StemCell Therapy

Abstract Introduction

Interest in the use of dental pulp stem cells (DPSC) to enhance neurological recovery following stroke and traumatic injury is increasing following successful pre-clinical studies. A murine model of autologous neural stem cell transplantation would be useful for further pre-clinical investigation of the underlying mechanisms. However, while human-derived DPSC have been well characterised, the neurogenic potential of murine DPSC (mDPSC) has been largely neglected. In this study we demonstrate neuronal differentiation of DPSC from murine incisors in vitro.

mDPSC were cultured under neuroinductive conditions and assessed for neuronal and glial markers and electrophysiological functional maturation.

mDPSC developed a neuronal morphology and high expression of neural markers nestin, III-tubulin and GFAP. Neurofilament M and S100 were found in lower abundance. Differentiated cells also expressed protein markers for cholinergic, GABAergic and glutaminergic neurons, indicating a mixture of central and peripheral nervous system cell types. Intracellular electrophysiological analysis revealed the presence of voltage-gated L-type Ca2+ channels in a majority of cells with neuronal morphology. No voltage-gated Na+ or K+ currents were found and the cultures did not support spontaneous action potentials. Neuronal-like networks expressed the gap junction protein, connexin 43 but this was not associated with dye coupling between adjacent cells after injection of the low-molecular weight tracers Lucifer yellow or Neurobiotin. This indicated that the connexin proteins were not forming traditional gap junction channels.

The data presented support the differentiation of mDPSC into immature neuronal-like networks.

Since their discovery as a source of multipotent adult human stem cells by Gronthos et al.[1], numerous groups have confirmed the potential of dental pulp stem cells (DPSC) to differentiate into multiple neural crest-lineage cell types [2-4]. Previous studies in our laboratory and others have demonstrated the neural potential of human-derived DPSC in vitro[2,5] and in vivo[6-8]. Human DPSC were found to express neural markers following injection into the rat and embryonic chick brain [7,8] and also induced endogenous responses through paracrine effects [6,9,10]. In the chick embryo, human DPSC induced neuroplasticity of the highly structured trigeminal ganglion [6] and promoted the recruitment, proliferation and neural differentiation of endogenous precursors in the mouse brain [9]. Interestingly, pre-differentiation of human DPSC promoted greater cell survival and neural differentiation following rat cortical lesion [7], which could be reflected therapeutically with greater functional recovery.

Given their potential for autologous transplantation and therapeutic applications in dental engineering and neurological disease treatment, the focus to date has been on applications for human-derived DPSC. The cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying recovery in pre-clinical studies of varied animal models of disease are poorly understood. Xenotransplantation is often problematic (that is, human DPSC injected into rodents) due to immune rejection. The mouse is a fundamentally important animal model in relation to understanding human disease, pre-clinical testing, and transgenic potential to gain better knowledge of mechanisms of action. A murine model of autologous DPSC transplantation would, therefore, be of great utility.

Like their human counterparts, rodent DPSC show neural crest multipotentiality [11-14]. However, a distinction has emerged between DPSC from murine molar and incisor teeth. While they both possess osteo-dentin and adipocyte differentiation potential, erupted murine molars, but not incisors, have been found to have chondrocytic potential [11-13,15]. Janebodin et al. [13] have described the expression of neuronal, oligodendrocyte and glial markers after in vitro differentiation of murine molar DPSC. To the best of our knowledge neural differentiation of incisor murine DPSC (mDPSC) has not yet been attempted and could offer an easily accessible source of DPSC for pre-clinical studies. Work by two other groups suggests that rodent incisor DPSC do have neurogenic potential through the successful formation of cells with neuronal-like multipolar morphology that expressed neuronal markers in vitro[16,17] and the promotion of nerve regeneration in vivo using rat incisor DPSC [18]. Neither study reported electrophysiological properties of the rat DPSC after neuronal differentiation.

Herein, we report the in vitro neuronal development of DPSC isolated from murine incisors using a neural differentiation methodology found to generate functional neurons from human DPSC [5]. We found species-specific differences between human and mouse cells and demonstrated that mDPSC develop characteristics suggesting their differentiation into immature neural-like cells. Unique to our study is the interrogation of the neuronal characteristics of mDPSC-derived cells using electrophysiological methodologies, which is fundamental to understanding neuronal function.

Incisors from adult BalbC mice were removed and their pulp exposed to enzymatic digestion with 3 mg/mL collagenase type I and 4 mg/mL dispase in PBS for one to two hours at 37C with 5% CO2. The resulting solution was centrifuged at 200g for five minutes, the supernatant and enzymes removed and the remaining cells cultured in mesenchymal stem cell medium [19] containing alpha-modified Eagles medium (-MEM) supplemented with 10% foetal bovine serum (FBS, Invitrogen, Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia), 1x GlutaMAX (Gibco, Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia), 100 M L-ascorbate-2-phosphate (Wako, Neuss, Germany), 50 U/mL penicillin and 50 g/mL streptomycin (Invitrogen), and dental pulp stem cells were allowed to adhere to the plastic base. Floating debris could subsequently be removed.

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Neurogenic potential of dental pulp stem cells isolated ...

Maybe you are thinking that all of color blind people see the world consisting of black and white only. But actually not, not all of the patients are suffered from total color blindness. In fact, the majority of them were suffer from partial color blindness. It means, they can still see colors, but not as complete as a normal person.

There are three types of partial color blindness: Deuteranopia, Protanopia and Tritanopia. Again, they, who are suffered from one of this type, could see colors too. However, for certain colors, they have difficulties in distinguishing them. For example, Protanopia and Deuteranopia have difficulties to distinguish green from red colors, thats why these types of color blindness are also called as red-green defficiency or red-green color blindness. Whereas, Tritanopia has difficulties to distinguish colors in bluish color spectrum.

All of them are caused by the lackness of one of three cone cells. Cone cells are responsible to absorb lights and activate color pigments. In normal conditions, eyes retina contains all of three cones. They are S-cones, M-cones and L-cones, they are also reffered to Blue- Cones, Green-Cones and Red-Cones respectively. To see colors completely, we need all of those cones presences to work together. They process color information captured by retina and then this information will be sent to brain to be perceived. The lackness of three types of cone cells, even only one cell, results incomplete color information for brain. This condition of lackness often called as color blindness.

This article will not reveal about how and the cause of color blindness in detail. Because it will need so many technically words and phrase. We are talking about how color blindness perceive colors. What is the difference between colorblind and normal color perception? Why are they cannot pass the Ishihara test, which is the common test for color blindness. We need a simulation to understand colorblindness color perception.

These are the simulation:

Simulation 1. Rainbow Colors

We can see that color blindness could see colors, couldnt they? But the simulation reveals that color blind perception of colorblindness are differ to that of normal color vision. We can see Deuteranop and Protanop color perceptions are almost similar to each other, their color spectrum is only consists of two colors: red and green. Deuteranop and Protanop will perceive Yellow, Green and Red color to yellowish color, which are differ only in brightness. Whereas, blue colors are not affected very much, they are still blue.

For Tritanop, who is lack of S-cone or Blue-Cones, confuse blue with green and yellow with violet.

