University of Iowa researchers say leukemia patients may soon have another way to boost their immune systems - embryonic stem cells.
For the first time, scientists used embryonic stem cells in mice to develop functioning white blood cells that fight infection. The breakthrough may help doctors eventually use the cells as an alternative source for bone marrow transplants.
The procedure has not been tested on humans, but researchers say they're getting closer to that goal.
"Embryonic stem cell therapies are no longer distant," said Dr. Nicholas Zavazava, the director of transplant research at UI's medical school.
Zavazava led the stem cell study, which was published in the online edition of Blood, the official journal of the American Society of Hematology.
Patients with severe blood and immune disorders use marrow, umbilical cord blood or peripheral blood for treatment in traditional transplants. Zavazava said embryonic stem cells have an advantage over those methods since they have greater compatibility.
He said the study also opens up the possibility of using embryonic stem cells to condition a patient for kidney and other organ transplants. Currently, certain drugs are used so the body does not reject the transplant.
In the study, scientists induced the protein HOXB4 into embryonic stem cells from mice. The protein is known for helping cells spread and reproduce. The researchers then coaxed the stem cells into a hematopoietic mode, making red and white blood cells and platelets for transplantation.
Zavazava said the study, which lasted about three years, did not violate Iowa's former law that prohibited forms of stem cell research, because only mice were used. Gov. Chet Culver last year signed a bill that lifted the restriction against cloning for therapeutic purposes.
Zavazava said the new law is "a positive thing. We don't sit in our labs and think the FBI or police will come in and lead us to prison."
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