Are embryonic stem cells redundant?
Research reported in Cell Stem Cell reveals a method of production for induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) cells without the introduction of human genes that may actually be safe to use for human clinical use
The question many have been asking since such cells were first created is whether these cells will make embryonic stem cells redundant. If they are going to, this research has brought them a step closer. A Nature News articles discusses it in some detail.
Other similar research success was reported earlier in the year – see link
But I wouldn’t get too excited yet, even the most optimistic response to this, which comes from Prof Lanza, one of the co-authors on the paper, says it will be two years before any clinical trials. The consensus from a quick read of the various articles that have popped up as a result of this research is that the hurdles to overcome are still considerable and it will be much longer before any human trials will eventuate.
So what does this mean for stem cell research and should we abandon it altogether? Certainly, many suggest we should, although the most outspoken of these are (obviously) those strongly against embryonic stem cell research.
At this stage embryonic stem cell (ESC) research is still struggling to overcome the same hurdles that would allow them to be used clinically, namely how to ensure such cells, once differentiated into the required cell type don’t also contain a few lurking undifferentiated cells that can go on to form tumours. But earlier this year the US FDA approved the first human trial using ESCs, so progress is being made.
And another “breakthrough”
Although here the researchers are suggesting their next step is do get iPS cells to achieve the same results.
From a scientific perspective I would say it is still too soon to make a call on whether iPS cells will usurp the ESC or whether both cell types will have their uses. Keep the options open for the moment.
What are iPS cells? – see wikipedia
But essentially they are adult cells that have been induced to become pluripotent stem cells – that is cells that can differentiate into any cell. Although these cells bear many of the markers of embryonic stem cells that make them pluripotent, it is yet to be determined if iPS cells are truly pluripotent.
Jason Major