Simulation 2, Color of Pencils

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How are color blindness see the rainbow? - For...

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) causes premature mortality, disability and compromised quality of life in the industrialized and developing world (1). Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic inflammatory disease which manifests itself in multiple joints of the body. The inflammatory process primarily affects the lining of the joints (synovial membrane), but can also affect other organs. The inflamed synovium leads to erosions of the cartilage and bone and sometimes joint deformity. Pain, swelling, and redness are common joint manifestations. Although the causes are unknown, RA is believed to be the result of a faulty immune response. RA can begin at any age and is associated with fatigue and prolonged stiffness after rest. There is no cure for RA, but new effective drugs are increasingly available to treat the disease and prevent deformed joints. In addition to medications and surgery, good self-management, including exercise, are known to reduce pain and disability.

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The etiology, or cause, of RA is unknown. Many cases are believed to result from an interaction between genetic factors and environmental exposures.

Socio-demographics: The incidence of RA is typically two to three times higher in women than men. The onset of RA, in both women and men, is highest among those in their sixties(2)

Genetics: There is longstanding evidence that specific HLA class II genotypes are associated with increased risk. Most attention has been given to the DR4 and DRB1 molecules of the major histocompatability complex HLA class II genes. The strongest associations have been found between RA and the DRB1*0401 and DRB1*0404 alleles (12). More recent investigations indicate that of the more than 30 genes studied, the strongest candidate gene is PTPN22, a gene that has been linked to several autoimmune conditions(12).

Modifiable: Several modifiable risk factors have been studied in association with RA including reproductive hormonal exposures, tobacco use, dietary factors, and microbial exposures.

Smoking Among these risk factors, the strongest and most consistent evidence is for an association between smoking and RA. A history of smoking is associated with a modest to moderate (1.3 to 2.4 times) increased risk of RA onset (2). This relationship between smoking and RA is strongest among people who are ACPA-positive (anti-citrullinated protein/peptide antibodies), a marker of auto-immune activity (12).

Reproductive and breastfeeding history Hormones related to reproduction have been studied extensively as potential risk factors for RA:

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CDC - Arthritis - Basics - Definition - Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sir, I am IgA Nephropathy patient, my creatinine level 6.1 and hemoglobin is 8.8, what should I do? we get the question on our website. In order to help more patients, the kidney experts from Shijiazhuang Kidney Disease Hospital of China gi IgA Nephropathy is one of a group of conditions called glomerulonephritis, which caused by deposition of a protein (immunoglobulin A). Along with the development of illness condition, patients are prone to suffer from symptoms. Why does the High Creatinine Level is usually taken as an indicator to tell that you have kidney damage. However, some patients wonder that whether kidney infection can raise your creatinine level or not. To know the answer, please read on. For the ques Kidney Failure is a condition that can not only affect your normal life but also can shorten life time. Facing the threatening disease, aside from taking necessary treatments, it is also necessary to have a balanced and healthy diet plan. D Stage 3 Kidney Failure is one of critical periods to take necessary treatments so as to stop progression of illness condition and protect kidney from the further damage. Well then, what steps can I take to prevent serious matter? Actually, IgA Nephropathy is a kind of glomerulonephritis which caused by autoimmune disorders. Many patients with the kidney damage must have the concern: what is the life expectancy for IgA nephropathy patients? Here we will share some information Chronic Kidney Disease or Kidney Failure patients may be prescribed some pain killers which are commonly used for relieving pain feeling. However, some patients may have the concern: can pain killers cause high creatinine level? Actually, c Cottage cheese is a good source of protein, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, sodium, vitamins and so on, which play a significant role in keeping peoples health. Can I eat cottage cheese with Stage 4 CKD? patients have to consider the pros a Kidney disease is really not a joke because patients will suffer from more and more related symptoms and complications due to poor renal function. Well then, is there any ways can increase renal function naturally? Actually, different stage What food should I take to improve anemia caused by CKD? I am sure that question is one of concerned questions who are suffering the condition. Please dont worry. Here we will give your some suggestions.And you can choose freely according t Herb is one of important parts in Traditional Chinese Medicine which has been more and more popular in the modern medical area. And some herbs also have shown a good efficacy on relieving symptoms of Polycystic Kidney Disease, like back pai My son stared dialysis a week ago, is he a good candidate for a stem cell therapy? Creatinine 3.7 is much higher than the normal range which means that much toxins and wastes have deposited in the body. Sometimes, it suggests that you have progressed to Stage 3 Kidney Disease with moderate kidney damage. Well then, is it n I have kidney cyst and I want to try osmotherapy, how can I use? Please help me. Leg and foot swelling also known as leg and foot anemia, is the most common symptom for patients with kidney damage. When it occurs in Stage 4 CKD, do you know the reasons? Do you know the effective treatments? Now, follow me and find out t Kidney cyst refers that fluid-filled sac forming on kidneys. Small kidney cysts have no affect on the body, but large cysts will trigger a myriad of problems. A person with 5cm cyst on right kidney may suffer pain, blood in urine, infection Cysts on both kidneys is very common a disease that is more commonly seen in elderly people. Usually, when cysts are small in size, they cannot cause symptoms, while when cysts enlarge to a certain, they will trigger different symptoms. Som Pain is the common symptom for patients with kidney cysts, especially when cysts enlarge to a certain size. Compared to western pain killers, some herbal medicines have shown more safe, natural and effective effect on relieving related symp BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) is an indicator to reflect how well your kidneys are working, which is the metabolic products of protein. Normally, it is formed in liver and discharged out by the kidneys. Well then, should I be concerned a BUN le Symptoms of Lupus Nephritis can vary widely from person to person, including swelling, back pain, blood in urine, high blood pressure, etc. Some patients are more likely to feel fatigue. How does lupus nephritis cause fatigue? And how to de Stem Cell Therapy is also known as stem cell transplant which has tremendous promise to help us understand and treat a range of diseases including chronic kidney disease, especially Kidney Failure. Well then, how does the treatment help ren Kidney cyst is a common kidney disease which are more commonly seen in elderly people. they are fluid-filled sacs that either simple kidney cyst or complex renal cyst. Actually, when they are small, normally they wont induce symptoms, but w I have a questions about my kidney cysts: what should be done for reducing kidney cyst? Please advice me. My 4-year old daughter has HSP and now has 1+protein in her urine. We are going to recheck in 2 days, but now I am worried about protecting her kidneys. The words come from a father. In order to give his professional help, we consult t

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Stem Cell Therapy: New Hope for Kidney Failure ...

Highlights

Donor age and prolonged cell culture time reduce reprogramming efficiency

Upregulation of the p21 associates with the donor age and time in culture

Knockdown of p21 restored iPSC generation in long-term passaged fibroblasts

Somatic cells can be reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) by the forced expression of the transcription factors OCT4, SOX2, KLF4 and c-MYC. Pluripotent reprogramming appears as a slow and inefficient process because of genetic and epigenetic barriers of somatic cells. In this report, we have extended previous observations concerning donor age and passage number of human fibroblasts as critical determinants of the efficiency of iPSC induction. Human fibroblasts from 11 different donors of variable age were reprogrammed by ectopic expression of reprogramming factors. Although all fibroblasts gave rise to iPSC colonies, the reprogramming efficiency correlated negatively and declined rapidly with increasing donor age. In addition, the late passage fibroblasts gave less reprogrammed colonies than the early passage cell counterparts, a finding associated with the cellular senescence-induced up regulation of p21. Knockdown of p21 restored iPSC generation even in long-term passaged fibroblasts of an old donor, highlighting the central role of the p53/p21 pathway in cellular senescence induced by both donor age and culture time.

