Research Roundup: March for Science, promising headway in stem cell treatments, new treatment for cystic fibrosis … – Speaking of Research

Welcome to this weeks Research Roundup.These Friday posts aim to inform our readers about the many stories that relate to animal research each week. Do you have an animal research story we should include in next weeks Research Roundup? You can send it to us viaour Facebook pageor through thecontact formon the website.

The March for Science champions robustly funded and publicly communicated science as a pillar of human freedom and prosperity.We unite as a diverse, nonpartisan group to call for science that upholds the common good and for political leaders and policy makers to enact evidence based policies in the public interest. https://www.marchforscience.com/ #MarchforScience

Somatic stem cells exist naturally in the body. They are important for growth, healing, and replacing cells that are lost daily through wear and tear. Source: University of Utah

Zebrafish: Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute

Image courtesy of National Library of Medicne

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Research Roundup: March for Science, promising headway in stem cell treatments, new treatment for cystic fibrosis ... - Speaking of Research

Stem cells and the art of giving – Zee News (blog)

Madhu Srivastava/IANS

Our health scenario has undergone drastic changes over the past few decades. Is it not fair to say that given today`s lifestyles, finding someone who is completely fit and healthy is quite rare?

In an attempt to take precautions, people are doing their best such as exercising, controlling their diet, taking health supplements, undergoing periodic health check-ups and what not. However, these are only precautionary or preventive measures. How can you protect yourself or your family in the worst case of being diagnosed by a disorder that could take you by surprise?

The good news is that while more new diseases are being discovered, medical science is also growing at a matching pace with treatment solutions for such conditions. Here comes the role of stem cells. Stem cell treatment has been found to be a solution for many ailments that are not treatable by conventional methods of surgery or medication. Diseases such as leukemia ans thalassemia can now be treated by stem cells with a hope of survival, which was not possible even a decade or so ago.

As stem cell medicine keeps advancing with more conditions being researched, the future sounds quite promising as more and more disorders that were once considered as permanent or terminal will soon become treatable.

But, the question is, where does one find these stem cells? Well, the answer is, within you; in your bone marrow.

Unfortunately in more than 80 per cent of these disorders, your own stem cells cannot be used and you would need to seek them from someone else. Here comes the challenge of finding a matching donor and someone who is willing to donate his stem cells. Alternatively, you can source stem cells from a public bank which preserves umbilical cord stem cells of donors. Here, in addition to the rarity of finding a matching stem cell of Indian ethnicity, the problem gets compounded with the need of Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh for stem cell treatment. Seven out of 10 patients who require a matching stem cell do not find a match in their family.

Can this scenario change? Is there a hope for treating such dreaded conditions? The answer is yes. If you are expecting a baby in your family, then you are blessed.

We say a child is a blessing from God, which is true in real terms. While as parents we bless our children, now the baby can bless us to stay protected against such medical conditions.

The baby`s umbilical cord is a rich source of stem cells. These can be collected and preserved at the time of birth for future use so that it can come to the rescue when required. With the new concept of community stem cell banking by one of the leading stem cell banks in the country which preserves a baby`s stem cells by making him/her a member of the community of parents who have also preserved their baby`s stem cells. The stem cell of all the babies within the community forms a collective pool to be accessed by all members.

Hence, at any given time, one can access donor stem cells from this collective pool for treatment, protecting not just your baby but your family too from such ailments. There is only the initial cost of preserving your baby`s stem cells which is much lower than sourcing stem cells from a public stem cell bank. More importantly, the probability of finding a match of Indian ethnicity is higher and stem cells are readily available for treatment when required.

If you are worried about the uncertainties over the health of your family, you can now rest assured that your baby`s birth will now bless your family with the protection of good health.

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Stem cells and the art of giving - Zee News (blog)

Frances Saunders: Know where your Relay for Life donations are going – Merced Sun-Star

Frances Saunders: Know where your Relay for Life donations are going
Merced Sun-Star
The annual Relay for Life fundraiser, sponsored by the American Cancer Society, will be April 29. Participants might not know that the American Cancer Society does embryonic (stem cell) research on aborted, unborn babies. They might want to think about ...

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Frances Saunders: Know where your Relay for Life donations are going - Merced Sun-Star

Stem cell clinics accused of promising more than they can deliver, and worse – Genetic Literacy Project

Its a nightmare story: Three women pay tens of thousands of dollars to a South Florida clinic for unproven stem cell therapy, only to end up blindcritics warn that theres a large and growing problem with patients being promised revolutionary stem cell therapy, only to find theyve wasted their moneyor worse.

Yet clinics around the world offer unregulated procedures, typically using fat cells that are removed from the patients body, treated, and injected back into itthe process that blinded the three women in South Florida.

And indeed, the confusion over what we actually can do with stem cells led the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) last year to issue guidelines cautioning researchers against letting their work be misrepresented in the public eye.

Intertwined with that issue, though, is the lack of regulation that allows clinics to exploit patients ignoranceBecause the procedure extracts cells from the patients own body and only puts them through minimal treatment before reinjecting them somewhere else, the FDA does not consider it a drug treatment. Its outside the agencys purview.

The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion, and analysis. Read full, original post:Stem Cell Clinics Are Ruining Peoples Lives

For more background on the Genetic Literacy Project, read GLP on Wikipedia

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Stem cell clinics accused of promising more than they can deliver, and worse - Genetic Literacy Project

Identical Twins; Not-so-identical Stem Cells – Technology Networks


Technology Networks
Identical Twins; Not-so-identical Stem Cells
Technology Networks
Because they can differentiate into almost any cell type in the body, stem cells have the potential to be used to create healthy cells to treat a number of diseases. But stem cells come in two varieties: embryonic stem cells (ESCs), which are isolated ...

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Identical Twins; Not-so-identical Stem Cells - Technology Networks

Can we grow human organs in space? Chinese scientists ask – Shanghai Daily (subscription)

SCIENTISTS around the world are looking for the "keys" to enable humans to regrow tissues or organs lost due to illness or injury, just like gecko can regrow a tail.

Their quest now extends into space.

Stem cell research on Tianzhou-1, China's first cargo spacecraft, is far from realizing this dream, but it's the first step to explore the possibility.

Scientists from the Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) are conducting experiments on Tianzhou-1, which launched Thursday, to study the effects of micro-gravity on embryonic stem cell proliferation and differentiation.

The spacecraft is carrying embryonic stem cells and embryoid bodies of mice. Scientists will observe the process of their proliferation and differentiation in space through telescope images. Parallel experiments will be conducted on the ground to compare the results, says lead researcher Duan Enkui.

"We hope to get an initial understanding about the space micro-gravity effects on stem cell proliferation and differentiation," said Duan.

The basis of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine research, stem cell biology is regarded as one of the most important research fields of the 21st Century.

Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent cells that have the potential to become any type of cell in the body. One of the main characteristics of stem cells is their ability to self-renew or multiply while maintaining the potential to develop into other types of cells. Stem cells can become cells of the blood, heart, bones, skin, muscles, brain or other body parts. They are valuable as research tools and might, in future, be used to treat a wide range of ailments.

The study of micro-gravity's effects on the proliferation and differentiation of stem cells is a hot topic in the field of space life science.

"In ground experiments simulating micro-gravity conditions, we found the differentiation ability of mouse embryonic stem cells is enhanced. We also discovered the key gene responsible for this change and the molecular signaling pathway," says Lei Xiaohua, a member of the research team.P "Can we use micro-gravity conditions to realize large-scale proliferation of stem cells and tissue engineering construction? That's what we want to find out," says Lei.

"As the ground experiments are conducted in simulated micro-gravity, we must move the study to a real micro-gravity environment in space to understand how it will affect the proliferation and differentiation of embryonic stem cells."

The experiment might provide a new method to better realize in-vitro expansion of embryonic stem cells, and might explore a new way to apply multi-potent stem cells in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, Lei says.

"Maybe scientists will be able to induce stem cells to grow into certain tissues or organs in space in the future to serve people on earth. In another scenario, if a human is injured and loses organs in future space migration, the lost organs might be regenerated," says Lei.

Previously, the research team conducted a series of space life science experiments on China's recoverable satellites Sj-8 and Sj-10.

"We expect to continue our research into embryonic stem cells on China's future space station. We aim to try to culture functional tissues, such as heart, kidney, liver and spleen tissues," Lei says.

The current life science experiments on Tianzhou-1 are remotely controlled, which is very difficult, he adds. Scientists hope to enter China's space station in future to personally conduct the experiments.

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Can we grow human organs in space? Chinese scientists ask - Shanghai Daily (subscription)

For stem cell treatments, patients, doctors, scientists must collaborate – The San Diego Union-Tribune

Stem cell research begins with scientists, passes on to physicians and ends up with patients.

But those roles arent as separate as they seem, said speakers Thursday at a special meeting held by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the states stem cell agency, and UC San Diego.

The agency is beginning a statewide tour to discuss the progress of its treatments through the lengthy research and clinical trial process. One priority is to make sure all those involved understand each others needs, and how they can help.

Speaker David Higgins has multiple roles built into his life. A San Diegan with Parkinsons disease, Higgins sits on CIRMs governing board.

