Growing Stem Cells from Blood Cells

Aug-29-12 Researchers have found way to create stem cells from adult red blood cells, which could help relieve the controversy surrounding stem cell use.

To create the stem cells, a team from Johns Hopkins University first caused tiny holes to form in the red blood cells, which allowed plasmids (DNA rings that replicate inside cells before degrading) to enter the cells. The plasmids injected the red blood cells with genes that caused the cells to transform to induced-pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells, which the scientists then grew in the lab. The cells were grown in two different environments, one with the cells alone and one with the cells alongside irradiated bone-marrow cells.

In tests, the blood-based iPS cells grown with the bone marrow have proven superior to the cells grown from hair or skin. The use of plasmids also replaces viruses, which cuts down on the risk of cancer and other unwanted viral effects.

More Info about this Invention:

[POPSCI.COM]
[MEDICAL XPRESS]

---