Reprogramming rejuvenates aged somatic cells back into the pluripotent state (Takahashi et al., 2007andTakahashi and Yamanaka, 2006). The developmental plasticity of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) demonstrated the potential for regenerative therapies of human diseases (Braam et al., 2013, Song et al., 2012andYu et al., 2012). Various types of somatic cells have been successfully used for iPSC derivation, including for instance skin fibroblasts, blood cells and myoblasts (Seki et al., 2010, Trokovic et al., 2013, Trokovic et al., 2014andYu et al., 2007). Alternative methods for iPSC derivation have been intensively developed to avoid the integration of transgenes, including reprogramming induced by Sendai virus, mRNA, episomal vectors or small molecules (Hou et al., 2013, Nishimura et al., 2011, Warren et al., 2010andZhou et al., 2009). Although methods for iPSC derivation have been intensively developed, most current technologies are still inefficient, which may be due to intrinsic barriers in the ability of cells to undergo a rapid shift in their proliferative rate (Hanna et al., 2009andSmith et al., 2010).

Multiple factors are known to contribute to the efficiency of iPSC generation (Park et al., 2014). For example, differentiation state of the starting cell is a significant factor, since progenitors and stem cells give higher reprogramming efficiency than terminally differentiated cells (Eminli et al., 2009). There is also evidence for varying efficiency for different types of somatic cells from the same donor (Streckfuss-Bomeke et al., 2013). In addition cellular senescence has been shown to affect the reprogramming efficiency (Banito et al., 2009, Kawamura et al., 2009, Li et al., 2009, Marin et al., 2009andUtikal et al., 2009). Cellular senescence increases with age and one of its hallmarks is the irreversible cell cycle arrest through the activation of the p53/p21 and p16 pathways (Campisi and d'Adda di Fagagna, 2007andNarita et al., 2003). These findings suggest that intrinsic properties of somatic cells determine the reprogramming efficiency.

Donor age has been shown to have an effect on reprogramming efficiency of murine cells (Wang et al., 2011). Contrary to what has been observed in mice, donor age was suggested not to impair the reprogramming efficiency of human cells (Somers et al., 2010) and iPSC have been successfully derived even from the fibroblasts of centenarians (Lapasset et al., 2011). However, there are no reports on the combined effect of age and culture time on reprogramming efficiency of human cells.

The aim of this report was to evaluate the independent and combined impact of donor age and passage number on the pluripotent reprogramming efficiency of human dermal fibroblasts. Gene expression profiles of selected genes and telomere lengths of starting fibroblasts were analysed in order to identify potential factors behind distinct reprogramming efficiencies. We found that the reprogramming efficiency of human dermal fibroblasts is synergistically affected by donor age and culture time, both inducing cellular senescence through the p53/ p21 pathway.

Donors or their guardians provided their written informed consent for participation. Coordinating Ethics Committee of Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District approved generation and use of human iPSC (statement nr. 423/13/03/00/08) on April 2009. Human dermal fibroblasts and foreskin fibroblasts (HFF; CRL-2429; ATCC) were used for reprogramming (Table1).

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Combined negative effect of donor age and time in culture ...

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Leveraging Tissue Data and Analysis

By extracting and analyzing all the relevant data from tissue samples, and correlating that to genomic and other data in order to get a clear picture of what is happening inside a patient, several areas of diagnostic and drug discovery and development are impacted:

Evaluating combination therapies

With combination therapies, the diagnosisin terms of which drugs will be effective in combinationbecomes very complicated. Looking at tissue data in conjunction with the other patient data available enables researchers to combine many different molecules to understand which one tells the right storyin other words, which combination of those molecules demonstrate patterns that predict drug response, and thus which combination is the right one for a target group of patients.

Gaining insight into biological processes driving disease

In the past, the industry usually took a bottom up approach where a molecule or protein was considered first, and then researchers thought upward in terms of how that biological molecule could help a patient. This paradigm is changing and pathological data is now being used to drive biological research. By looking at tissue in a structured, statistical, and analytical way in addition to the molecules and pathways, new discoveries can be made, which ultimately triggers more purposeful research.

Identifying novel tissue diagnostics with prognostic or predictive value

Historically, researchers searching for biomarkers would stain certain proteins in the tissue, such as with immunohistochemistry (IHC), which they would then investigate with the naked eye. Much of this investigation is being automated now, however. Machines can identify more objects and more precise measurements in tissue than the human eye, and this approach is being used to identify biomarkers and develop diagnostics that could not previously be found.

The use of an integrated data approach to drug discovery and development has been slow to get off the ground, but the need and possibilities for a big data approach is growing. This is changing, however. Technologies are emerging that can collect, correlate, and structure a significant volume and multiple kinds of dataincluding genetic, tissue, clinical outcomes and other kinds of patient datain a meaningful way, giving researchers the ability to see the bigger picture and make discoveries that couldnt previously be found.

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Kidneys are remarkable organs. Inside them are millions of tiny blood vessels that act as filters. Their job is to remove waste products from the blood.

Sometimes this filtering system breaks down. Diabetes can damage the kidneys and cause them to fail. Failing kidneys lose their ability to filter out waste products, resulting in kidney disease.

When our bodies digest the protein we eat, the process creates waste products. In the kidneys, millions of tiny blood vessels (capillaries) with even tinier holes in them act as filters. As blood flows through the blood vessels, small molecules such as waste products squeeze through the holes. These waste products become part of the urine. Useful substances, such as protein and red blood cells, are too big to pass through the holes in the filter and stay in the blood.

Diabetes can damage this system. High levels of blood sugar make the kidneys filter too much blood. All this extra work is hard on the filters. After many years, they start to leak and useful protein is lost in the urine. Having small amounts of protein in the urine is called microalbuminuria.

When kidney disease is diagnosed early, during microalbuminuria, several treatments may keep kidney disease from getting worse. Having larger amounts of protein in the urine is called macroalbuminuria. When kidney disease is caught later during macroalbuminuria, end-stage renal disease, or ESRD, usually follows.

In time, the stress of overwork causes the kidneys to lose their filtering ability. Waste products then start to build up in the blood. Finally, the kidneys fail. This failure, ESRD, is very serious. A person with ESRD needs to have a kidney transplant or to have the blood filtered by machine (dialysis).

Not everyone with diabetes develops kidney disease. Factors that can influence kidney disease development include genetics, blood sugar control, and blood pressure.

The better a person keeps diabetes and blood pressure under control, the lower the chance of getting kidney disease.

The kidneys work hard to make up for the failing capillaries so kidney disease produces no symptoms until almost all function is gone. Also, the symptoms of kidney disease are not specific. The first symptom of kidney disease is often fluid buildup. Other symptoms of kidney disease include loss of sleep, poor appetite, upset stomach, weakness, and difficulty concentrating.

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Kidney Disease - American Diabetes Association

The restorative properties of stem cells:

Stem cells are unique because they drive the natural healing process throughout your life. Stem cells are different from other cells in the body because they regenerate and produce specialized cell types. They heal and restore skin, bones, cartilage, muscles, nerves and other tissues when injured.

As a result, amazing new medical treatments are being developed to treat a range of diseases contemporary medicine currently deems difficult or impossible to treat. Among them are:

While stem cells can be found in most tissues of the body, they are usually buried deep, are few in number and are similar in appearance to surrounding cells. With the discovery of stem cells in teeth, an accessible and available source of stem cells has been identified.

The tooth is natures safe for these valuable stem cells, and there is an abundance of these cells in baby teeth, wisdom teeth and permanent teeth. The stem cells contained within teeth are capable of replicating themselves and can be readily recovered at the time of a planned dental procedure. Living stem cells found within extracted teeth were routinely discarded every day, but now, with the knowledge from recent medical research, your Doctor provides you the opportunity to save these cells for future use in developing medical treatments for your family.

Aside from being the most convenient stem cells to access, dental stem cells have significant medical benefits in the development of new medical therapies. Using ones own stem cells for medical treatment means a much lower risk of rejection by the body and decreases the need for powerful drugs that weaken the immune system, both of which are negative but typical realities that come into play when tissues or cells from a donor are used to treat patients.

Further, the stem cells from teeth have been observed in research studies to be among the most powerful stem cells in the human body. Stem cells from teeth replicate at a faster rate and for a longer period of time than do stem cells harvested from other tissues of the body.

Stem cells in the human body age over time and their regenerative abilities slow down later in life. The earlier in life that your familys stem cells are secured, the more valuable they will be when they are needed most.

Accessible The stem cells contained within teeth are recovered at the time of a planned procedure: Extraction of wisdom teeth, baby teeth or other healthy permanent teeth.

Affordable when compared with other methods of acquiring and preserving life saving stem cells: Peripheral blood, Bone Marrow, Cord blood etc, recovering Stem Cells from teeth is the most affordable and least invasive.

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Stem Cells Santa Monica CA, Stem Cells From Teeth

Home > Understanding Kidney Disease > Kidney Diseases > Kidney Failure > Kidney Failure Treatment > 2015-06-08 15:16| Font Size A A A

Stem Cell Therapy is also known as stem cell transplant which has tremendous promise to help us understand and treat a range of diseases including chronic kidney disease, especially Kidney Failure. Well then, how does the treatment help renal failure patients? Now, lets see.

Kidney Failure is a medical condition in which the kidneys fail to adequately filter waste products from the body. Along with the progression of illness condition, patients will experience more and more symptoms, and patients will also lose more and more functioning renal cells and tissues. Eventually, Dialysis or Kidney Transplant will be the last choice for patients. But I am sure that the consequence is not what we want. Because patients may suffer from more and more symptoms. As the matter of fact, although kidney failure cannot be cured completely, we still can do useful something so as to stop or at least slow down the progression of illness condition totally.

What is the stem cell therapy?

Fortunately, Stem Cell Therapy can be new hope for kidney failure patients. Briefly, stem cells are characterized by their capacity for self-renewal and ability to differentiate into specialized cell types.

How does it help kidney failure patients?

In recent years, clinical research finds that stem cells can differentiate into inherent kidney cells and renal parenchymal cells, replacing the damaged or necrotic kidney cells and tissues. So stem cell transplant shows an obvious effect on repairing and rebuilding kidney functioning cells. In the condition, the poor renal function can get improvement and kidney will also function normally. Last, patients will also get rid of dialysis and live a improved-quality life.

Is there any risk to take the therapy?

Compared with conventional therapies, stem cells wont cause rejection reaction, have strong differentiated ability, and dont cause any toxicity or side effect. Whats more, after many years research and practices, the success rate of Stem Cell Therapy has been improved largely. Now, it has risen to 90% especially in the specialized kidney disease hospital. I believe most kidney disease patients can get confidence from this success rate.

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Stem Cell Therapy: New Hope for Kidney Failure Patients

Weve all seen the words complementary, alternative, and integrative, but what do they reallymean?

This fact sheet looks into these terms to help you understand them better and gives you a brief picture of NCCIHs mission and role in this areaofresearch.

Many Americansmore than 30 percent of adults and about 12 percent of childrenuse health care approaches developed outside of mainstream Western, or conventional, medicine. When describing these approaches, people often use alternative and complementary interchangeably, but the two terms refer to differentconcepts:

True alternative medicine is uncommon. Most people who use non-mainstream approaches use them along with conventionaltreatments.

There are many definitions of integrative health care, but all involve bringing conventional and complementary approaches together in a coordinated way. The use of integrative approaches to health and wellness has grown within care settings across the United States. Researchers are currently exploring the potential benefits of integrative health in a variety of situations, including pain management for military personnel and veterans, relief of symptoms in cancer patients and survivors, and programs to promote healthybehaviors.

Chronic pain is a common problem among active-duty military personnel and veterans. NCCIH, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and other agencies are sponsoring research to see whether integrative approaches can help. For example, NCCIH-funded studies are testing the effects of adding mindfulness meditation, self-hypnosis, or other complementary approaches to pain management programs for veterans. The goal is to help patients feel and function better and reduce their need for pain medicines that can have serious sideeffects.

More information on pain management for military personnel andveterans

Cancer treatment centers with integrative health care programs may offer services such as acupuncture and meditation to help manage symptoms and side effects for patients who are receiving conventional cancer treatment. Although research on the potential value of these integrative programs is in its early stages, some studies have had promising results. For example, NCCIH-funded research has suggestedthat:

More information oncancer

Healthy behaviors, such as eating right, getting enough physical activity, and not smoking, can reduce peoples risks of developing serious diseases. Can integrative approaches promote these types of behaviors? Researchers are working to answer this question. Preliminary research suggests that yoga and meditation-based therapies may help smokers quit, and NCCIH-funded studies are testing whether adding mindfulness-based approaches to weight control programs will help people lose weight moresuccessfully.

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Complementary, Alternative, or Integrative Health: Whats ...

Heavier Patients Permanently Damage Fat Stem Cells

I promised this week that I would delve deeper into the concept of adipose versus bone marrow stem cells.One of the concepts often brought up in support of using fat as a stem cell source is that its a plentiful resource in America. However, does being heavy make for more and better stem cells or does being heavy actually hurt stem cell quality? Regrettably it seems like the research is supporting that the later is more frequently the case heavy people have poor quality fat stem cells.

Stem cells are everywhere in our bodies in our skin, bones, muscles, organs, and fat. There are a good number of stem cells in fat which can be concentrated by breaking down the tissue in a simple procedure that our FDA regrettably categorizes as the creation of a prescriptiondrug. Despite that regulatory classification, there are no shortage of doctors and companies using fat stem cells to treat whatever ails you. Websites advertising the treatment of everything from Arthritis and ALS to MS and impotence using fat stem cells can be found all over the Internet. However, what if obesity itselfactually harmed the quality of the stem cells? The burgeoning fat stem cell industry would have some serious issues to solve.

