Scientists at the Oregon National Primate Research Center have produced the world’s first monkeys created from embryos of several individual monkeys.  The chimera monkeys were created by binding three to six rhesus monkey embryos in the early stages of the development, and are the result of experiments designed to gain more understanding into stem cells that might be used to create human tissue in the future. 

Researchers led by Shoukhrat Mitalipov, were focused on how natural stem cells from early embryos differed from cultured embryonic stem cells which are more readily available to scientists.  In a variation of cloning procedures, they were able to inject stem cells into monkey embryos to produce chimera, but the procedure only worked when the cells were fresh, not cultured stem cells. 

The different cells worked together to form tissues and organs.  By utilizing embryonic stem cells in such an early stage of development, they can produce a complete organism, in this case a monkey.  The research has been ongoing for several decades and it is hoped that will lead to breakthroughs in working with human tissues, specifically utilizing embryonic stem cells to grow new tissues for humans. 

The monkeys are referred to as chimera monkeys after a fire-breathing character in Greek mythology made up of parts from different animals.  The experiments were reported in the scientific journal Cell – click here for the abstract.

The field of stem cell research, particularly utilizing embryonic stem cells, is expanding greatly in the United States.  Human embryonic stem cells have been utilized in clinical trials for spinal cord injury research and also for research in the treatment of macular degeneration.  The research that produced the chimera monkeys will add greatly to our overall understanding of stem cells and how they can be utilized to treatment human conditions.

Information contained in this blog is intended for educational purposes only and not for medical diagnosis or treatment.  If you have a medical concern or issue, please consult with your physician.

In a disappointing move, the Geron Corporation announced that it is halting its stem cell programs, including the first-ever, US approved human trial using embryonic stem cells. 

The human trial enrolled its first patients last year and was evaluating the safety of using embryonic stem cells in patients who had recently suffered a spinal cord injury.  A company announcement in October 2011 indicated that treatment was proving safe in patients treated thus far, with no significant side effects.  With Geron’s halt, no new patients will be enrolled, but current participants will be followed, and the FDA will be kept informed of their status.

The company cited financial decisions are leading the company to narrow its focus to cancer research, particularly on drugs that are in mid-stage human testing.  The decision will also result in a 38 percent reduction in Geron staff.

Given the promise that stem cell therapies hold, the loss of an FDA-approved human clinical trial (one of two currently underway in the US) certainly does not help forward progress.

And, given Geron’s status as a leader in stem cell therapies, their decision also does not help the US maintain a leadership role in this innovative medical arena.

More can be read at: 

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/geron-halting-stem-cell-research-laying-off-staff-14951932

Geron press release:

http://www.geron.com/media/pressview.aspx?id=1284

Information contained in this blog is intended for educational purposes only and not for medical diagnosis or treatment.  If you have a medical concern or issue, please consult with your physician.

Two articles in the world news on Oct 18^th illustrate the highs and lows in stem cell therapy research…

Despite the ethical discussion surrounding the use of embryonic stem cells, it is one source of pluripotent stem cells used in many research efforts. 

Reflecting European law, which protects human embryos, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) handed down a ruling, stating “A process which involves removal of a stem cell from a human embryo at the blastocyst stage, entailing the destruction of the embryo, cannot be patented.”  (An embryo at the blastocyst stage consists of about 80 to 100 cells.)

The impact of this court decision was summed up by one researcher who said it means European researchers can prepare these things, but others will pick the fruits in the U.S. and Asia, and the judgment would undermine such research because it would make patents uncertain.

Several biotechnology companies are researching stem cell treatments in Europe and the United States.  Even large pharmaceutical companies, such as U.S. drug giant Pfizer, Anglo-Swedish firm AstraZeneca, Swiss drug maker Roche and French company Cellectis, are starting to conduct research in this area.

Early human trials are now under way in the U.S. using embryonic stem cells for repairing spinal cord injuries and to correct certain forms of blindness.

On the other hand, researchers at the University of Western Australia (UWA), reported that they discovered the ability to ethically obtain stem cells in a non-invasive process – from human breast milk.

UWA PhD student Fotenini Hassiotou’s research follows the 2008 discovery by a team of UWA scientists that breast milk contained embryonic-like stem cells.  This could reduce the need to use embryonic stem cells, which could help future stem cell research activities.

