|
Stem Cells May Offer Alternative to Lung Transplants
Novel protocol could provide new lung tissue for certain patients, researchers say.
Fri Nov 06, 2009, 16:00
|
Story Tools
|
|
•
|
Printable
version
|
|
•
|
Nov 06, 2009 News
|
|
Related News Categories
| | • | Stem Cells | | • | Respiratory Problems: Misc | | • | Research & Development | | • | Organ Transplants | | • | Cystic Fibrosis |
Related News
| • | Missing Gene Tied to Bone Marrow Transplant Problems - Nov 22, 2009 | • | Swine Flu May Hit Kids With Asthma Harder - Nov 20, 2009 | • | Unraveling the 'Mad Cow' Mystery - Nov 20, 2009 | • | 'Hobbits' Were a Distinct Species, Study Concludes - Nov 20, 2009 | • | Asthma Combo Seems Less Influenced by Genes - Nov 19, 2009 | • | New 'Skin' From Stem Cells - Nov 19, 2009 | • | Sounds May Help Solidify Memories While Asleep - Nov 19, 2009 | • | Kidney Transplant, Sleep Disorder May Add Up to Trouble - Nov 19, 2009 | • | For Kids With Down Syndrome, a 'Ray of Hope' - Nov 19, 2009 | • | Morphine May Help Tumors Spread in Cancer Patients - Nov 18, 2009 | • | Lifelong Exercise Keeps Seniors Young at Heart - Nov 18, 2009 | • | The Mummies' Curse: Heart Disease - Nov 17, 2009 | • | Face Transplant Patient Can Smell, Taste, Breathe Normally - Nov 17, 2009 | • | 'Fearless' 3-Year-Olds Might Be Tomorrow's Criminals - Nov 17, 2009 | • | Stem Cells May Improve Heart Bypass Results - Nov 17, 2009 |
FRIDAY, Nov. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Belgian scientists who used embryonic stem cells to create lung tissue say this technique could provide an alternative to lung transplants for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis.
This is the first time it's been shown that embryonic stem cells can be converted into airway epithelial-like cells without the use of specific growth factors or embryoid body formation. The researchers achieved this using an "air-liquid interface" system that mimics the conditions found in an adult trachea.
"Efforts will be made to further improve this novel culture protocol, trying to increase the number of differentiated cells or to guide the differentiation into particular cell types by adding certain growth factors to this system," Lindsey Van Haute, of the department of embryology and genetics at the Free University of Brussels, said in a news release.
She and her colleagues may start with fibroblast growth factors, which play an important role in lung development.
Human embryonic stem cells "have the capacity to differentiate in vivo and in vitro into cells from all three germ lineages, making them particularly important in developmental biology, regenerative medicine and in vitro pharmacological studies," Van Haute said.
The study was published Nov. 5 in the journal Respiratory Research.
More information
The American Academy of Family Physicians has more about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
SOURCE: BioMed Central, news release, Nov. 4, 2009
Copyright © 2009 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.
Today's Top News Stories | • | Missing Gene Tied to Bone Marrow Transplant Problems - Nov 22, 2009, 14:00
Variation can cause donated cells to attack recipient's tissue, study finds. | • | Go Healthy, Not Hungry for Holiday Eating - Nov 22, 2009, 09:00
Planning ahead can help keep eating under control, expert says. | • | When Sleep Suffers, So Does Decisiveness - Nov 21, 2009, 09:00
Not being well-rested can be dangerous for those whose jobs require quick reactions, researchers say. | • | Stunts Raise Injury Risks for Cheerleaders - Nov 21, 2009, 09:00
Type of flooring, greater heights increase potential for trauma, study finds. | • | Swine Flu Declining in Some Parts of U.S. - Nov 20, 2009, 16:00
But, flu activity remains high and is expected to continue, CDC says. |
|
|
|
