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Breakthrough By NUS Team In Stem-Cell Storage Led by Singapore pioneer, they create storage systems free of animal cells, giving hope for human stem-cell trials By Chang Ai-Lien - Straits Times, Singapore JULY 31, 2004 SAT HE PIONEERED techniques to grow the world's first stem cells nourished with human protein - a critical step if such cells are ever to be used to treat people. Now, stem-cell expert Ariff Bongso and his team at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have taken this research a step further - by creating so-called xeno, or animal-free, storage systems, which allow such cells to be frozen long-term without the danger of being contaminated. 'Ultimately, this will be a boon to stem-cell banks that I believe will be set up throughout the world, to further research in this area,' said Professor Bongso, scientific director of the assisted reproductive technology and andrology programme at the National University Hospital and research professor at the NUS' obstetrics and gynaecology department. Embryonic stem cells have opened up a hot new field of research as they can transform into any cell that an ailing body needs to cure a host of debilitating diseases, such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and cancer. The difficulty, however, lies in controlling these transformations, a change researchers the world over are still learning about. The world's first stem-cell bank opened its doors in Britain in May, to store and supply stem-cell lines or colonies for research and possible treatment of illnesses. Extracting stem cells from early-stage embryos is extremely difficult and very few researchers have been successful. The new cell bank is partly designed to overcome this problem, by making the stem cells widely available. But currently, cell lines, including those developed by Singapore-based stem-cell company ES Cell International and a handful of others worldwide, are nourished with animal cells. This means they cannot be used in trials involving people because of the danger of transmitting animal diseases. Prof Bongso's team was the first in the world to succeed in growing 'animal nutrient- free' stem cells two years ago. His latest breakthrough, which has been published in the scientific journal Stem Cells, details how the cells are stored in straws, nourished with human protein and sealed at both ends. Almost nine in 10 cells survive intact in this state - a high percentage - and have been shown to react in the same way as 'fresh' stem cells, said Prof Bongso. Also, as liquid nitrogen is an environment in which some viruses like HIV and hepatitis can thrive, the team chose to keep the cells safe by sealing the straws and preserving them in the vapour above the liquid nitrogen. ES Cell, which supported the new research, plans to become one of the first companies in the world to provide these 'gold standard' cells for clinical trials. Its chief executive officer, Mr Robert Klupacs, said the data from Prof Bongso's laboratory was 'extremely important' for the company in its efforts to develop new xeno-free human embryonic stem cells for use in the production of islet cells for diabetics and heart cells as therapeutic products. 'The publication of the data in this peer-reviewed journal confirms his group as a major world player in this exciting and fast-moving field of research,' he added. SOURCE: Straits Times, Singapore http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/techscience/story/0,4386,264409,00.html * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn