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CBC NEWS Canada Stem cells prompt mouse organ to regenerate Last Updated Mon, 23 Jun 2003 20:28:18 ST. JOHN'S, NFLD. - Canadian researchers have discovered stem cells can help regenerate damaged cells in the pancreas of mice. The results represent a shift in how scientists think about stem cells, and may offer hope for new diabetic treatments. INDEPTH: Storm over Stem Cells http://www.cbc.ca/news/indepth/stormover_stemcells/ Stem cells are like the body's blank slates. The cells appear early in embryonic development and can become specialized as muscles, tissues and organs. Stem cells are produced throughout an animal's life in the bone marrow. Under the right conditions, stem cells can become blood and immune cells. That's why bone marrow transplants are sometimes offered to cancer patients. New research suggests stem cells may play a much greater therapeutic role than previously believed. "What we were able to do was demonstrate that adult bone marrow stem cells were capable of homing to a site of injury, specifically the pancreas, and trigger the cells to regenerate themselves within seven to 14 days," said Dr. Mick Bhatia, director of stem cell research at the Robarts Research Institute In London, Ont. In the experiment, Bhatia damaged the pancreas of mice, effectively causing them to become diabetic and unable to produce insulin. When he injected bone marrow from adult mice back into the injured mice, their blood glucose levels reduced rapidly and their insulin levels rose. As expected, all of the animals that did not receive transplants continued to show high glucose levels. Other researchers have injected stem cells into mice, focusing on the rate at which stem cells become other types of tissues. Bhatia's research differed by looking at whether the mouse in fact recovered. They were surprised to find a few stem cells were enough to make a big metabolic difference, and that led them to discover the effects on a whole organ. No human trials are planned yet. Since the results were published Sunday in the journal Nature Biotechnology, http://www.nature.com/cgi-taf/dynapage.taf?file=/nbt/journal/vaop/ncurrent/index.html Bhatia said his phone has been ringing off the hook with calls from physicians across North America. "There certainly is no immediate hurdle to prevent trials like that to go on," he said. "The first thing we need to know is whether the human pancreas and human cells will recapitulate what we see in the mouse." FROM JAN. 30, 2001: Canadian research furthers stem cell growth http://www.cbc.ca/storyview/CBC/2001/01/30/stemcell_grow010130 Bhatia plan to turn to other cell types besides the pancreas to find out whether stem cells will also help regenerate nervous and cardiac tissues. SOURCE: CBC News Online, Canada http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/06/23/pancreas030623 * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn