Researchers at the University of Granada and the University of Leon have demonstrated that transplantation of stem cells (human mononuclear cells isolated from umbilical cord blood) accelerated cirrhosis in rats with cirrhosis. This demonstrates the use of stem cells in regenerative medicine may be harmful to human health. The study appears in the November issue of the journal Cell Transplantation.
The original aim of the study was to determine if the use of human umbilical cord blood that contained stem cells could produce regeneration of liver cells damaged by cirrhosis. The results indicate an increase in liver damage and kidney damage as well.
The overall results indicate that much more research is needed in the use of stem cells in regenerative medicine. The existence of disease in the targeted organ may prevent stem cells from regenerating tissues.
The authors of this work are Ana I lvarez-Mercado, María V García-Mediavilla, Sonia
Sánchez-Campos, Francisco Abadía, María J Sáez-Lara, María Cabello-Donayre, ngel Gil, Javier
González-Gallego and Luis Fontana, researchers from the University of Granada and University of León.
Contact: Dr. Luis Fontana. Dept. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, School of Pharmacy,
University of Granada. Phone: +34-958-242335. E-mail: fontana@ugr.es.
In Spanish
http://www.ugr.es/local/cts461
Full paper in English.
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/cog/ct/pre-prints/ct2100alvarezmercado/download;jsessionid=1t7ref8pv9aij.alice?mimetype=application%2fpdf
http://www.cognizantcommunication.com/filecabinet/Cell/ct.htm
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