Another pluripotent stem cells from skin cells

A safe way to obtain stem cells from skin cells has been foundRuslan Zemlyanikin, Computerra–Online

Scientists led by Professor Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University were able to obtain pluripotent stem cells from skin cells in an experiment on mice.

The peculiarity of pluripotent cells is that they can develop in any tissues of the body. In humans, such cells are formed on the fourth or fifth day of embryonic development. All kinds of adult cells are formed from them.

Until now, there were two ways to obtain such cells. The first is to extract cells from embryos. This method leads to the destruction of the embryo and cannot be widely used for ethical reasons.

The second method was developed earlier by the same group of scientists at Kyoto University. It consists in the introduction of four specific genes into a non-stem cell, which stimulates its transformation into a pluripotent stem cell. So far, this has been done only by inserting genes into a retrovirus, which is then injected into the cell. The problem was that the retrovirus is embedded in chromosomes, forever changing the genetic code of the cell. Such a genetic anomaly can lead to the development of cancer and other diseases.

A new technique developed by Professor Yamanaka and his colleagues consists in the use of plasmids, extra-chromosomal DNA. It is known that plasmids are not embedded in chromosomes and probably do not cause genetic abnormalities. During the experiment, it was possible, using plasmids, to successfully convert ordinary skin cells into pluripotent stem cells.

So far, this technique works only on mice, but scientists hope to adapt the method to obtain human stem cells.

Portal "Eternal youth" www.vechnayamolodost.ru13.10.2008