Patient input is heard throughout CIRM, Higgins said, addressing the audience of more than 100 at the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine on Torrey Pines Mesa.

Patient advocates sit on reviews for grant funding, Higgins said. Nothing ever goes out the door without it being screened through the eyes of a patient advocate.

Patients can now take a much more active role in managing their illness and advocate for others, Higgins said, because doctors now recognize that treating disease is a partnership.

Now were looking at a two-way relationship, Higgins said. I dont know a single physician that Ive ever talked to who doesnt welcome this, Higgins said.

And in the long run, nobody can escape patienthood, said Dr. Catriona Jamieson, an oncologist-researcher at UCSD Moores Cancer Center.

Were all going to be patients, were all going to be health care users, Jamieson said. I dont see the patient term as in any way stigmatizing, because its part of using our health care system.

Making sure these roles are harmonized is important to CIRM, which has about $800 million left of the $3 billion given by California voters in 2004 in Proposition 71.

And while CIRM cant formally lobby on the issue, those who support the agency recognize they need public support if they want more money from taxpayers.

Jamieson said CIRM has helped her research, her UCSD colleagues and patients by grants and funding alpha stem cell clinics, including one at UCSD. These clinics help translate science into patient care, and help scientists and doctors share ideas and resources.

What we know so far is that great medicine requires great science, said Jamieson, who specializes in blood cancers.

Audience member Adrienne Shapiro was there as a patient advocate for sickle cell disease. Shes a carrier of the trait, and her daughter, Marissa Cors, has the disease. CIRM has funded a program to develop a better bone marrow transplant to treat the disease.

Cors said one of her main issues is dealing with the pain sickle cell disease causes her.

The pain medications are really the key at this particular point in the journey, Cors said, hesitating slightly in discussing the course of her disease.

Cors said shes hopeful that the CIRM program helps others.

Im looking for something effective for the community, Cors said.

bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-1020

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For stem cell treatments, patients, doctors, scientists must collaborate - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Immune cells play surprising role in steady heartbeat – Science News

Immune system cells may help your heart keep the beat. These cells, called macrophages, usually protect the body from invading pathogens. But a new study published April 20 in Cell shows that in mice, the immune cells help electricity flow between muscle cells to keep the organ pumping.

Macrophages squeeze in between heart muscle cells, called cardiomyocytes. These muscle cells rhythmically contract in response to electrical signals, pumping blood through the heart. By plugging in to the cardiomyocytes, macrophages help the heart cells receive the signals and stay on beat.

Researchers have known for a couple of years that macrophages live in healthy heart tissue. But their specific functions were still very much a mystery, says Edward Thorp, an immunologist at Northwestern Universitys Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. He calls the studys conclusion that macrophages electrically couple with cardiomyocytes paradigm shifting. It highlights the functional diversity and physiologic importance of macrophages, beyond their role in host defense, Thorp says.

Matthias Nahrendorf, a cell biologist at Harvard Medical School, stumbled onto this electrifying find by accident.

Curious about how macrophages impact the heart, he tried to perform a cardiac MRI on a mouse genetically engineered to not have the immune cells. But the rodents heartbeat was too slow and irregular to perform the scan.

Immune cells called macrophages (green) squeeze in between heart cells (red) in an area of the heart called the atrioventricular node, as seen in this reconstruction of a human AV node. This node is a cluster of muscle fibers that electrically connects the upper and lower chambers of the heart.

These symptoms pointed to a problem in the mouses atrioventricular node, a bundle of muscle fibers that electrically connects the upper and lower chambers of the heart. Humans with AV node irregularities may need a pacemaker to keep their heart beating in time. In healthy mice, researchers discovered macrophages concentrated in the AV node, but what the cells were doing there was unknown.

Isolating a heart macrophage and testing it for electrical activity didnt solve the mystery. But when the researchers coupled a macrophage with a cardiomyocyte, the two cells began communicating electrically. Thats important, because the heart muscle cells contract thanks to electrical signals.

Cardiomyocytes have an imbalance of ions. While in the resting state, there are more positive ions outside the cell than inside, but when a cardiomyocyte receives an electrical signal from a neighboring heart cell, that distribution switches. This momentary change causes the cell to contract and send the signal on to the next cardiomyocyte.

Scientists previously thought that cardiomyocytes were capable of this electrical shift, called depolarization, on their own. But Nahrendorf and his team found that macrophages aid in the process. Using a protein, a macrophage hooks up to a cardiomyocyte. This protein directly connects the inside of these cells to each other, allowing macrophages to transfer positive charges, giving cardiomyocytes a boost kind of like with a jumper cable. This makes it easier for the heart cells to depolarize and trigger the heart contraction, Nahrendorf says.

