Skin cell breakthrough
Stem cells taken from ordinary skin have been used to ease the effects of Parkinson¿s disease.
The breakthrough, revealed today, could pave the way for a host of new treatments.
Crucially, the cells were generated without using embryos, sidestepping the ethical arguments surrounding stem cell science.
The experiments, on rats, offer hope that similar cells could be used to treat a range of diseases, from Parkinson¿s to diabetes.
Stem cells, found in the adult body and in embryos, are master cells capable of turning into every sort of tissue. They offer hope as a ¿repair kit¿ for the body, replacing dead, defective and worn-out cells and tissue.
Embryonic stem cells offer more promise than those from the adult body but their use is mired in controversy, as harvesting them from an embryo in the first days of life leads to its death.
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Stem cell research using skin avoids the ethical issues surrounding embryos
More ethically acceptable are cells created by turning skin into embryonic stem cells.
Scientists have shown for the first time that such reprogrammed cells, known as induced pluripotent-stem cells, can treat a Parkinson¿s-like disease in rats.
Transplanted cells grew in their brains and eased symptoms such as walking in circles, the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reports.
In time, the technique could be applied to a range of diseases, overcoming rejection problems, as the cells would be genetically identical to the patient.
Researcher Rudolf Jaenisch, from the Whitehead Institute for Biological Research in Massachusetts, said: ¿It¿s a proof of principle experiment that argues, yes, these cells may have the therapeutic promise that people ascribe to them.¿
He cautioned, however, that fears the process could trigger cancer need to be addressed before it is used to treat people.
But Dr Chris Mason, of the UK National Stem Cell Network said: ¿We¿re looking at the perfect human brick. Ethical, flexible and not rejected by the patient because it comes from the patient themselves.¿ He added: ¿Obviously we want to make it as safe as possible. But as long as we quantify the risks, the choice should be there.¿
Dr Marita Pohlschmidt, of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, said IPS cells also presented a good research tool for studying the biology of muscle diseases.
However, she added: ¿For the development of therapies, it is too early to assume that this will replace embryonic stem cells but it is important to give scientists the chance to explore both avenues.
¿This applies in particular to inherited diseases, because a genetic defect is present in every cell of the body and therefore IPS might only have limited benefits.¿
¿ Scientists from Harvard Medical School, have also shown skin cells can be reprogrammed in patients with a variety of diseases, including Down¿s syndrome.
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