….Stem cell research seems to uncover new uses almost daily, requiring constant monitoring to stay current on emerging developments.  Given the potential that stem cells hold in treating a myriad of conditions, research efforts are well justified.

For more details, here are the two articles:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/18/us-embryo-court-idUSTRE79H19220111018

http://www.smh.com.au/wa-news/uwa-discovers-ethical-embryoniclike-stem-cells-in-breast-milk-20111017-1lt97.html

Information contained in this blog is intended for educational purposes only and not for medical diagnosis or treatment.  If you have a medical concern or issue, please consult with your physician.

It came to light the weekend of September 17-18, 2011, that Indianapolis Colt’s quarterback, Peyton Manning had traveled to Europe for stem cell therapy.  The stem cell therapy was to help treat the bulging disc in Manning’s neck, which three previous surgeries have failed to repair.  Apparently the therapy did not help.

An ABC News blog report on Manning’s stem cell treatment in Europe raises several issues: Manning’s actions, as a role model, in seeking an unproven treatment overseas, and the validity of the treatment itself.

Manning is quoted as saying “that I am doing everything I can to get my health back.”  As a role model, Manning (or any other role model) does need to be cognizant of his actions.  But does he not have the same rights as anyone else to live his life to the fullest?  It just so happens he has the means and motivation to pursue all options.  “Winners never quit” is not a bad message for him to send.

Regarding stem cell therapy for vertebral disc conditions.  While the therapy did not work for Manning, and is not FDA approved, that does not mean there are not antidotal success stories of stem cell use with other orthopedic problems.  The recent stories of NY Yankee’s pitcher Bartolo Colon and New England Patriot’s Jarvis Green, each returning to the game after stem cell therapy, or the myriad of success stories of professional athletes receiving platelet-rich plasma (another therapy not FDA approved), while antidotal, should not be ignored.  While we do not condone all off-shore stem cell therapies, there is growing antidotal evidence that stem cell therapy seems to help in many musculoskeletal injuries.

What if Manning had sustained a much more serious spinal cord injury instead of a bulging disc injury?  Would the same physicians criticize him for going to Europe for stem cell therapy?  Put yourself in Manning’s cleats – What would you do if you were paralyzed?  Would you go to Europe for stem cell therapy if there were a possibility it would help?

In the news blog, Manning was criticized for not enrolling in a clinical trial researching the therapy.  In fact, the first human embryonic stem cell trial is now underway in the United States, evaluating the safety of embryonic stem cell therapy in humans suffering from acute spinal cord injury.  Unfortunately, Manning would not meet the criteria for inclusion in this study.  One of my patients is a collegiate football player who sustained a career and life-altering cervical spinal cord injury; he as well does not meet the criteria for the trial and as a result of his lack of resources is not able to go to Europe.

Perhaps, judgment should be put in the context of the individual.  The unfortunate reality that has evaded some professors is the evolving emergence of regenerative medicine, which may not be readily embraced by the insurance industry, is changing the health care environment.  

This will result in a paradigm for the future, a future not so far away.  The concept of a dedicated, outstanding athlete trying to recover would be viewed in a different vein had the injury been perceived as more catastrophic, and worse when the harsh reality emerges that the future of medicine may bring inequality as well.

When this is considered, casting a stone at Peyton Manning becomes a more weighty measure.

Information contained in this blog is intended for educational purposes only and not for medical diagnosis or treatment.  If you have a medical concern or issue, please consult with your physician.

Currently, there is a lot of research studying the many possible applications of stem cells.  These studies may use embryonic stem cells or adult stem cells.  Adult stem cells can be allogeneic cells (from a donor), or autologous cells (the patient’s own cells). 

Given some of the ethical issues surrounding embryonic stem cells, it seems that more research is moving forward utilizing allogeneic or autologous cells.

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin – Madison investigated the differences between embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells, and they found the two types of cells to be very similar.  An article in Medical News Today provides more detail on the UW-Madison study.  Click here to read.

Information contained in this blog is intended for educational purposes only and not for medical diagnosis or treatment.  If you have a medical concern or issue, please consult with your physician.