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Hot Topics - 2005

Stem cell research and regenerative medicine represent two of the most exciting and potentially rewarding disciplines of biomedical science. This resource serves as a reference for some of the recent findings, discoveries and topics.

1) Stem Cell Cultivation
There are several scientific procedures for purifying stem cells. Stem cell cultivation from in vitro fertilization is one of these techniques. The following illustration depicts the process in which fertilized eggs mature into blastocysts and how the stem cells harvested from these blastocysts become specialized tissue types. Click here for additional information.

2) International and New Jersey News on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine
For the latest breaking news stories involving New Jersey and stem cell research, click here. An international collection of stem cell and regenerative medicine news can be found here.

3) Autogeneic feeder cell system as support for the in vitro growth of human embryonic stem cells

Human embryonic stem cells (hESC) are pluripotent cells isolated from the inner cell mass (ICM) of human blastocysts between days 5-8 of fertilization. The pluripotency of hESCs provides these cells as potential sources for therapies. Read more. Autogeneic-Stem-Cell

4) Rejuvenation of aged progenitor cells from muscle and liver after exposure to soluble factors from young animals

Body tissue regenerates well in young people, but much less so in older individuals.  To discover whether this decline is irreversible, or influenced by circulatory factors, Conboy et al. joined together the circulatory systems of young and old rodents, as a parabiotic pair. Read more. Rejuvenation of aged progenitor

5) Parallel between Adult Stem Cells and Cancer Development through mechanisms involving p53

The recent surge of interest in stem cell biology has revived earlier speculation that some human cancers may be a result of genetic mutations in adult stem cells (ASCs). Read more. Stem Cell - Cancer Development

6) A method to enhance the expansion of human hematopoietic stem cells ex vivo

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) give rise to the different types of blood and immune cells. HSCs have found a place in the clinical setting as they are used to treat patients with cancers and other blood disorders. Read more. Stem Cell - Expansion

7) Generation of kidney tissues from human mesenchymal stem cells
in whole-embryo culture system

Until recently, it had been thought that a stem cell from a specific tissue could not give rise to cells of a different organ. However, a number of experiments over the last decade have challenged this premise, giving rise to two terms: plasticity and transdifferentiation. Read more.

8) Repair of chicken embryonic spinal cord by adult human hematopoietic stem cells

While some studies have shown the capability of HSCs to form cells other than blood and immune cells, others have challenged this type of findings. Previous studied reported that only a small percentage (1-2%) of HSCs can form neuron-like cells (brain cells) when the HSCs are delivered in the right conditions. Read more. Stem Cell - Repair

9) Bcl-2 could replace serum supplement and feeder-cell for the growth of mouse embryonic stem cell

Embryonic Stem Cells (ESCs) are cells that can be isolated from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst.  The blastocyst is a round mass of cells that make up the developing embryo at days 5-8.  When ESCs divide, the daughter cells (the two cells derived from the division) have the ability to take on different paths.  One of them can self-renew, meaning that it can form an identical copy of the ESC, while the other may differentiate, meaning that it can form the mature cells of the body. Read more. Stem Cell - Serum Supplement