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Group Four Project: Embryonic Stem Cells

Group Four Project: Embryonic Stem Cells. Source: http://www.nectareal.com. Embryonic Stem Cells: Background. Retrieved from inner mass of an early-stage embryo 4-5 days following fertilization by sperm Consists of 50-150 cells

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Group Four Project: Embryonic Stem Cells

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  1. Group Four Project: Embryonic Stem Cells

  2. Source: http://www.nectareal.com

  3. Embryonic Stem Cells: Background • Retrieved from inner mass of an early-stage embryo • 4-5 days following fertilization by sperm • Consists of 50-150 cells • Isolating the the inner cell mass results in the death of the human embryo

  4. Embryonic stem cells are mainly valuable because they are: • Pluripotent (ability to differentiate to become any type of cell) • Able to replicate indefinitely to any kind of the over 220 type of cell in the adult human body

  5. Embryonic Stem Cells: History • In 1981, embryonic stem cells were independently derived from embryos • Martin Evans and Matthew Kaufman of the University of Cambridge pioneered a new technique for culturing mouse embryos in the uterus to allow for an increase in cell number, allowing for the derivation of embryonic cells from these embryos • In 1981 Gail Martin, of the University of California, San Francisco, published a paper in December and coined the term “Embryonic Stem Cell”

  6. In 1998, a breakthrough occurred when James Thomson and his group of researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, developed a technique to isolate and cultivate human embryonic stem cells in cell culture

  7. Social Concerns It’s more of an ethical issue as it has to do with one’s morality. Some believe embryonic stem cells for research is an activity involves deliberate attempt to destroy human life. Embryonic stem cells can cause cancer when and if they become malignant.

  8. Economic Concerns Many Clinics in the US have been set up to collect cells from the people The cells are stored to be used in the future they can be used to cure health problems like organ transplant, spinal cord injuries, birth defects, etc. To run these clinics, millions and millions of dollars are used. This money is mainly funded by the government. But the thing is researchers are not even sure if this will ever be possible Now the question is: Is the money worth being spent for this? Even if we are able to find a cure

  9. Clinical Trials Although embryonic stem cell research has not progressed to the stages of completed clinical research, the FDA have recently approved of a couple of clinical trials on human embryonic stem cells. The successes of these trials are not certain, but the hopes are high. At this stage, the main priority is to make sure the patients are kept safe. As well, there are a couple of preclinical trials that have been completed with mostly good, but the occasional varying result

  10. Geron: The Hope To use oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (GRNOPC1), derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESC), to help people that have suffered from spinal cord injuries by injecting the cells directly into the spinal cord lesion

  11. Geron: The Plan Patients in the trial cannot have been injured for more than 14 days prior to receiving GRNOPC1 Patients will be AIS (the ASIA Impairment Scale ) – Grade A (most severe loss of locomotor and sensory activity) thoracic spinal cord injuries Patients will be monitored for 15 years after the injection The trial is to be conducted at seven different medical centres in the U.S.

  12. Geron: Preclinical Trial • Animals both suffering from spinal cord injuries and uninjured were monitored for 12 months after receiving and injection of GRNOPC1 to see if teratomas (a type of germ cell tumor, can be benign or malignant) formed. • Animals injected with clinical grade GRNOPC1 did not form any teratomas • Rats and mice with spinal cord injuries were given GRNOPC1, acute and chronic toxicology studies were performed, as well as multiple hematology, clinical chemistry, urinalysis, and gross and microscopic pathology tests • No significant toxicity were found • GRNOPC1 was not found outside of central nervous system

  13. Geron: Preclinical Trials • Rats with spinal cord injuries were administered with GRNOPC1 and checked for allodynia (Pain from things that are not usually painful • No allodynia was found • in vitro studies were used to test if the allograft will be rejected (Direct Allogeneic Immune Response to GRNOPC1) • No Direct Allogeneic Immune Response were found • Cysts were found

  14. Geron: Problems As stated before, animals studies have shown GRNOPC1 to be ineffective if used more than three months after the injury. Cysts might form as a result of the injection

  15. ACT: MA09-hRPE A type of drug derived from embryonic stem cells in hopes of treating Stargardt’s Macular Dystrophy, a type of blindness Approved earlier this year, there is not much more information available about this particular clinical trial Although, ACT has in place the Blastomere Program, a way to generate hESC without killing the embryo

  16. International Consequences: Geron If this trial succeeds, then people around the world with spinal injuries that are unable to walk could have the opportunity again However, as many nations are opposed to stem cell research, especially embryonic stem cell research, people in those nation may lose out the chance, creating more tension between nations.

  17. International Consequences: ACT If the drug works, there could be new hope for all the blind people in the world. The treatment for Stargardt’s Macular Dystrophy can lead to breakthroughs for other kinds of blindness If the Blastomere Program works, then there will be one less objection for using embryonic stem cells for medical advancements.

  18. Embryonic Stem Cells: clinical uses • It is mainly argued that because the embryonic stem cells can only be obtained from a human embryo, it is morally wrong to treat diseases. Due to this arguable factor, countries like Canada and America aren’t studying in depth about this particular type of stem cell. • Embryonic stem cells are “pluripotent”, meaning they are capable of forming embryonic tissue. • Researchers extract stem cells from 5-7 day old blastocyst. • Stem cells can divide in culture to form more of their own kind, thereby creating a stem cell line. • These cells help generate healthy tissues needed by patients. • More than 100 human embryonic stem cell lines have been derived worldwide. • Only 22 of these lines are eligible for federal funding in the USA. • Stem cells can be used to generate healthy and functioning specialized cells, which can then replace diseased or dysfunctional cells.

