In mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease, stem cell transplant repairs damaged gut

Jordan Galletta

Article Url:  http://www.medicalnewstodays.com/releases/267630.php

Published: By MediLexicon International Limited on October 21, 2013

Summery: The Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute at the University of Cambridge starting by looking at developing intestinal tissue in a mouse embryo to look at the restriction of stem cells to their own tissue. The team started by looking at developing intestinal tissue in a mouse embryo, where they found uniquely different cells to adult stem cells in the gut. These cells were actively dividing and able to progressively grow in a laboratory without becoming like the adult cells. But what was incredible is what happen once they were transplanted back into the mice along with a inflammatory bowel disease. Within the first few hours the stem cells had attached to the damaged areas of the intestine, integrating with the other gut cells and started to help repair the damaged tissue. They found a similar stem cell in human gut cells and think it be a huge step in helping inflammatory bowel diseases, such as ulcerative colitis. Unfortunately, one of the risks is that once transplanted the cells will continue to grow and form a tumor, but no signs of that were shown with the mice experiment.

Relevance: This unit we are looking at cells and the functions that different cells have. With stem cells in particular, it is known that they only help the tissue of their origin. This means that not every cell can help when their is a damaged spot around that area. In particular with ulcerative colitis, it is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes long lasting inflammation in part of a persons digestive tract, it is like Crohn's disease. At this time there is no known cure, but this stem cell lab might have just been the answer. As of this point it is known to significantly help, by reducing the signs and symptoms of the disease. This proves that scientists are on the right track in looking for cures and not just for bowel diseases. If stem cells prove to be successful, they could help many more diseases, that at the moment, do not have a cure.