'breakthrough' stem cell paper

By adminApril 1, 2014Stem Cell Medical Center

TOKYO

Japan's top research body on Tuesday accused the lead writer of stem cell papers hailed as a game-changer in the field of medical biology of misconduct involving fabrication, but the scientist called the findings unacceptable.

Two papers published in the scientific journal Nature in January detailed simple ways to reprogram mature animal cells back to an embryonic-like state, allowing them to generate many types of tissues.

Such a step would offer hope for a simpler way to replace damaged cells or grow new organs in humans.

But reports have since pointed out irregularities in data and images used in the papers, prompting RIKEN, a semi-governmental research institute and employer of the lead writer, to set up a panel to look into the matter.

The panel said, for example, that one of the articles reused images related to lead writer Haruko Obokata's doctoral dissertation, which was on different experiments.

"Actions like this completely destroy data credibility," Shunsuke Ishii, head of the committee, said at a news conference.

"There is no doubt that she was fully aware of this danger.

We've therefore concluded this was an act of research misconduct involving fabrication."

In a statement, Obokata said she would soon file a complaint with RIKEN, challenging the findings.

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Scientist accused of manipulating data in 'breakthrough' stem cell paper

Japanese Scientist Falsified Claims On Groundbreaking Stem Cell Research

By adminApril 1, 2014Stem Cell Medical Center

April 1, 2014

Lawrence LeBlond for redOrbit.com Your Universe Online

Less than three months after a rising Japanese scientist made claims of a significant stem cell breakthrough, new evidence has come forward that confirms the findings of the groundbreaking study were falsified.

Haruko Obokata, the lead author of a study published in the journal Nature in January, claimed that stem cells could be created by dipping blood cells into acid, potentially leading to hope in growing Stap (stimulus-triggered acquisition of pluripotency) cell tissue to treat illnesses such as diabetes and Parkinsons disease. But scientists at the Riken Centre for Development Biology in Kobe, Japan, the same center where Obokata conducted her research, is now saying the researchers claims were falsified.

The latest news comes after criticism surrounded the research last month, after researchers from around the world could not replicate the teams findings using the same approach. The growing body of criticism led some on the research team to consider retracting their paper, which in turn led to further investigations from investigators within the Riken Centre.

Despite the growing controversy, Charles Vacanti, a tissue engineer at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Womens Hopsital in Boston, a coauthor of the study, said at the time that he would stick by the results.

It would be very sad to have such an important paper retracted as a result of peer pressure, when indeed the data and conclusions are honest and valid, Vacanti told theWall Street Journal in March.

But as of now, it has come to light that nearly all claims made by Obokata were manipulated and she had falsified images of DNA fragments used in her research, according to the Riken Centre investigative team.

The manipulation was used to improve the appearance of the results, Shunsuke Ishii, the head of the committee set up to investigate allegations that the research was fraudulent, told The Associated Press.

When the news broke in January that Obokata, who had just received her PhD three years earlier, had appeared to create a new method of turning blood cells into stem cells easily, she became an instant hero, with many calling it the third most significant breakthrough in stem cell research, according to a report in The Washington Post.

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Japanese Scientist Falsified Claims On Groundbreaking Stem Cell Research