http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/12/10/stemcells-platelets-idINDEE7B907720111210

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Stem cells used to produce blood platelets

By Deena Beasley

SAN DIEGO | Sat Dec 10, 2011 10:49pm IST

(Reuters) - Scientists have for the first time created blood platelet cells by reprogramming stem cells derived from adult cells, offering the potential for a renewable supply of the fragile blood component.

Researchers at the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application at Kyoto University in Japan presented data here at a meeting of the American Society of Hematology showing they were able to create the cells in the laboratory and confirm they had the same life span as normal human platelets when infused in mice.

"The next step will be to conduct a trial to determine whether our platelets can function in the human body and potentially provide a stable supply of platelets at a predefined quality and quantity that can then be used for transfusion therapy," D. Koji Eto, professor at the Kyoto center and senior author of the study, said in a statement.

Induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells, are produced by manipulating ordinary human skin or blood cells back to a state in which they are able to differentiate into a number of different cell types.

When they were first discovered in 2006, iPS cells looked like a perfect solution to the ethical debate over the use of embryonic stem cells, but the process of producing non-mutated cells has proved challenging.

The limitation in using stem cells to produce platelets has been the ability to find a method that creates a large number of high-quality, functional platelets.

The Japanese researchers set out to create an immortalized cell line with a large number of high-quality megakaryocytes -- precursor cells that develop into platelets - from stem cells that can be grown indefinitely and differentiate into a variety of cell types in the body.

They were able to produce a cell line that turned off certain genes to generate functional platelets. They then tested the functionality of the cultured platelets by infusing them into immunodeficient mouse models and confirmed they had the same life span as human platelets infused in mice.

In normal clotting, platelets (cells that cause the blood to clot) stick together and form a plug at the site of an injured blood vessel, allowing the injured site to heal.

"In contrast to red blood cells and plasma ... there is always a shortage of platelets," said Dr. Charles Abrams, ASH secretary and associate chief of hematology/oncology at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. "Other components can be banked or frozen for long periods of time ... Platelets go bad after a couple of days."

In addition, he explained, some people are very sensitive to the type of platelets they receive, so having a one-size-fits all platelet source would be a major accomplishment.

(Reporting by Deena Beasley; editing by Andre Grenon)

Stem Cells bring another breakthrough in the medical community by offering a renewable supply of one of the components in the blood. The question is not "What will stem cells do next?' but rather "What won't stem cells be able to do?" Just another amazing story to share.................MrCordBlood

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/first-fda-approved-study-of-stem-cells-to-treat-hearing-loss-begins-at-childrens-memorial-hermann-hospital-2012-01-12

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First FDA-Approved Study of Stem Cells to Treat Hearing Loss Begins at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital

HOUSTON, Jan. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital and Cord Blood Registry® (CBR) are launching the first FDA-approved, Phase I safety study on the use of cord blood stem cells to treat children with sensorineural hearing loss.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please visit: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/53686-cord-blood-childrens-memorial-hermann-fda-approved-stem-cells-hearing-loss

The study, which will use patients' stem cells from their own stored umbilical cord blood, is the first of its kind, and has the potential to restore hearing. This follows evidence from published laboratory studies that cord blood helps repair damaged organs in the inner ear.

The year-long study will follow 10 children, ages 6 weeks to 18 months, who have sustained post-birth hearing loss. Children who are deaf as a result of a genetic anomaly or syndrome are not eligible. To ensure consistency in cord blood stem cell processing, storage, and release for infusion, CBR is the only stem cell bank providing clients for the study.

"Children only have 18 months to acquire language skills and, if a child does not hear well, they will not acquire the language skills to speak normally," said James Baumgartner, M.D., sponsor of the study and guest research collaborator at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) Medical School.

Parents will be interviewed by phone to determine eligibility of their children for the study. Those who meet the criteria will be admitted to Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital to undergo a series of blood tests, hearing and speech tests, and an MRI that will view the tracts that send signals from the inner ear to the brain.

The Principal Investigator is Samer Fakhri, M.D., surgeon at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center and associate professor and program director in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery at UTHealth. Linda Baumgartner, MS, CCC-SLP, Auditory-Verbal Therapist, is a co-investigator.

