Continued Efforts to Produce Universal Pluripotent Stem Cells

Publicity materials here note a recent research initiative to produce pluripotent stem cell lines that will not be rejected when transplanted into other individuals, or even between species. This technological capability is necessary to the development of new forms of regenerative medicine, allowing the production of universal donor cells and tissues at reasonable cost. While the results sound impressive, it is worth noting that several large and well-funded pharma companies have been developing earlier, first generation versions of this technology for some years, accompanied by many smaller research groups and companies. A number of different approaches have been tried, but the broader goal of their use in cell therapies and tissue engineering remains challenging and expensive under the present system of medical regulation. Progress is slow and painstaking, and it remains unclear as to whether regulators consider this technology even in principle safe enough for the clinic, after years of intense investment. The approach noted here will still encounter these issues if it is further developed. Pluripotent stem cells can turn into any type of cell in the body. The findings offer a viable path forward for pluripotent stem cell-based therapies to restore tissues that are lost in diseases such as Type 1 diabetes or macular degeneration. "There has been a lot of excitement for decades around the field of pluripotent stem cells and regenerative medicine. What we have learn...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs