Human Stem Cells Repopulate Mouse Blood-Producing System

Researchers working on the development of stem cell therapies have identified a class of human stem cells that grow rapidly when implanted into the bone marrow of immunodeficient mice.

"This is an exciting discovery because for the first time we have found human stem cells that rapidly rebuild a blood system,” explained senior author Dr. John Dick, a professor in the department of molecular and medical genetics at the University of Toronto (Canada; www.utoronto.ca). "The potential is that it may allow transplant patients to quickly regain their blood cells, which are critical to their immune system.”

In a paper published in the June 8, 2003, online edition of Nature Medicine, the investigators revealed that injection of human stem cells directly into the bones of a line of immunodeficient mice yielded a subpopulation of stem cells that rapidly repopulated the blood–producing systems of the mice. The traditional method has been intravenous injection of stem cells into the bloodstream.

Further study is needed to see if the new stem cells can be separated in larger batches and to refine the method of delivery. "Implanting stem cells directly into bone is a more complex and difficult procedure than the traditional intravenous method,” said Dr. Dick.




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