"Currently, the only treatment options for sensorineural hearing loss are hearing aids or cochlear implants," Dr. Fakhri said. "We hope that this study will open avenues to additional treatment options for hearing loss in children."

Researchers will obtain and process the patients' stored cord blood for treatment. The cells then will be given to the patients via IV infusion, and patients will be observed for several hours in the hospital.

Patients will return to the hospital to repeat all tests except the MRI at one month and one year, and all tests with an MRI at six months.

"This study is exciting because it might offer a non-surgical option for some children with profound loss," Linda Baumgartner said. "More importantly, this is the first treatment with the potential to restore normal hearing."

Since more infants are surviving premature birth, physicians and researchers are seeing a rising number of very young children with significant hearing loss. About 15 percent of children in the U.S. also suffer from low-frequency or high-frequency hearing loss that can impact the child's speech, language, and social development and can increase their risk of developing learning disabilities, according to Dr. Fakhri.

"We share Dr. Fakhri's and Dr. Baumgartner's passion and commitment to understanding more about the potential applications of cord blood to help repair nerve tissue," said Heather Brown, vice president of scientific and medical affairs at CBR. "It is exciting to be at the forefront of research to match children who have cord blood stored with this team of groundbreaking doctors studying autologous stem cell therapies for hearing loss."

The study is supported by CBR and TIRR Foundation.

For information on participation in the study, visit www.cordblood.com/hearingloss .

Another great breakthrough using the power of stem cells. Millions of Americans will suffer hearing loss, both young and old. Many say that banking your baby's cord blood is an investment into your child's future well being, a biological insurance policy ready for use if needed in the future. The power of cord blood stem cells are amazing and the future therapies and treatments to come are LIMITLESS in my opinion. Learn more about how Saving Baby's Cord Blood Saves Lives.................MrCordBlood

Novel Stem Cell Treatment May Hold Promise for Type 1 Diabetes

http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/story/2012-01-14/Novel-stem-cell-treatment-may-hold-promise-for-type-1-diabetes/52536006/1

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A new type of stem cell treatment for people with type 1 diabetes appears to help re-educate rogue immune system cells, which allows cells in the pancreas to start producing insulin again.

• 

  Paul Sancya, AP

  The average daily dose of insulin dropped almost 39 percent after 12 weeks for the group with some beta cell function and 25 percent in those with no beta cell function.

Enlarge

Paul Sancya, AP

The average daily dose of insulin dropped almost 39 percent after 12 weeks for the group with some beta cell function and 25 percent in those with no beta cell function.

The treatment, which combines a patient's immune system cells with stem cells from a donor's cord blood, even worked in people with long-standing diabetes who were believed to have no insulin-producing ability.

Although the treatment didn't wean anyone off insulin completely, average blood sugar levels dropped significantly, which would reduce the risk of long-term complications.

"Our study brings a new hope for people with type 1 diabetes. If we can control the autoimmunity, we may reverse the diabetes. We showed that the islets 1/8cells3/8 can start to work again," said Dr. Yong Zhao, an assistant professor in the section of endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

This treatment could potentially be useful in other autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

"It's quite remarkable that this approach, based on the re-education of immune cells, might work so well. The concept is very intriguing, and the treatment seems to be so simple and so safe," said Dr. Luca Inverardi, deputy director of translational research at the Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine.

But he's also "reasonably cautious," he said. "The follow-up is long, up to 40 weeks, but it's not long enough to declare victory against diabetes yet," said Inverardi.

Also, he noted that the study involved only 15 Chinese people, and that type 1 diabetes is a bit different in that population. He said he'd like to see larger studies with a more diverse population, followed for a longer time.

Results of the study were published online Jan. 9 in the journal BMC Medicine.

Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease, occurs when the body's immune system cells mistakenly attack the insulin-producing (beta) cells in the pancreas. Because their beta cells don't produce enough or any insulin, people with type 1 diabetes have to replace the lost insulin through injections to survive.

Stopping that autoimmune attack appears to be crucial to any treatment that hopes to cure or reverse type 1 diabetes.

Zhao's team developed a completely new approach. They take blood from a patient and separate out the immune system cells (lymphocytes). They briefly expose those cells to stem cells from umbilical cord blood from an unrelated infant and return the lymphocytes alone to the patient's body. The researchers have dubbed this "Stem Cell Educator Therapy," because while exposed to the stem cells, the lymphocytes seem to relearn how they should behave.

The study participants, who were 15 to 41 years old, had had type 1 diabetes for an average of nine years. Six had some residual beta cell function and six did not. Both groups were given stem cell educator therapy. The other three people served as the control group.

The researchers measured C-peptide, a protein fragment that's a byproduct of insulin production, and found that the educator therapy group had improved levels of C-peptide at 12 weeks. These levels continued to improve until 24 weeks, and remained stable through the follow-up at 40 weeks. There were no changes in C-peptide in the control group.

The average daily dose of insulin dropped almost 39 percent after 12 weeks for the group with some beta cell function and 25 percent in those with no beta cell function, suggesting that the group with no beta cell function now produced insulin.

"That means if you stop the autoimmune reaction, you may see beta cell regeneration, or there might be other precursor cells in the pancreas. If these data are confirmed, this is a very provocative and remarkable finding," Inverardi said.

The average hemoglobin A1C level dropped 1.06 percent for those with residual beta cell function and 1.68 percent for those without beta cell function. A1C levels measure average blood sugar levels over two to three months, and people with type 1 diabetes are advised to maintain A1C levels below 7 percent. A drop of 1 percent in A1C levels can reduce the risk of complications.

This was an initial clinical trial designed to test for safety. Zhao said that in future trials he hopes that with additional treatments people might get off insulin altogether.

But, even if that's not possible, the recovery of some beta cell function would be welcome news. "In the absence of complete remission, there are very sizable advantages to having some beta cell function," Inverardi noted.

Both experts said the treatment appears safe, with no risk of rejection. No significant side effects were reported during the trial, other than some arm soreness where blood was taken and returned.

Diabetes affects the daily lives of millions of Americans and the number is growing every year. It is great researchers are hopefully using the power of adult stem cells to hopefully soon unlock a cure for those afflicted with diabetes. The future of stem cells has never been brighter in my opinion...........MrCordBlood

Student Selected to Donate Stem Cells

http://theadvocate.com/features/people/1047521-123/student-selected-to-donate-stem.html

BY GEORGE MORRIS

Advocate staff writer

November 02, 2011

2 COMMENTS

When Delta Delta Delta sorority at LSU asked Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity to participate in a blood drive this spring, Brett Falgoust, 18, showed up. But so many donors had made reservations that they couldn’t take him.

Before leaving, though, Falgoust and a friend were asked if they’d be willing to sign up for the bone marrow registry. Donations of bone marrow or stem cells are needed by thousands of patients with such deadly diseases as leukemia or lymphoma.

“They gave us paperwork,” Falgoust said, “and I thought, ‘What the heck? Why not? We’ve already walked over here from the dorm, so we might as well make it worth our time.’”

For most people who sign up, that is as much as they will do. Because of the difficulty in finding bone marrow or stem cell donations that match a recipient, fewer than one in 500 people who register donates, according to Be The Match, the National Marrow Donor Program registry.

Only 20 donations came from Louisiana in 2010, the last year for which there are figures, said Natalie Rowe, Be The Match account executive for Louisiana.

But, less than three months after registering, which includes a cheek swab, Falgoust got a call: He might be a match for a patient. He filled out a health questionnaire and was told he would be contacted if needed.

He was. Falgoust, a 2010 Catholic High School graduate, learned he was one of a dozen people who might match a patient and was sent to a local center to provide seven vials of blood for further testing. Two weeks later, Falgoust learned he was the best match and was asked if he was willing to go forward.

“At each step they ask if you’re still willing,” Falgoust said. “They don’t ever assume.”

He then had to take a physical exam at an NMDP facility, so he was flown to Memphis, Tenn., three weeks before his donation, which was scheduled for late August. Four days before the donation, he began daily shots of Neupogen, which stimulates stem cell production.

“Technically, you can always back out, but what they tell you is when you start getting the shots they stop looking for more donors, and whenever I started getting the shots ... at the same time ... her immune system, they pretty much just knock it out so her body will be accepting of it,” Falgoust said. “If you do back out at this point, she’s pretty much destined to die because she’ll have no immune system. ... They can’t make you, but at no point was I going to back out.”

After getting his fourth Neupogen shot, Falgoust flew to Memphis with his mother and stayed overnight in a hotel. The next day, he received his final shot, then prepared to donate.

As is the case most of the time, the patient’s physician wanted peripheral blood stem cells. Blood was taken from one arm, sent through a machine that separates the stem cells through a process called aspheresis, and the remaining blood was returned to his other arm. The donation took about five hours.

“You’re pretty much stuck,” he said. “My mom had to feed me. There’s a TV. My mom went and got lunch. The last thing they tell you is to use the bathroom right before you get on it because once you’re there, you’re hooked. You can’t really move.”

Falgoust would have stayed the next day in case another donation was needed, but it wasn’t. The donation caused little discomfort. The Neupogen shots caused low back pain that lasted for a week and a tingling sensation in his upper quadriceps, but he didn’t experience any nausea, as some donors do.

Falgoust only knows that the recipient is a 44-year-old woman with non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

Be The Match has about 9 million potential donors registered, but because of the difficulty of finding perfect matches, more are needed. Be The Match also has 185,000 units of umbilical cord blood, which is used in 22 percent of procedures. As for donations, doctors request stem cells 76 percent of the time, and marrow 24 percent, according to NMDP figures. There is a greater need for donors who are black, Hispanic, native American or Asian.

“The more people we add to the registry, the more chances you have of finding someone to match,” Rowe said.

For information on registering, go online to http://bethematch.org or call (800) 627-7692.

“When I was at the beach and found out there was a 1 in 12 chance ... I started thinking if this was someone in my family, this is what I’d hope they would do,” Falgoust said. “It’s about actually helping someone. You could save a life. Her chance of living goes from somewhere around 15 percent to 60 or 70 percent. Morally, it’s the right thing to do.”

Great story our of Louisiana.................MrCordBlood

Stem Cells Help Injured Panther

http://repairstemcell.wordpress.com/2012/01/13/stem-cells-help-injured-panther/

Courtesy of Dr. Norm Griggs and posted by repairstemcell.wordpress.com from David Granovsky

Thank you for sharing!

stem cells help injured panther.

Courtesy of Dr. Norm Griggs

Stem cell treatment has helped an injured Florida panther in need.

A two-year-old Florida panther named Buddah has a new lease on life thanks to the staff of the Tallahassee Museum of Natural History and veterinarian Dr. Norm Griggs’ interest in regenerative medicine.

According to his fascinating blog, My patients, My life, Dr. Griggs looked forward to meeting the new “kitty”. But shortly after the cat arrived, he received a phone call from Mike Jones, the curator of the museum. From the tone of Mike’s voice, Dr. Griggs knew that he had some bad news coming.

Buddah injured his shoulder or elbow a few months prior to arriving at the museum. While he appeared recovered, suddenly he started limping again on his front left leg. The panther’s medical history was sketchy, so it was difficult to learn how his injury had been treated. A thorough evaluation, including X-rays to get to the root of his lameness, was in order.

After evaluating the panther’s elbow, Dr. Griggs ascertained that at one point the cat had injured the joint surface of the radius; the main bone in his foreleg. Deciding the best course of treatment for this beautiful young panther was a challenge.

With pain management and medication to slow the progress of the devastating arthritisthat was attacking his elbow, Buddah was doing well. He was active and playing. But when Dr. Griggs received a phone call from Mike one Saturday night, he braced for even more devastating news; while playing, Buddah had injured himself running into a fence. The panther hadn’t been putting weight on the leg, and Mike feared it was broken.

While the X-rays revealed no break, Buddah’s range of motion was impaired. As such, Dr. Griggs primary concern became giving this cat a good quality of life.

In approaching the panther’s medical situation, Dr. Griggs recalled his interest in regenerative medicine. Could stem cell treatment be a possible solution? He contacted Vet Stem, tops in the field in veterinary regenerative medicine, completed a credentialing course and was certified to utilize the treatment.

Dr. Griggs’ thoughts on regenerative medicine proved to be right on target. He administered stem cell treatment to Buddah. One week following the procedure, Buddah began to show improvement. Seven weeks later he was pain free, off medications and once again a happy young cat. And while he is carefully monitored and his exercise time is slowly being increased, Dr. Griggs is quite optimistic that a happy future lies ahead for this magnificent cat.

I hope that one day in the near future this incredible technology will be available to alleviate the suffering of human beings as well. Do you agree?

Great story............MrCordBlood