The concept that the physical attributes of the patient may impact fat stem cells isnt new. For example, prior studies have shown that fat stem cells isolated from olderpatients werent as capable to doing things like creating new blood supply, a critical feat for tissue repair. In addition, other research has revealed that women over 40 have about half the number of fat stem cells as younger patients. Now a new study suggests that not only age, but being heavy negatively impacts fat stem cell health.

The new studylooked at the most common type of fat stem cell treatment being used stromal vascular fraction (SVF). This is digested and centrifuged fat that isolates a mix of cells, the vast minority of which are stem cells. In the research, the investigators looked at SVF from thinnerpatients (thinner than the average person in the U.S.), from very obese patients, and from formerly obese patients who had undergone successful bariatric surgery. Basically, the stem cells from obese women and formerly obese women excreted much more of a bad inflammatory chemical (IL-6) than those from thinner patients. Why is this an issue? Fat stem cells are frequently used to treat diseases where inflammation is out of control, so if they inadvertently secrete inflammatory chemicals, that could make the inflammatory disease worse. This makes sense, as obese men and women often suffer from diseases of chronic inflammation, so its no surprise that their stem cells may play a role in stoking that inflammatory fire.

The upshot? Fat stem cells from older patients tend to perform more poorly than those taken from younger patients. In older women there are also far fewer of them. Now this new research suggests that in obese women, they may function differently by releasing excessive amounts of pro-inflammatory chemicals. Perhaps more concerning is the fact that even after women have lost massive amounts of weight (almost half their body weight in this study), their stem cells still have this problem!

If you liked this post, you may really enjoy this book by the same author - Dr. Chris Centeno

Written by Regenexx Founder, Dr. Chris Centeno, this 150 page book explains the Regenexx approach to patients and orthopedic conditions. Whether youre are an existing patient or simply interested in the human body and how everything in the body ties together, you will enjoy exploring this book in-depth. With hyperlinks to more detailed information, related studies and commentary, this book condenses a huge amount of data and resources into an enjoyable and entertaining read.

Chris Centeno, M.D. is a specialist in regenerative medicine and the new field of Interventional Orthopedics.

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Heavier Patients Permanently Damage Fat Stem Cells - Regenexx

Fat Stem Cell Arthritis Treatments: Are All Fat Stem Cells Equal?

There are an ever increasing supply of physicians who have taken a weekend course to deliver fat stem cell arthritis treatments. What should patients know? All stem cells are created equal, right? Wrong. Let me explain.

For many patients, the term stem cell means a single type of cell that can help treat disease. However, nothing could be farther from the truth, as there are hundreds of different kinds of stem cells, each with their own properties and uses. As an example of this, a recent paper highlights how fat stem cells taken from two different sources have completely different potentials in helping arthritis.

There are stem cells in your body that keep you alive. Believe it or not, these little repairmen are in every tissue you have. When an injury happens, they spring into action to help repair the local area. We accumulate small injuries everyday, so without these stem cells, we would soon be like an old car where the oil, tires, and windshield wipers were never replaced, a broken downshadow of our former selves.

Fat stem cells make more fat for a living. So if you had trauma to an area where they live, they will help create more fat tissue and the blood supply to support it. This is why theyre so good for cosmetic purposes, as adding fat that will stay in an area can be a big bonus in enhancing appearance. However, what they dont do all day is make cartilage, so fat stem cell use for orthopedics has been shown to be less than optimal in the peer reviewed research. Now a new study shows us just how important the location of stem cell harvest is to their final use.

The new study took fat stem cells from the fat deposits many Americans are trying to decrease and compared them to fat deposits in the knee. The fat stem cells in the knee all came from a very specific spot under the knee cap, the Infra-patellar Fat Pad (IFP). The belly fat stem cells turned out to be better at creating bone, but were quite poor at creating cartilage. The IFP cells were good at making cartilage and less adept at making bone. Why? multiple studies have shown that the daily function of the stem cell impacts its proclivities. So for example, stem cells that are from the heart are better at creating new heart muscle than stem cells taken from fat or bone marrow.

Why is this important? Many fat stem cell clinics often show studies performed by others that use IFP cells to help arthritis, when what theyre actually doing is harvesting the very different belly fat stem cells. Regrettably, the comparison is apples to oranges.

The upshot? A stem cell taken from one part of the body isnt the same as one taken from another. Most of the physicians using stem cells today who learned their craft in a weekend course werent taught this distinction. However, an educated patient, should know the difference!

If you liked this post, you may really enjoy this book by the same author - Dr. Chris Centeno

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Fat Stem Cell Arthritis Treatments: Are All Fat Stem Cells ...

biotechnology,the use of biology to solve problems and make useful products. The most prominent area of biotechnology is the production of therapeutic proteins and other drugs through genetic engineering.

People have been harnessing biological processes to improve their quality of life for some 10,000 years, beginning with the first agricultural communities. Approximately 6,000 years ago, humans began to tap the biological processes of microorganisms in order to make bread, alcoholic beverages, and cheese and to preserve dairy products. But such processes are not what is meant today by biotechnology, a term first widely applied to the molecular and cellular technologies that began to emerge in the 1960s and 70s. A fledgling biotech industry began to coalesce in the mid- to late 1970s, led by Genentech, a pharmaceutical company established in 1976 by Robert A. Swanson and Herbert W. Boyer to commercialize the recombinant DNA technology pioneered by Boyer and Stanley N. Cohen. Early companies such as Genentech, Amgen, Biogen, Cetus, and Genex began by manufacturing genetically engineered substances primarily for medical and environmental uses.

For more than a decade, the biotechnology industry was dominated by recombinant DNA technology, or genetic engineering. This technique consists of splicing the gene for a useful protein (often a human protein) into production cellssuch as yeast, bacteria, or mammalian cells in culturewhich then begin to produce the protein in volume. In the process of splicing a gene into a production cell, a new organism is created. At first, biotechnology investors and researchers were uncertain about whether the courts would permit them to acquire patents on organisms; after all, patents were not allowed on new organisms that happened to be discovered and identified in nature. But, in 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court, in the case of Diamond v. Chakrabarty, resolved the matter by ruling that a live human-made microorganism is patentable subject matter. This decision spawned a wave of new biotechnology firms and the infant industrys first investment boom. In 1982 recombinant insulin became the first product made through genetic engineering to secure approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Since then, dozens of genetically engineered protein medications have been commercialized around the world, including recombinant versions of growth hormone, clotting factors, proteins for stimulating the production of red and white blood cells, interferons, and clot-dissolving agents.

