using human stem cells." ScienceDaily, 4 May 2012. Web. 5 May 2012.
Summary
This Science Daily Article talks about the success of human iPS stem cells treating a mouse with muscle dystrophy. Induced Pluripotent Stem cells are very similar to Embryonic Stem cells, except that they are derived by reprogramming the cells on our skin. One of the iPS cells' biggest advantages is that it cannot be rejected by the receiver as it is specifically programmed for the patient, which also means there is no need for the destruction of embryos. This is the first time that human stem cells have had an effect on treating muscle dystrophy. Up until now, getting skeletal muscle stem cells to differentiate has not been possible, but these researchers have demonstrated that it is in fact possible, leading the way into developing new proven treatments. To achieve their results, the University of Minnesota researchers genetically modified two well-characterized human iPS cell lines and an existing human ES cell line with a PAX7 gene, which is essential for the generation of muscle tissue after it has been damaged. This prompted certain ES cells and iPS cells to differentiate into muscle-forming cells. This in turn effectively treats muscle dystrophy in the mouse. However, their method of delivering the Pax7 protein involved genetic modification of cells with viruses, and because viruses sometimes cause mutations, they add risk to a clinical trial.
Relevance
This article is related to our current unit because it talks about muscles and their functions. In addition, it also provides a treatment for muscle dystrophy, which is also something we have briefly discussed. Muscle progenitor cells and their functions in muscle dystrophy have also been mentioned in this article. It also connects muscle dystrophy in mice to treating it with pluripotent stem cells, which is helpful for future research. By learning about how to treat muscle dystrophy in mice, one can also eventually treat in humans as humans and mice have very similar body systems. This research brings us closer to treating muscle dystrophy in humans, making it incredibly relevant.
Relevance
This article is related to our current unit because it talks about muscles and their functions. In addition, it also provides a treatment for muscle dystrophy, which is also something we have briefly discussed. Muscle progenitor cells and their functions in muscle dystrophy have also been mentioned in this article. It also connects muscle dystrophy in mice to treating it with pluripotent stem cells, which is helpful for future research. By learning about how to treat muscle dystrophy in mice, one can also eventually treat in humans as humans and mice have very similar body systems. This research brings us closer to treating muscle dystrophy in humans, making it incredibly relevant.
Are the cells they take cells that have not been specialized yet and that is why they can manipulate them, or are they already a part of the Integumentary system and then changed?
ReplyDeleteMuscular Dystrophy involves the degeneration of the muscles due to the loss of a protein involved in the integrity of the membrane around the muscle fibers. Do you know exactly what these iPS stem cells do in curing MD? For example, do the cells create entirely new muscles? Or do they produce the membrane structure protein?
ReplyDeleteCourtney:
ReplyDeleteInduced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are cells that have been genetically reprogrammed to an embryonic stem cell–like state - they don't have a function quite yet. Scientists differentiate them by forcing the cells to express genes and factors that are important for maintaining the defining properties of embryonic stem cells. So stem cells aren't differentiated; they are not yet specialized enough to function as part of the Integumentary system quite yet and that is why they manipulate iPSCs.
Rupayan:
ReplyDeleteMD is characterized by defects in muscle proteins, death of muscle cells and progressive skeletal muscle weakness. Most are caused by mutations in the genes involved in muscle membrane structure and function, as you've stated. In Duchenne MD and the related Becker’s MD, degeneration is caused by a genetic fault in the production of a muscle fiber protein called dystrophin.
In theory, if stem cells containing normal, healthy genes could be delivered to muscle affected by MD, they could regenerate fully functional muscle fibers. Once at their target, they could gradually produce new groups of healthy muscle cells to replace the damaged fibers. iPSCs are entire cells that differentiate to perform a certain function; in this case they need to develop into entire muscle cells, which can eventually lead to the building of muscle fibers. Once they specialize into the needed cells, they will only be transplanted into the patient if they normal and healthy cells that CAN produce dystrophin. In conclusion, since iPSCs are meant to specialize into healthy and functional cells, they can in theory create new muscle fibers AND produce the membrane structure protien.