Both Japanese and American team managed cells “pluripotent” skin. Two from the international teams of scientists managed to reprogram mouse skin cells so that they acquire the properties of stem cells.
The results of their research, published in the journals Science and Cell, marking a milestone, since this leads to the discovery of a technique for obtaining cells “pluripotent”, without the use of human embryos.
Stem cells that can generate the 220 cell types that form the different tissues of the body, were obtained so far from the creation of human embryos or cloning.
This procedure, which involved the destruction of embryos, sparked controversy for years a strong moral.
Now, after the discovery team led by Junying Yu of China and American James Thomson, the source of stem cells is substantially increased, and above all, beyond the ethical stumbling block.
After 12 days in the laboratory, and induced heart cells beat like the heart.
Yu equipment and Thomson developed his research in Japan and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Used a chemical cocktail of four proteins that control genes in order to alter an adult human fibroblasts. Epidermal fibroblasts are easy to obtain and grow.
Although not behave exactly the same, since they are similar and not identical, modified fibroblasts acquired the qualities “pluripotent” embryonic stem cells.
Generated, for example, brain and heart tissue.
After 12 days stored in the laboratory, cardiac cell clusters had developed enough to start beating.
“Overcoming cloning?
The use of skin cells will mean more personalized treatments, and this will reduce the risk of tissue rejection.
The finding, from mouse cells, is considered a revolution in the field.
The new technique not only obviates the creation and destruction of embryos, it is also much simpler and easier to control than current cloning techniques.
Ian Wilmut, Professor at the University of Edinburgh who led the experiments that led to the creation of Dolly the sheep ten years ago, said the finding represents a major breakthrough.
