scientists create stem cells from drop of blood

[Levina]

A*STAR scientists create stem cells from drop of blood

A*STAR scientists create stem cells from drop of blood

SINGAPORE: Scientists at A*STAR's Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) have developed a method to generate human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) from a single drop of finger-pricked blood.

The new technique could potentially boost the number and diversity of donors, and facilitate the setting up of large-scale hiPSC banks, said the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) in a news release on Thursday.

Current sample collection for reprogramming into human induced pluripotent stem cells include invasive methods, such as collecting cells from the bone marrow or skin, which may put off potential donors.

Although the stem cells may also be generated from blood cells, a large amount of blood is usually required.

But scientists at IMCB showed for the first time that single-drop volumes of blood are sufficient for reprogramming into human induced pluripotent stem cells.

As those cells show properties remarkably similar to human embryonic stem cells, they are invaluable for basic research, drug discovery and cell therapy.

The finger-prick technique is the world's first to use only a drop of finger-pricked blood to yield hiPSCs with high efficiency.

The work is published online in the Stem Cell Translational Medicine journal.

Lead scientist for the finger-prick hiPSC technique Dr Jonathan Loh Yuin Han said, "Our finger-prick technique, in fact, utilised less than a drop of finger-pricked blood. The remaining blood could even be used for DNA sequencing and other blood tests."

Senior consultant at the National Heart Centre Singapore and co-author of the paper, Dr Stuart Alexander Cook, said, "We were able to differentiate the hiPSCs reprogrammed from Jonathan's finger-prick technique, into functional heart cells."

The accessibility of the new technique is further enhanced with a DIY sample collection approach.

Donors may collect their own finger-pricked blood, which they can then store and send to a laboratory for reprogramming.

IMCB executive director Professor Hong Wanjin said, "Research on hiPSCs is now highly sought-after, given its potential to be used as a model for studying human diseases and for regenerative medicine."

A*STAR said a patent has been filed for the innovation. - CNA/nd

@Dem!god @Indischer @DRAY @thesolar65 @chak de INDIA
@Indo-guy @scorpionx

Just imagine they created heart cells just from a drop of blood.
OMG!!!!

 

[Indo-guy]

A*STAR scientists create stem cells from drop of blood

A*STAR scientists create stem cells from drop of blood

SINGAPORE: Scientists at A*STAR's Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) have developed a method to generate human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) from a single drop of finger-pricked blood.

The new technique could potentially boost the number and diversity of donors, and facilitate the setting up of large-scale hiPSC banks, said the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) in a news release on Thursday.

Current sample collection for reprogramming into human induced pluripotent stem cells include invasive methods, such as collecting cells from the bone marrow or skin, which may put off potential donors.

Although the stem cells may also be generated from blood cells, a large amount of blood is usually required.

But scientists at IMCB showed for the first time that single-drop volumes of blood are sufficient for reprogramming into human induced pluripotent stem cells.

As those cells show properties remarkably similar to human embryonic stem cells, they are invaluable for basic research, drug discovery and cell therapy.

The finger-prick technique is the world's first to use only a drop of finger-pricked blood to yield hiPSCs with high efficiency.

The work is published online in the Stem Cell Translational Medicine journal.

Lead scientist for the finger-prick hiPSC technique Dr Jonathan Loh Yuin Han said, "Our finger-prick technique, in fact, utilised less than a drop of finger-pricked blood. The remaining blood could even be used for DNA sequencing and other blood tests."

Senior consultant at the National Heart Centre Singapore and co-author of the paper, Dr Stuart Alexander Cook, said, "We were able to differentiate the hiPSCs reprogrammed from Jonathan's finger-prick technique, into functional heart cells."

The accessibility of the new technique is further enhanced with a DIY sample collection approach.

Donors may collect their own finger-pricked blood, which they can then store and send to a laboratory for reprogramming.

IMCB executive director Professor Hong Wanjin said, "Research on hiPSCs is now highly sought-after, given its potential to be used as a model for studying human diseases and for regenerative medicine."

A*STAR said a patent has been filed for the innovation. - CNA/nd

@Dem!god @Indischer @DRAY @thesolar65 @chak de INDIA
@Indo-guy @scorpionx

Just imagine they created heart cells just from a drop of blood.
OMG!!!!

Stem cells , nano technology , nuclear fusion etc. are some key technological leaps which can change the future of mankind beyond imagination ....just like post world war breakthroughs propelled us in current era !

Bets are high ...and promises are many ....
Let us see if the we will be able to realize the true potential of these key technological advancements ...

 

[Levina]

Stem cells , nano technology , nuclear fusion etc. are some key technological leaps which can change the future of mankind beyond imagination ....just like post world war breakthroughs propelled us in current era !

Bets are high ...and promises are many ....
Let us see if the we will be able to realize the true potential of these key technological advancements ...

This would be end of an epoch for invasive methods to collect stem cells.
And the fact that it can be stored and shipped off makes this an awesome technology.
I hope with this finding more replacement organs are created.Or theres more to this story???

 

[Indo-guy]

This would be end of an epoch for invasive methods to collect stem cells.
And the fact that it can be stored and shipped off makes this an awesome technology.
I hope with this finding more replacement organs are created.Or theres more to this story???

well from laboratory research to proven, effective bedside medicine ...is a long arduous road full of set backs , failures , technological obstacles ...

But then no great journey is ever completed in a single stride .

Countries like Singapore are investing heavily in basic research and countries like India have largely ignored and deprived field of basic research ...

It's matter of great pity and concern that we are nowhere in international circuit when it comes to path breaking research.

 

[Dem!god]

This would be end of an epoch for invasive methods to collect stem cells.
And the fact that it can be stored and shipped off makes this an awesome technology.
I hope with this finding more replacement organs are created.Or theres more to this story???

oye....
have u heard the news...that if the stem cell from the fetus is transplanted, can become all tissue in the body....and is also pluripotent ...but if the earlier stage embryo cell are used as stem cell then the cell act as totipotent.....

so, this blood cell technique is also pluripotent....and is going to be of great value.....
but blood was already there as a stem cell house, along with adipose tissue and bone marrow.....but required huge amount of blood to harvest the required stem cell....but this technique will be truly helpful......

Just imagine they created heart cells just from a drop of blood.
OMG!!!!

they were doing this before too.....but now they require less blood...less than a drop.....I guess.....