Toronto scientists working with the
University Health Network are the first in the world to isolate the stem cell for human blood. According to
HealthZone.ca, the discovery will allow researchers to study blood cells far more closely, marking a huge breakthrough in the fight to treat blood-related diseases.
"Blood stem cells have been utilized more successfully than any other variety in the treatment of diseases."
"Donated stem cells from matched donors are most often used to replenish the blood-producing bone marrow that is destroyed by chemotherapy in the treatment of leukemia patients."
"But those patients, who have their own defective stem cells destroyed to stop their runaway blood production, are currently being transfused with many other marrow elements in addition to the life-saving stem cells, Dick says."
"We're transplanting a whole (mishmash) of cells and relying on the rare stem cells (in the mix) to actually do the job," Dick says.
"These non-stem cell components, he says, increase the risk of a rejection condition known as graft-versus-host disease, where immune cells lingering in the donated marrow begins to attack the recipient."
"By now going in and fishing out stem cells, we'll be able to transplant pure populations of cells for transplantation," Dick says."
"Even after all these years of study, we don't know what makes a stem cell tick . . . because we never had one in our hands," he says. "Now we have almost pure stem cells in a test tube, we can begin to look at their molecular workings."
"The problem with stem cells in therapeutic use is that there are so few of them and those that are there cannot be made to multiply readily in laboratories."
"By having actual specimens to study, Dick says, research can now focus on creating a recipe of growth factors and other bio-chemicals that will coax the cells to multiply, greatly expanding the supply for patients who need transplants."
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Health Zone