Scientists Turn Stem Cells Into Neurons

2 hours, 4 minutes ago Health - AP


By PAUL ELIAS, AP Biotechnology Writer

SAN FRANCISCO - Researchers at the University of Wisconsin, Madison reported Sunday that they've whipped up an exciting — but intricate — new recipe that could someday treat spinal cord injuries or provide a cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as Lou Gehrig's disease (news - web sites).

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Step one: Take human embryonic stem cells, the microscopic dots that have brought condemnation from the pope, opposition from the president and people generally opposed to abortion. Add pinches of chemicals, dashes of other biological ingredients implicated in brain growth at just the right moment and voila: brain cells called motor neurons that control every body movement.


The conclusion, reported online in science journal Nature Biotechnology, is important for two reasons. First, stem cell scientists have struggled to accomplish what researcher Su-Chun Zhang and his colleagues have just accomplished. It took Zhang's team two years of tedious trial-and-error experiments to direct stem cells to turn into motor neurons.


Perhaps more important, Zhang's recipe shows researchers that timing is everything when adding their chemical cocktails to stem cell stews. Stem cells are vulnerable to successful human manipulation for only the briefest of moments — and at different intervals depending on the results each researcher craves.


"This shows that you can't dump whatever growth factors you want in there," Zhang said. "It's not that simple. It's very specific. You have to have the right cocktail in the right amount at the right time."


Other scientists said Zhang's work also will help researchers better translate data gleaned from decades of animal experiments into human terms. Scientists were losing faith that 25 years of work with the embryonic stem cells of mice had little direct correlation to humans, said Harvard University neuroscientist Ole Isacson.


But with Zhang, and others, showing that the biological clock ticks differently in different animals and in each type of cell, it appears translating animal data to human terms is more about timing than biology.


"That is also somewhat reassuring," said Isacson, who has created dopamine-producing brain cells from stem cells. Parkinson disease patients lose dopamine cells, which help regulate body movement.


Embryonic stem cells are created in the first days after conception and ultimately turn into the 220 or so types of cells that make up the human body. Scientists believe they can someday control what stem cells become and when, using that power to replace damaged and dead cells that cause a wide range of suffering, from diabetes to Parkinson's.


But harnessing that power has proved elusive in all but a few cell types such as heart and two other types of brain cells.


"This is an important contribution because stem cell biology is difficult," Isacson said. "It helps decode the locks."


There are political hurdles as well. Pope John Paul (news - web sites) II and others believe the work is immoral because days-old embryos are destroyed during research. President Bush (news - web sites) has limited federal funding of the science.


More maddening, though, are the scientific bugaboos. Scientists have had trouble controlling what the stem cells turn into. That's a problem if brain cells are the goal and heart cells the results.

Years of animal and now stem cell research beginning to pay off

Thanks for the article.

That is really good news to hear. My Grandma died from ALS and if they could find a cure someday that would be great. That is a really nasty disease that no one should suffer from.

I have always been a supporter of stem cell research.

WAIT STOP GIVING PEOPLE FALSE HOPE


SAVE THE CHILDREN, PROTECT THE CULTURE OF LIFE

Yes, decades of animal abuse for this:

"But harnessing that power has proved elusive in all but a few cell types such as heart and two other types of brain cells"

I feel such pride in my own species right now

When a Christian says that, it is perhaps the most ironic thing ever.

--PunkDavid

I still love you PJDoll

I'm proud to call the UW my alma mater. Most people don't know that stem cell research started in Madison. The state has put a major focus on investing in biotech research in Madison.

It is a GREAT institution!

I would be as proud of my child going to Madison as I would of him going to Harvard, and my wallet would be happier for it as well.

My sister and her husband are both currently students there as well.

--PunkDavid