Researchers at the University of California in the United States have created c Elul mother can become various types of neurons avoiding the risk of forming tumors, according to a study published in the online edition of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences' (PNAS).
Scientists have distinct neural these c Elul from embryonic stem cells . These cells, which have the potential to become in any body tissue, have seen limited use, mostly because of its potential to generate tumors.
addition to avoid this risk, the procedure used by researchers has created the cells in large quantities and are stable cell cultures is essential for its usefulness in the drug field.
explains Kang Zhang, head of the study and director of the Institute of Genomic Medicine, University of California, "we can quickly generate stable stem cells in large quantities (millions in less than a week), so that can be used clinical trials and, ultimately, treatments, something that until now was not possible. "
to generate neural stem cells, Zhang and colleagues added a series of small molecules with a chemical solution that induces cells embryonic stem cells to become neural precursors, but paralyzed the process before differentiation occurs. "As we do not use gene transfer technologies or exogenous cellular products, the risk of mutations or contamination is minimal," added Zhang.
This procedure allows researchers are able to make cells precursor showed no evidence of tumor formation when they are introduced into laboratory mice.
By adding other chemicals, scientists have been able to direct the differentiation of precursor cells into different types of mature neurons. Zhang notes that as meaning that we can explore possible clinical applications for a wide range of neurodegenerative diseases.
"You can generate neurons for specific disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease or, in the case of my area of \u200b\u200bresearch, specific neurons eyes lost in macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa or glaucoma, "said Zhang, a professor of ophthalmology and human genetics at the Shiley Eye Center.
The new process suggests the possibility of wide applications in cell research mother. The same method can be used to induce pluripotent stem cells (stem cells derived from mature cells artificially differentiated adult) to become neural stem cells.
"And in principle, by altering the combination of small molecules could be created other types of stem cells able to become heart cells, pancreas and muscle, to name a few, "says the researcher.
Zhang concludes that the next step is to use stem cells to treat various types in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases such as macular degeneration or glaucoma.
Source: europapress.es
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