* Researchers make immunodeficiency therapy discovery Jul 24, 2009
The researchers isolated immunodeficient white blood cells and treated them with drugs and a vitamin as an enzyme cofactor before injecting them back into laboratory animals. By inhibiting the function of cellular quality control molecules (or chaperons), the treatment enables the mutant proteins to reach their respective destinations in the cell and salvage their original immune activity. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World Business)
Human term placenta a new abundant source of hematopoietic cells Jun 25, 2009
The research team, Dr. Vladimir Serikov, MD, PhD, D.Sci, Assistant Staff Scientist, Catherin Hounshell, a research associate, Sandra Larkin, a research associate, Mr. William Green, student, Dr. Hurokazy Ikeda, MD, Visiting Scientist, Dr. Mark Walters, Medical Director of Children's Hospital Oakland Hematology and Oncology Programs, and Dr. Frans Kuypers, Senior Scientist, performed studies in human term placentas, human cord blood, and immunodeficient mice ... Animal experiments further... (EurekAlert!)
Targeting the more lethal form of the cancer rhabdomyosarcoma May 26, 2009
The team, led by David Malkin and Gregory Hannigan, determined that the signaling protein JNK mediated these differing effects of ILK. Knocking down expression of ILK in ERMS cells induced activation of JNK and promoted tumor cell growth both in vitro and when the cells were transplanted into immunodeficient mice. Conversely, knocking down expression of ILK in ARMS cells abrogated both JNK signaling and tumor cell growth. (EurekAlert!)
Stem cell quest May 17, 2009
STEM CELL MILESTONES 1960s: Research begins on stem cells taken from adult tissue 1968: Adult stem cells used to treat immunodeficient patient 1998: US scientists grow stem cells from human embryos and germ cells, establishing cell lines still in use today 2001: Embryonic stem cell turned into a blood cell 2002: UK regulator issues two licences to begin research on embryonic stem cells. Despite the advice of doctors to avoid scouring the internet for so-called 'miracle cures', the Clarkes said... (BBC News -- UK)
From Rats To Humans: Around Thirty Europeans Infected With Cowpox Virus By Their Pet Rats May 9, 2009
It is therefore not serious for humans, except for immunodeficient individuals such as the elderly or people who have received transplants, in whom the infection can spread. Although cowpox infection is rare in humans, it is not unheard of. (Science Daily)
Device Protects Transplanted Pancreatic Cells From The Immune System Apr 17, 2009
The team transplanted mouse islet cells into other mice to demonstrate that the cells were protected from the immune system when encapsulated in PTFE. Human cells encased in PTFE were then transplanted into immunodeficient mice to study the viability and function of both mature beta cells and precursor cells inside the device. Itkin-Ansari s team found that by using precursor cells that had not completely differentiated, the transplanted cells could regenerate into fully functional beta cells. (Science Daily)
Overexpression Of Fatty Acid Synthase Promotes Prostate Cancer In Mouse Models Apr 2, 2009
When immortalized prostate epithelial cells that expressed both FASN and the androgen receptor were injected into immunodeficient mice, the cells gave rise to invasive cancer. Inhibition of FASN gene expression led to programmed cell death in a prostate cancer cell line grown in culture. (Science Daily)
Amniotic Fluid May Provide New Source Of Stem Cells For Future Therapies Apr 2, 2009
Though the human AFKL cells failed to reconstitute the hematopoietic system in irradiated, immunodeficient mice, experiments are currently underway to overcome obstacles that may have led to this failure, such as using a low number of cells for the injection and conducting the transplant in adult mice (engraftment is easier to obtain in newborn mice). As additional confirmation of the probability that AFKL cells are indeed stem cells, the researchers examined them for the expression of specific... (Science Daily)
Stem cell research: What next? Mar 10, 2009
STEM CELL MILESTONES 1960s: Research begins on stem cells taken from adult tissue 1968: Adult stem cells used to treat immunodeficient patient 1998: US scientists grow stem cells from human embryos and germ cells, establishing cell lines still in use today 2001: Embryonic stem cell turned into a blood cell 2002: UK regulator issues two licences to begin research on embryonic stem cells. "But what we suggest President Obama would be well advised to do pretty sharply is to sit down and analyse... (BBC News -- Americas)
Supplement Of Probiotics Provides A New Therapy For Ulcerative Colitis Feb 28, 2009
The experimental results also indicate that there should be some other inflammatory cytokines involved in the difference of adaptive immunological mechanisms in experimental colitis between wide-type mice and the immunodeficient mice except IL-1 and IL-4. Journal reference. (Science Daily)