With the help of the macrophages, the conduction system becomes more reliable, and it is able to conduct faster, he says.

Nahrendorf and colleagues found macrophages within the AV node in human hearts as well but dont know if the cells play the same role in people. The next step is to confirm that role and explore whether or not the immune cells could be behind heart problems like arrhythmia, says Nahrendorf.

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Immune cells play surprising role in steady heartbeat - Science News

UNC researchers ID cell where HIV persists despite treatment, new target for cure research – News & Observer

UNC researchers ID cell where HIV persists despite treatment, new target for cure research
News & Observer
But researchers in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the UNC School of Medicine have found that the virus still persists in HIV-infested macrophages large white blood cells found in tissues throughout the body, including the liver, lungs, bone ...

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UNC researchers ID cell where HIV persists despite treatment, new target for cure research - News & Observer

Immune-Based Therapy Shows Early Promise Against MS – Montana Standard

THURSDAY, April 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- An experimental immune-system therapy appears safe for people with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis. And it may ease symptoms in some, a preliminary study suggests.

The findings are based on just six patients, and the Australian researchers stressed that a lot of work still lies ahead.

But they were encouraged that this new approach to MS had no major side effects. In addition, three of the six patients showed symptom improvements, including reduced fatigue and better mobility.

It's not clear, however, what to make of those improvements, said Bruce Bebo, executive vice president of research for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

The study was a "phase 1" trial, meaning it was designed only to test the therapy's safety.

"Based on this very preliminary study, the therapy appears safe," said Bebo, who was not involved in the research.

"But I'd be even more cautious in drawing any conclusions about the clinical improvements," he stressed.

Larger, rigorous clinical trials are needed to show whether the treatment truly works, Bebo said.

Multiple sclerosis is caused by a misguided immune system attack on the protective sheath around nerve fibers in the spine and brain. Depending on where the damage occurs, symptoms can include vision problems, muscle weakness, numbness and difficulty with balance and coordination.

Most people with MS are initially diagnosed with the "relapsing-remitting" form, which means that symptoms flare up for a time and then ease.

The new study involved patients with progressive MS, where the disease steadily worsens without periods of recovery.

Most had the "secondary" progressive form -- which means they initially had relapsing-remitting MS, but it worsened. One patient had progressive MS from the start, which is known as "primary" progressive MS.

The patients agreed to try a treatment never studied in MS, said study co-author Rajiv Khanna, of the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Brisbane, Australia.

The approach is known as "adoptive" immunotherapy, where a patient's own immune system T cells are genetically tweaked to fight an enemy -- such as cancer cells.

Khanna's team took samples of the MS patients' T cells, then altered the cells to boost their ability to recognize and attack the Epstein-Barr virus. Those T cells were infused back into the patients' blood, at gradually escalating doses over six weeks.

Epstein-Barr is a common virus that infects most people at some point. But researchers suspect it plays a role in MS in some people.

According to Khanna, there is also evidence that MS progression correlates with Epstein-Barr "activation" in the body. The aim of the T-cell therapy is to "clear out" B cells -- another type of immune system cell -- that are infected with Epstein-Barr.

Over six months, the researchers said, none of the patients suffered serious side effects from the treatment.

In addition, three showed symptom improvements within two to eight weeks of their first T-cell infusion.

The findings are scheduled for presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, April 22-28, in Boston.

The biology behind the T-cell therapy is not fully clear, Bebo said. Although Epstein-Barr is suspected as one factor in driving the initial development of MS, even that is not established, he said.

On the other hand, there is evidence that B cells drive inflammation in MS, Bebo said.

In fact, a new MS drug approved just last month works by targeting B cells, he noted.

That drug, called Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), is the first drug ever approved for primary progressive MS in the United States. It can also be used for the relapsing-remitting form.

Bebo said he suspects that if the experimental T-cell therapy has benefits in MS, it might be because it clears out B cells.

Even if the approach proves effective, there are practical hurdles in delivering a therapy like that, Bebo pointed out.

Khanna said his team is collaborating with a U.S. biotech company to see if the treatment process can be refined -- by creating "off-the-shelf" versions of Epstein-Barr-fighting T cells, for example.

Bebo emphasized the bigger picture: The new drug ocrelizumab was just approved and other treatments are in the pipeline.

"This is one of many approaches being tested," Bebo said. "We're learning more about MS progression all the time. So the future looks bright."

Study results presented at meetings are usually considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.

The U.S.-based National MS Society has more on treating MS.

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Immune-Based Therapy Shows Early Promise Against MS - Montana Standard