In the early years, the main achievement of biotechnology was the ability to produce naturally occurring therapeutic molecules in larger quantities than could be derived from conventional sources such as plasma, animal organs, and human cadavers. Recombinant proteins are also less likely to be contaminated with pathogens or to provoke allergic reactions. Today, biotechnology researchers seek to discover the root molecular causes of disease and to intervene precisely at that level. Sometimes this means producing therapeutic proteins that augment the bodys own supplies or that make up for genetic deficiencies, as in the first generation of biotech medications. (Gene therapyinsertion of genes encoding a needed protein into a patients body or cellsis a related approach.) But the biotechnology industry has also expanded its research into the development of traditional pharmaceuticals and monoclonal antibodies that stop the progress of a disease. Such steps are uncovered through painstaking study of genes (genomics), the proteins that they encode (proteomics), and the larger biological pathways in which they act.

In addition to the tools mentioned above, biotechnology also involves merging biological information with computer technology (bioinformatics), exploring the use of microscopic equipment that can enter the human body (nanotechnology), and possibly applying techniques of stem cell research and cloning to replace dead or defective cells and tissues (regenerative medicine). Companies and academic laboratories integrate these disparate technologies in an effort to analyze downward into molecules and also to synthesize upward from molecular biology toward chemical pathways, tissues, and organs.

In addition to being used in health care, biotechnology has proved helpful in refining industrial processes through the discovery and production of biological enzymes that spark chemical reactions (catalysts); for environmental cleanup, with enzymes that digest contaminants into harmless chemicals and then die after consuming the available food supply; and in agricultural production through genetic engineering.

Agricultural applications of biotechnology have proved the most controversial. Some activists and consumer groups have called for bans on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or for labeling laws to inform consumers of the growing presence of GMOs in the food supply. In the United States, the introduction of GMOs into agriculture began in 1993, when the FDA approved bovine somatotropin (BST), a growth hormone that boosts milk production in dairy cows. The next year, the FDA approved the first genetically modified whole food, a tomato engineered for a longer shelf life. Since then, regulatory approval in the United States, Europe, and elsewhere has been won by dozens of agricultural GMOs, including crops that produce their own pesticides and crops that survive the application of specific herbicides used to kill weeds. Studies by the United Nations, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the European Union, the American Medical Association, U.S. regulatory agencies, and other organizations have found GMO foods to be safe, but skeptics contend that it is still too early to judge the long-term health and ecological effects of such crops. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the land area planted in genetically modified crops increased dramatically, from 1.7 million hectares (4.2 million acres) in 1996 to 160 million hectares (395 million acres) by 2011.

Overall, the revenues of U.S. and European biotechnology industries roughly doubled over the five-year period from 1996 through 2000. Rapid growth continued into the 21st century, fueled by the introduction of new products, particularly in health care.

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biotechnology | Britannica.com

One of the soundest principles throughout life is to focus on perfecting yourself, instead of trying to change the behavior of others. Finding out how to get a Sermorelin Doctors Prescription to eliminate your unhealthy low hgh symptoms is an excellent way to focus your attention on giving your body exactly what it now needs. When you have been struggling with low energy, stubborn belly fat, a lack of sexual desire, and an overall feeling of lethargy, your bodys decreasing human growth hormone levels are usually responsible. However, there is something you can do to eliminate those symptoms and actually significantly improve your overall healthiness and vitality, allowing you to feel and look like the best possible version of yourself! Our safe and highly effective doctor prescribed Sermorelin injections stimulate you pituitary gland to jump-start the restoring of your bodys natural growth hormone supply. As a result, you will experience an amazing increase in energy, stamina and your desire for sexual intimacy. Your stubborn belly fat will rapidly melt away, and your muscle and skin tone will quickly improve. In fact, with our injectable Sermorelin therapy, you will even reduce your risk for heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis and diabetes! That is how important having an adequate supply of hgh actually is to sustaining your overall health and wellness. However, without treatment your low hgh levels will only continue to decline and your symptoms will continue to intensify over time unless you have decided that getting a Sermorelin Doctors Prescription makes more sense than giving up on ever feeling really good again. With the help of our doctors who specialize in Sermorelin therapy for hgh deficiency, you can focus on how great you feel instead of how old and tired youve been feeling. As you experience the astonishing and long-lasting Sermorelin benefits that our treatment provides you with, you will discover that you havent felt this energetic and alive since you were in your twenties! You will notice that as your fresh supply of hgh rejuvenates every cell, system and organ in your body, everything about your lifestyle is greatly enhanced by the benefits of your treatment with our doctor prescribed Sermorelin treatment. From your performance at work to the time that you spend with your family and friends, our proven therapy for increasing your bodys natural growth hormone supply is a life-changing experience! Our doctors know that it is difficult to be happy with your lifestyle when your symptoms associated with low human growth hormone levels take over so we have made it easy and convenient for you to get the help you need. We have also made sure that it is easy and convenient for you to get the facts about treatment with Sermorelin injections just by calling us at our toll-free number. Thats because when it comes to successfully eliminating your unhealthy symptoms, we are dedicated to providing you with a Sermorelin Doctors Prescription that has been created with your own specific needs and goals in mind.

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MIAMI (PRWEB) June 08, 2015

Global Stem Cells Group and its subsidiary Stem Cell Training, Inc. have announced plans to conduct a hands-on, two day intensive stem cell training course for physicians and qualified medical professionals Sept. 18 -19, 2015. The training course will be led by anti-aging specialist John P. Salerno, M.D. in Downtown Manhattan.

The founder of The Salerno Center, Salerno practices integrative medicine, combining traditional and alternative healing methods. The course will focus on stem cell therapies for a variety of conditions and treatments including anti-aging therapies. Salerno trained in anti-aging medicine and has opened more than 20 anti-aging medical centers worldwide, including 10 in Japan, three in Brazil and two in Korea.

The Adipose and Bone Marrow Stem Cell Training Course was developed for physicians and high-level practitioners to learn the process through an intensive, hands-on training session that arms participants with clinical protocols and state-of-the-art techniques for isolating and re-integrating adipose- and bone marrow-derived stem cells.

The objective of the training is to teach effective regenerative medicine techniques that can be used to treat patients in-office.

Global Stem Cells Group's Stem Cell Training, Inc. courses have been extended to approximately 35 countries, allowing a global community of physicians to learn how to apply these new stem cell technologies. For more information, visit the Stem Cell Training, Inc. website, email info(at)stemcelltraining(dot)net, or call 305-224-1858.

About Global Stem Cells Group:

Global Stem Cells Group, Inc. is the parent company of six wholly owned operating companies dedicated entirely to stem cell research, training, products and solutions. Founded in 2012, the company combines dedicated researchers, physician and patient educators and solution providers with the shared goal of meeting the growing worldwide need for leading edge stem cell treatments and solutions.

With a singular focus on this exciting new area of medical research, Global Stem Cells Group and its subsidiaries are uniquely positioned to become global leaders in cellular medicine.

Global Stem Cells Group's corporate mission is to make the promise of stem cell medicine a reality for patients around the world. With each of GSCG's six operating companies focused on a separate research-based mission, the result is a global network of state-of-the-art stem cell treatments.

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Global Stem Cells Group, Stem Cell Training and Anti-aging ...

