Stem Cells Show Promise for Sick Lungs

Multiplying umbilical stem cells could overcome need for donor matching

(NEWSER) - A pioneering technique for multiplying umbilical cord cells has placed the long-elusive "holy grail" of leukemia research in sight, offering new hope for bone marrow transplant recipients. Researchers have manipulated a "signaling pathway" in umbilical cord cells to create more stem cells—thus overcoming the longstanding problem of newly produced cells being ordinary blood cells rather than stem cells, BBC reports. More»

Kyoto scientists nix tumors in mice with new cell cocktail

(NEWSER) - Scientists who recently turned skin into embryonic stem cells are now tweaking the process to reduce cancer risk, Reuters reports. A team at Kyoto University grew live mice with a cell cocktail, but said the rodents grew tumors. So they nixed a gene called c-Myc1 and the next batch came out tumor-free. They have also made human cells without the cancer-causing element. More»

Fat cells exposed to virus grow in size and number

(NEWSER) - A virus that causes sore throats and eye infections may also contribute to obesity, new research suggests. leaving infected people with more and larger fat cells than uninfected people have. The discovery could lead to the development of anti-obesity vaccines and may help explain why some obese people have healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels, the Guardian reports. More»

(NEWSER) - The British government has reversed its stance on the creation of human-animal hybrid embryos and will propose allowing scientists to use them as sources of stem cells. Scientists developing treatments for incurable diseases would be allowed to grow the hybrid embryos for no longer than two weeks, and implanting them into a human womb would not be permitted. More»

Could be available for human transplants in three years

(NEWSER) - A British team has grown a human heart valve from stem cells—a breakthrough certain to ignite as much controversy as hope. Sir Magdi Yacoub, professor of cardiac surgery at Imperial College, tells the Guardian that growing a whole human heart from stem cells is less than a decade away: "I wouldn't be surprised if it was some day sooner than we think." More»