A Step Closer to Developing “Smart” Stem Cells – Cells
With Regenerative Abilities – Made From Human Fat (Feb 2, 2021)
Researchers were able to generate
induced multipotent stem cells from human fat cells. The cells were
reprogrammed to act as stem cells and were then tested in mice. The study
showed their effectiveness in adapting to their surroundings in order to repair
a range of damaged tissues. In order to create the stem cells the scientists
harvested fat and exposed it to a compound mixture that caused them to lose
their original identity. This process also erased any “silencing marks,” which
are responsible for restricting cell identity. Once these human stem cells were
injected into mice, they remained dormant. However, once a mouse sustained an
injury, these cells were activated and homed to that site.
Enzyme Plays Key Role in Waking Brain Stem Cells from Dormant
State (Feb 12, 2021)
https://www.genengnews.com/news/enzyme-plays-key-role-in-waking-brain-stem-cells-from-dormant-state/
The Histone lysine
methyltransferase Pr-set7/SETD8 has been found to reactivate neural stem cells
in fruit flies. This enzyme woke them up from their quiescent state, which
enabled them to proliferate and generate new neurons. It is becoming
increasingly clear that this has a parallel in humans, who when experiencing
issues with this enzyme and its variants (like KMT5A), have been found to
suffer from neurodevelopmental disorders. Further studies are being conducted
as to whether or not upregulation and activation of this enzyme can treat any
of these or their symptoms.
Bone marrow ‘map’ opens path to organoid-like blood stem
cell production (Feb 10, 2021)
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/02/210210170117.htm
In a new study, doctors and
researchers were able to generate an atlas of bone marrow in humans—how tiny
blood vessels organize the bone marrow and regulate how blood gets produced.
Their findings indicate that the organization of vasculature dictates how and
when blood is produced in the body. This is the first experiment of its kind in
which the team did not have to destroy cells to trace their stages of
development, they developed novel confocal imaging methods to observe blood
cells in bone marrow.
A recipe for regenerating bioengineered hair (Feb 10,
2021)
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/02/210210122015.htm
Researchers in Japan have developed
a way to induce continuous cyclical regeneration of cultured hair follicles
from hair follicle stem cells, a novel breakthrough in treating patterns of
baldness and regrowing hair where previously that ability was lost. After
testing 220 combinations of growth factors, the researches discovered that the
NFFSE medium (a type of collaged combined with five factors) led to the highest
rate of stem cell amplification in the shortest time period.
FDA Approves Drug to Reduce Bone Marrow Suppression Caused
by Chemotherapy (Feb 12, 2021)
In one of the latest treatments
approved by the FDA, Cosela (Trilaciclib), is given before chemotherapy to
protect bone marrow function. This makes it the first type of treatment in its
class to reduce bone-marrow suppression related to chemotherapy. It aims to do
so by reactivating an enzyme that chemotherapy has been found to
inhibit—cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6. This would make chemotherapy safer for
patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer.
FDA Announces New Resource for Veterinarians and Pet
Owners Interested in Clinical Field Studies of Animal Cells, Tissues, and Cell-
and Tissue-Based Products (Feb 8, 2021)
The FDA has just put forth a
listing of clinical field studies that are investigating animal cells, tissues,
and cell- and tissue-based products (ACTPs) in veterinary patients. This allows
for more access to veterinary regenerative therapies, one of the fastest
growing fields in medicine, human or otherwise.
