Stem cells grow kidneys

kmguru

Staff member
The January 29 2002 issue of New Scientist Magazine http://www.newscientist.com/ reported that scientists from Advanced Cell Technology, who earlier announced the first cloning of a human embryo, have succeeded in cloning a kidney from stem cells derived from cloned cow embryos. In research jointly conducted with Harvard University, the cells were transplanted into cows with the same genetics and became fully functional. The work has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal and no further details are being released at this time.

Last year, researchers at Imperial Cancer Research Fund and Imperial College School of Medicine in London demonstrated for the first time that human bone marrow stem cells could be transformed into kidney cells. The research, published in the Journal of Pathology, volume 195 issue 2, September 2001, examined kidneys of female mice that had received a bone marrow transplant from a male donor, and kidney biopsies taken from men who had received kidneys from females. The researchers looked for the presence of the Y chromosome in the tissue in order to determine if circulating stem cells from bone marrow had migrated into the kidney and differentiated into renal parenchymal cells. Both the human and mouse kidneys showed Y chromosome-containing cells, proving that bone marrow cells contribute to kidney regeneration as well as normal kidney cell turnover.

Study coauthor Nicholas A Wright, of the Histopathology Unit of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund commented, "This discovery is very exciting and means we have new ways to treat kidney damage caused by cancer or other diseases. Doctors could use stem cells from the patient's own bone marrow to replenish kidney cells lost by injury. This would be of huge benefit as the kidney is very poor at repairing itself. Furthermore, there would be much less complication with the kidneys rejecting the new cells, because they would come from the patient's own body. Another exciting development would be using bone marrow stem cells containing genes resistant to cancer or other disease, to protect the kidneys from further damage."

I wonder if our body has a normal mechanism where it grows stem cells in bone marrows for specific repair process in the body. If that is the case, we should find a way to enhance that ability - so that transplantation will not be necessary.

Any thoughts?
 
Kidneys from stem cells

Why not create kidneys from stem cells? It will help a lot of people who has kidney problems. And if we start doing that maybe scientist will figure out on how to create hearts from stem cells.
 
there was an article on something like this in Time a while back.... it had something to do with creating an 'organ farm'... but then when would it be considered playing god, as to who got to be the person and who got to be the farmer! I dont know much about creating only certain organs, but i had thought that you couldn't create one without clonging an entire person.... otherwise it wouldn't grow. but ah. what do i know..?
 
Yes, but so far i've heard its not that easy. They clone fine but grow funny - they grow in slabs, like steak sorta. Cells need to grow on "matrices" they're called, sort of like frames of houses. Atleast its what i've reading..

Look around on the net, you'll probably find more informative stuff out there than what i've just type-babbled out. Cheers :cool:
 
Originally posted by kmguru


I wonder if our body has a normal mechanism where it grows stem cells in bone marrows for specific repair process in the body.

The fact that adults still have these embryonic stem cells would indicate to me that they can and should be considered viable for use.

I think that through esoteric teachings such as meditation and mind elevation, we humans have the ability to REPAIR OURSLEVES FROM WITHIN.
 
Re: Re: Stem cells grow kidneys

Originally posted by Eflex tha Vybe Scientist
I think that through esoteric teachings such as meditation and mind elevation, we humans have the ability to REPAIR OURSLEVES FROM WITHIN.

I agree. Several years ago, I worked with a young stroke victim in an experimental (to me) meditation therapy. It took over 8 months but he recovered 99% of normalacy.

While his neurologist was interested to try out my therapy to his other patients, I moved away from the area - so I dont know if it would be repeatable.
 
Re: Re: Re: Stem cells grow kidneys

Originally posted by kmguru


I agree. Several years ago, I worked with a young stroke victim in an experimental (to me) meditation therapy. It took over 8 months but he recovered 99% of normalacy.

While his neurologist was interested to try out my therapy to his other patients, I moved away from the area - so I dont know if it would be repeatable.

That is facinating...

Can you describe the meditation?
Did it involve deep breathing/sensory deprivation?
 
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