  19. Embryonic Stem Cells: clinical uses (continued) • It’s similar to the process of organ transplantation, only this treatment consists of transplanting cells rather than organs. • Bone marrow transplants is an example of cell therapy, were the stem cells in the donor’s marrow is used to replace the blood cells of the victims of leukemia. • Cell therapy is also being used in experiments to graft new skin cells to treat serious burn victims, and grow new corneas for the sight impaired. • The goal is for healthy cells to become integrated in the body and start functioning like the patient’s own cells. • Any diseases in which there is tissue degeneration can be a potential candidate for stem cell therapies.

  20. Applications of stem cells • Cell replacement therapy could treat injuries and various genetic and degenerative conditions, including muscular dystrophies, retinal degeneration, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Heart disease, Severe burns, arthritis, diabetes, spinal chord injuries, and blood disorders such as haemophilia.

  21. Advantages of Embryonic Stem Cell Usage • They have the potential to make any body cell. • One cell line may be able to potentially supply endless amounts of cells. • Human embryos can be obtained from fertility clinics, and are thereby easily available to us.

  22. Disadvantages of Embryonic Stem Cell Use • Inducing the cell type needed to treat a specific disease must be defined and optimized, and this is thereby difficult to control. • It is possible that transplanted cells would differ in their immune profile from that of the recipient and therefore would be rejected. • It’s also ethically controversial for those who believe life begins at conception. • improper regulation of genes can lead to uncontrolled cell division and tumor formation. This is a special concern with cells that have been cultured in the laboratory for a period of time, because they may regulate their genes differently than they would in the body.

  23. Future Use of Embryonic Stem Cells • The production of cardiac muscle cells, which have thus far been evasive, would hold tremendous promise for the number one killer: heart disease. • Researchers could study the beneficial and toxic effects of new medication pluripotent stem cells that have been developed to mimic disease processes. • Through more in-depth studies of pluripotent stem cells, it can lead to the identifying factors responsible for differentiation of stem cells into specialized cell types. • Future therapies will rely on our ability to manipulate stem cells in a way that can be accepted by the human body as normal.

  24. Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research offers great promise of cures for otherwise incurable conditions such as spinal cord injuries, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, etc. • Research is aimed to find the appropriate source of stem cells for a given indication (of disorders). • Ways of expanding and perpetuating these cells in culture. • The best route of administrating these cells. • Also, various methods to overcome rejection.

  25. Potential Clinical Uses • Human embryonic stem cells could be used to test new drugs. • new medications could be tested for safety on differentiated cells generated from human embryonic stem cell lines • differentiated cells are less specialized cells that undergo a process becoming a more specialized cell type • Cancer cell lines used to screen potential anti-tumor drugs, with embryonic stem cells, drug testing could be done in a larger range of cell types • Generation of cells and tissues could be used for cell-based therapies. • Treating diseases for which there are no known cures. • Stem cells, directed to differentiate into specific cell types, could offer a renewable source of replacement cells and tissues to treat diseases • ex.Alzheimer's diseases, spinal cord injury, heart disease • Human embryonic stem cells have potential to form insulin-producing cells that can be transplanted into diabetic patients, curing diabetes

  26. Stem cell therapy could regenerate muscle and bones damaged by injury or genetic disease • May become possible to generate healthy heart muscle cells in laboratory and then transplant those cells into patients with chronic heart disease. • Cells could repair by secreting growth factors around tissues • Possible to direct the differentiation of embryonic stem cells or adult bone marrow cells into heart muscle cells • Stem cells could stimulate the growth of human tissues assisting in healing wounds quicker • Possible method for tissue regeneration: place adult stem cell inside a tissue bed in a wound bed and allow stem cells to stimulate differentiation in the tissue bed cells • Could potentially treat Azoospermia • Male does not have measurable level of sperm in his semen causing infertility

  27. Sources http://www.advancedcell.com/our-technology/research-programs/blastomere-program/ http://www.geron.com/media/pressview.aspx?id=1235 http://www.geron.com/GRNOPC1Trial/grnopc1-sec2.html http://www.geron.com/GRNOPC1Trial/grnopc1-sec3.html http://www.geron.com/GRNOPC1Trial/grnopc1-sec4.html http://singularityhub.com/2010/03/02/act-gains-fda-approval-for-embryonic-stem-cell-derived-therapy/ http://machineslikeus.com/news/cautionary-warning-future-stem-cell-applications http://www.actionbioscience.org/biotech/pecorino2.html http://www.slideshare.net/doctorrao/stem-cells-and-clinical-applications-1710672

  28. http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/basics6.asp • http://www.reproduction-online.org/cgi/content/full/128/3/259 • http://www.aaas.org/spp/sfrl/projects/stem/report.pdf • http://elibrary.bigchalk.com • http://www.buzzle.com/articles/embryonic-stem-cell-research-pros-and-cons.html • http://www.suite101.com/content/pros-and-cons-of-stem-cell-research--ethical-issues-a254568 • http://www.leaderu.com/science/promisestemcell.html

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