Amir Toor, M.D., hematologist-oncologist and member of the Developmental Therapeutics research program at VCU Massey Cancer Center is pictured. Credit: VCU Massey Cancer Center

Researchers at VCU Massey Cancer Center's Bone Marrow Transplant Program have recently published findings from a phase 2 clinical trial that demonstrate lymphocyte recovery in related and unrelated stem cell transplant recipients generally falls into three patterns that are significantly associated with survival. This first-of-its-kind research continues the efforts of principal investigator Amir Toor, M.D., to understand the immune system as a dynamical system that can be modeled to improve stem cell transplantation.

"We began considering lymphocyte reconstitution following stem cell transplantation as similar to population growth models. So, we graphed the lymphocyte counts of our patients at various times following their transplant as a logistic function and observed distinct patterns that correlated with clinical outcomes," says Toor, the lead investigator of the study and hematologist-oncologist and member of the Developmental Therapeutics research program at VCU Massey Cancer Center. "Our goal is to use this data to develop models that can predict complications from stem cell transplantation. Then, we may be able to intervene at key points in times with appropriate clinical treatments that will make the most positive impact on patients' outcomes."

The study, recently published in the journal Biology of Blood & Marrow Transplantation, retrospectively examined lymphocyte recovery and clinical outcome data from a recent phase 2 clinical trial (Clinical trials.gov identifier - NCT00709592) in which 41 patients received a stem cell transplant from related or unrelated donors. As part of the clinical trial protocol, the patients underwent low-dose radiation therapy and received one of two different doses of anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG), an immune-modulating drug given to guard against graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) before transplantation. GVHD is a condition where the donor's immune system attacks the recipient's body. Following transplantation, the researchers observed that the patients' lymphocytes recovered in one of three general patterns that correlated significantly with survival, relapse, GVHD and the need for further donor immune cell infusions to treat the cancer.

Group A experienced fast, early lymphoid expansion, culminating in a high absolute lymphoid count (ALC) within two months of transplantation. Group B experienced a slower, but steady lymphoid expansion that peaked much later than group A with a lower ALC. Group C experienced very poor lymphocyte recovery that demonstrated an early, but brief lymphoid expansion with a very low ALC. Group B had the best clinical outcomes with a survival rate of 86 percent, followed by group A with a survival rate of 67 percent and group C with 30 percent survival. Relapse rates between groups A and B were similar at 33 and 29 percent, respectively, while group C experienced a 90 percent relapse rate. GVHD was observed in 67 percent of patients in group A, 43 percent of patients in group B and 10 percent of patients in group C. Finally, adoptive immunotherapy with donor cell infusions was required for 13 percent of patients in group A, 21 percent in group B and 70 percent in group C.

The discovery of these patterns in lymphocyte recovery build on prior research by Toor and his team that supports the concept of the immune system working as a dynamical system. In 2013, the Massey Bone Marrow Transplant Program's research team and Massey researcher Masoud Manjili, D.V.M., Ph.D., sequenced DNA from the T cells of 10 stem cell transplant recipients and their donors and found a fractal, self-repeating pattern in the participants' T cell repertoires. This discovery suggested that physicians could potentially sequence the DNA of patients after they undergo stem cell transplantation and predict potential GVHD complications based on the pattern in which their T cell repertoire is developing. Another study of the same participants in 2014 also used whole exome sequencing and found significant variation in minor histocompatability antigens (mHA, which are receptors on the cellular surface of donated organs that are known to give an immunological response in some organ transplants) between the donor-recipient pairs. This variation represents a large and previously unmeasured potential for developing GVHD for which conventional human leucocyte antigen (HLA) testing, the test that matches stem cell transplants with donors, does not measure. This large library of immune targets, in turn, can serve to drive immune complications of transplantation such as GVHD or graft rejection.

Currently, physicians use stochastic models to determine the probability of a patient developing GVHD based on HLA test results. Stochastic models are not precise because they estimate probability by allowing for random variation in one or more variables. Dynamical system modeling, on the other hand, would account for the key variables influencing transplant outcomes and their evolution over time, allowing physicians to personalize therapy based on the extent of a patient's immune recovery following transplantation.

"We've uncovered order in the structure of the immune system, we've found new variables influencing GVHD and we've now shown patterns in lymphocyte reconstitution that identify at-risk patients," says Toor. "Now, we are working to put it all together and develop a model of immune system reconstruction following stem cell transplantation that will allow physicians to make more informed treatment decisions."

Explore further: Predicting the storm: Can computer models improve stem cell transplantation?

More information: Biology of Blood & Marrow Transplantation, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ ii/S1083879115001834

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Researchers identify patients at risk for stem cell ...

A handful of genes that control the body's defenses during hard times can also dramatically improve health and prolong life in diverse organisms. Understanding how they work may reveal the keys to extending human life span while banishing diseases of old age

By David A. Sinclair and Lenny Guarente

You can assume quite a bit about the state of a used car just from its mileage and model year. The wear and tear of heavy driving and the passage of time will have taken an inevitable toll. The same appears to be true of aging in people, but the analogy is flawed because of a crucial difference between inanimate machines and living creatures: deterioration is not inexorable in biological systems, which can respond to their environments and use their own energy to defend and repair themselves.

At one time, scientists believed aging to be not just deterioration but an active continuation of an organism's genetically programmed development. Once an individual achieved maturity, "aging genes" began to direct its progress toward the grave. This idea has been discredited, and conventional wisdom now holds that aging really is just wearing out over time because the body's normal maintenance and repair mechanisms simply wane. Evolutionary natural selection, the logic goes, has no reason to keep them working once an organism has passed its reproductive age.

Yet we and other researchers have found that a family of genes involved in an organism's ability to withstand a stressful environment, such as excessive heat or scarcity of food or water, have the power to keep its natural defense and repair activities going strong regardless of age. By optimizing the body's functioning for survival, these genes maximize the individual's chances of getting through the crisis. And if they remain activated long enough, they can also dramatically enhance the organism's health and extend its life span. In essence, they represent the opposite of aging genes--longevity genes.

We began investigating this idea nearly 15 years ago by imagining that evolution would have favored a universal regulatory system to coordinate this well-known response to environmental stress. If we could identify the gene or genes that serve as its master controllers and thereby act as master regulators of an organism's life span, these natural defense mechanisms might be turned into weapons against the diseases and decline that are now apparently synonymous with human aging.

Many recently discovered genes, known by such cryptic names as daf-2, pit-1, amp-1, clk-1 and p66Shc, have been found to affect stress resistance and life span in laboratory organisms, suggesting that they could be part of a fundamental mechanism for surviving adversity. But our own two laboratories have focused on a gene called SIR2, variants of which are present in all organisms studied so far, from yeast to humans. Extra copies of the gene increase longevity in creatures as diverse as yeast, roundworms and fruit flies, and we are working to determine whether it does the same for larger animals, such as mice.

As one of the first longevity genes to have been identified, SIR2 is the best characterized, so we will focus here on its workings. They illustrate how a genetically regulated survival mechanism can extend life and improve health, and growing evidence suggests that SIR2 may be the key regulator of that mechanism.

