News from Companies

News from Companies

A couple of press releases have some interesting news today. Osiris Therapeutics announced that it has enrolled 53 patients in trials of its “universal” stem cell drug for cardiac damage following a heart attack. The stem cells are derived from adult stem cells. It is a double blind, placebo-controlled Phase I safety study. I look forward to seeing the results.

Also, the Singapore company CellResearch announced that it is collaborating with several other Asian institutions, including the Singapore National University and several hospitals, in using its stem cells derived from the lining of the umbilical cord to treat several conditions. These include research into diabetes, burns, and other wound healing or skin regeneration. The press release also reports that the cells could potentially be used in repairing damage to mucus-producing cells, such as nasal passages or the lining of the intestine. All very interesting conceptually, now let’s see what the results will be.

Bone Procedure Performed

Bone Procedure Performed

Doctors in Australia have taken stem cells from a man’s hip, cultured them in the lab, and transplanted them back into the man to try to cure a broken leg that is failing to heal. This is reportedly the first time this procedure has been done in a human. The story is on ABC News (Australian) and in the Age. The stem cells were cultured by the Australian biotech company Mesoblast. It will take a while for the results to be known. If this works, it is an alternative to bone grafts, which require another surgery and its risks of complications.

There are 9 more such treatments planned.

Meanwhile, Australian politicians are still in conflict about whether or not to ban therapeutic cloning, according to an article that also appeared in the Age. I'm following the Australian debate with some interest, since it may indirectly influence US policy. Some exciting research is going on in Australia, and if therapeutic cloning is permitted, more US scientists might go abroad.

CIRM Gets $14 Million Loan

CIRM Gets $14 Million Loan

Six philanthropic organizations are loaning the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine a total of $14 million to be used for fellowships to train stem cell researchers. It will cost the state an additional $600,000 in interest if the CIRM eventually wins the lawsuits that are preventing it from selling bonds. If the CIRM loses the lawsuits, the money will be converted to a gift. The news is reported in an AP story in the Washington Post, among other places.

The judge is expected to issue her ruling soon. The most recent activity was a stipulation to correct the trial record to designate some exhibits correctly. Exciting stuff.

In other CIRM news, the Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee (ICOC) will meet on Thursday in Los Angeles to consider the Grants Administration Policy.

Growth Factor for Making Cartilage Found

Growth Factor for Making Cartilage Found

Researchers at Duke University have used a protein called bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP-6) to stimulate stem cells derived from fat tissue to differentiate into cartilage. The press release is on EurekAlert. BMP-6 is the protein that hardens the ends of bones that are in contact with cartilage.

The research team has been working with adipose derived stem cells (hADAS) for several years now, experimenting with different growth factors. They had previously grown cells in a scaffold made up of carbohydrates in spherical form, which helped promote the differentiation into cartilage cells. Adding BMP-6 substantially increased the expression of the cartilage component aggrecan and of a particular collagen.

The researchers also found that adding MBP-6 to mesenchymal stem cells made them more likely to differentiate into bone cells instead of cartilage, showing that there are some important differences between MSCs and hADAS.

I wonder what happens to embryonic stem cells with BMP-6. Do they have a tendency to differentiate one way or the other? Obvioulsy many factors influence their differentiation, but it seems like this would be useful to know in trying to put together the whole complex picture of what information is communicated to stem cells by particular proteins.