Stem Cells..........it is all possible and may drastically change medicine

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harold jitschak bueno de mesquita

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Jun 22, 2009, 4:30:14 PM6/22/09

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Discarded Human Tissue Offers New Stem Cell Source

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The search for sources of multi-potent stem cells without ethical problems is of great interest in today’s medical and political communities. Human tissues normally discarded after surgical procedures could be a rich source of these stem cells for regenerative medicine.

New research shows for the first time that human fallopian tubes are abundant in mesenchymal stem cells, which have the potential of becoming a variety of cell types. It has previously been shown that mesenchymal stem cells obtained from umbilical cords, dental pulp and adipose tissue -- all biological discards -- are able to differentiate into muscle, fat, bone and cartilage cell lineages.

Tatiana Jazedje and the research team from Human Genome Research Centre at the University of São Paulo, Brazil, directed by Mayana Zatz, set out to isolate and assess the differentiation potential of mesenchymal stem cells from discarded human fallopian tubes. In the study, human fallopian tubes were obtained from hysterectomy and other gynecological procedures from fertile women, aged 35 to 53 years, who had not undergone hormonal treatment for at least three months prior to surgery.

The Brazilian team found that human fallopian tube mesenchymal stem cells could be easily isolated and expanded in vitro. These cells were able to differentiate into muscle, fat, cartilage and bone cell lines. The cells' chromosome complement showed no abnormalities, suggesting chromosomal stability. Jazedje was quoted as saying, "In addition to providing an additional potential source for regenerative medicine, these findings might contribute to reproductive science as a whole." Jazedje concluded, "Moreover, the use of human tissue fragments that are usually discarded in surgical procedures does not pose ethical problems."

SOURCE: Journal of Translational Medicine, BioMed Central, June 17, 2009