One of us (Guarente) began by screening yeast colonies for unusually long-lived cells in the hope of finding genes responsible for their longevity. This screen yielded a single mutation in a gene called SIR4, which encodes part of a complex of proteins containing the Sir2 enzyme. The mutation in SIR4 caused the Sir2 protein to gather at the most highly repetitive region of the yeast genome, a stretch containing the genes that encode the protein factories of the cell, known as ribosomal DNA (rDNA). More than 100 of these rDNA repeats exist in the average yeast cell's genome, and they are difficult to maintain in a stable state. Repetitive sequences are prone to "recombining" with one another, a process that in humans can lead to numerous illnesses, such as cancer and Huntington's disease. Our yeast findings suggested that aging in mother cells was caused by some form of rDNA instability that was mitigated by the Sir proteins.

In fact, we found a surprising kind of rDNA instability. After dividing several times, yeast mother cells spin off extra copies of the rDNA as circular rings that pop out of the genome. These extrachromosomal rDNA circles (ERCs) are copied along with the mother cell's chromosomes prior to cell division but remain in the mother cell's nucleus afterward. Thus, a mother cell accumulates an ever increasing number of circles that eventually spell her doom, possibly because copying the ERCs consumes so many resources that she can no longer manage to replicate her own genome.

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Longevity genes - Supercentenarian

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*New 18 June 2012*: The EU ban on embryonic stem cell patents is legally flawed, argues a paper and public lecture by Aurora Plomer, Chair of Law and Bioethics at the University of Sheffield, UK. Find out more.

June 2011: Lately there have been several cases on the patentability of inventions related to human embryonic stem cells (hESC) in Europe. Now the first case has reached the European Court of Justice (ECJ), the highest European court, whose decision will be binding for all EU member states.

The judgement of the ECJ is still outstanding. However, the Advocate General Yves Bot offered his opinion on the case, which points towards a complete prohibition of patents for inventions relating to hESC. While the court does not have to follow the opinion, it does so in a majority of the cases.

The case history The current case arose in Germany from a patent of belonging to Prof. Oliver Brstle. The patent covers neural progenitor cells (precursors of nerve cells), neuronal cells derived from these progenitors, and a method for producing them from hESC lines. hESC lines are typically derived from surplus fertilized egg cells, which are produced in large numbers during in vitro fertilization (IVF) and otherwise discarded. Once established, hESC lines can be permanently maintained and proliferated and thus serve as a source of tissue-specific cells, such as neuronal precursors.

Brstles patent was originally filed in 1997 and granted by the German Patent Office in 1999. In 2004 Greenpeace filed a nullity action against the patent based on reasons of ordre public and morality. A decision of the German Federal Patent Court in 2006 rendered the patent partially invalid, eliminating all claims relating to cells derived from hESC lines. Following Brstles appeal against this decision, the German Federal Court of Justice referred the dispute to the ECJ, arguing that its decision in the case depends on the interpretation of Article 6 of the European Biopatent Directive (Art. 6).

The legal situation The EU Biopatent Directive (Directive on the Legal Protection of Biotechnological Inventions 98/44/EC) was meant to assure harmonized patent protection for biotechnological inventions in the EU. The directive also contains exemptions from patentability including Art. 6(1), which states that patents contrary to ordre public and morality are excluded from patentability. To provide national courts and patent offices with guidance on how to interpret this clause, an illustrative list of examples was incorporated in Art. 6(2) of the Biopatent Directive.

One of these examples has now proven to be key for the patentability of stem-cell-based inventions: Art. 6 (2) (c), which states that in particular uses of human embryos for industrial or commercial purposes shall be excluded from patentability. However, there is no definition of any of the terms used in this provision found within the Directive, neither of the term human embryo nor of what is to be understood by uses for industrial or commercial purposes.

Consequently and contrary to the aim of the European legislator to achieve harmonisation, there are significant differences in how the Directive has been implemented in the EU member states, and even more variation in how the corresponding provisions of national patent law have been applied in the member states. As a result, some countries have adopted a rather liberal approach to patenting. For example, in the UK about 100 patents on hESC-based inventions had already been granted by 2009 [1]. Others, such as Germany at least with the first instance ruling of the German Federal Patent Court - have so far opted for a much more restrictive interpretation of the Directive.

The opinion of the Advocate General Yves Bot European Court of Justice: Image by SsolbergjIn his opinion the Advocate General made a suggestion on how Art. 6 (2) (c) of the Biopatent Directive and its terms should be understood. Bot rightly argues that the concept of a human embryo must be subject to a common understanding in all EU member states. Furthermore, he states clearly that hESC are not included in that concept, because they do not in themselves have the capacity to develop into a human being. Nevertheless, he surprisingly took a restrictive approach on patenting of hESC-based inventions: even inventions based on legally established hESC lines are excluded from patentability due to the fact that hESC lines are originally derived from fertilized human eggs.

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Stem cell patents: legal aspects | Europe's stem cell hub ...

While these scenarios may once have seemed like futuristic science fiction, advances in stem cell technology are bringing them closer to possibilities, if not to probabilities. In fact, desperate patients across the globe are traveling to countries such as China, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic to participate in unproven stem cell therapies."

Recently, stem cell science has made rapid progress, revealing entirely new scientific opportunities that will enable the development of future treatments for a wide variety of medical conditions. Many of these experimental or medical breakthroughs will have an unprecedented societal impact. It is imperative to carefully evaluate these developments from diverse viewpoints including ethical, legal, religious, economic, cultural, political, as well as scientific perspectives. Together, these disciplines will shape both public policy and personal health decisions.

We believe that cell biologists, clinicians, and bio- and neuro-ethicists can work together to celebrate advances, while simultaneously helping to inform and protect patients and the broader community concerning what might be considered inappropriate or premature applications of novel stem cell technologies. This will not be an easy process. We must engage in ongoing reasoned and informed discourse to ensure safe and appropriate innovations and applications of this new technology.

These modules were initially designed to accompany the Columbia University classroom course: "Stem Cells: Biology, Ethics, and Applications". We have now adapted the course to supplement any university course that focuses on stem cell research and potential medical and scientific applications. Undergraduate and graduate students as well as all others who have an interest in stem cell science, bioethical and social implications, and regulatory issues should find this course informative.

Within the eight Modules and Supplements of the online course, the reader will find:

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Emerging stem cell science reflects a dynamic and often opposing balance between rapidly progressing and diverse scientific discoveries, and a host of bioethical and societal concerns. Important issues are raised at every level and stage of research, from manipulating a somatic cell into a stem cell, to enrolling a patient in a stem cell clinical trial, to educating legislators and the public. We hope readers of this on-line course will have their curiosity stimulated by the myriad of important and complex ideas raised, and carefully consider the ethical dilemmas generated by stem cell science.

"Stem Cells: Biology, Bioethics, and Applications" is supported by a grant from the New York State STEM Cell Initiative (NYSTEM). It provides information on a range of important and complex topics about stem cell science. We believe students, professors, health care professionals, and the public alike will find the online multidisciplinary course on the current and future research of stem cell technologies and its applications informative and stimulating. The content of this online course was written and prepared by John D. Loike, Ph.D., Director of Special Programs, Center for Bioethics, Columbia University and Ruth L. Fischbach, Ph.D. M.P.E., Director, Center for Bioethics, Columbia University with special assistance from Janet Mindes, Ph.D., Consultant, Center for Bioethics, Columbia University.

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