Trigger discovered that causes stem cells embryos to start developing into organs

Oct 30 2005

Scientists in the U.S. say they have made a breakthrough in cell research.

They have apparently discovered the chemical trigger that causes stem cells from embryos to start developing into organs, raising the possibility of parts of the body being able to repair their own damage.

The discovery has led to forecasts of dramatic improvements in the treatment of diseases such as Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis.

It had already been established that the stem cells found in embryos have the capacity to develop into all other types of human cell, but until now they have been unable to find the correct chemical mix to spur them artificially into changing into endoderm, the layer of cells in embryos that in turn gives rise to organs.

According to researchers at an American company CyThera, they have developed a technique to produce highly enriched endoderm cultures.

They say their research proves that embryonic stem cells have the capacity to change in the laboratory into endoderm.

Emmanuel Baetge, scientific director of CyThera, says if human embryonic stem cells are to be used to make products that treat disease such as diabetes or liver failure, scientists would have to go through the endoderm stage to get them.

The CyThera research team has described its work as “a critical step in generating scientifically and therapeutically useful cells”.

It has also been applauded by colleagues who say that endoderm is notoriously difficult to obtain.

CyThera’s work will to some extent relieve fears among doctors, that expectations of stem cell technology are racing ahead of results.

Despite the potential that many scientists believe stem cells hold, the research is controversial.

Obtaining stem cells can involve the destruction of embryos.

Opponents of the process, including U.S. President George W Bush and the Roman Catholic Church, argue that this represents the ending of a human life.

Scientists have been trying to develop new ways of obtaining stem cells using the techniques, developed using mouse cells, but these may not work when transferred to humans.

Drugs can do little more than slow the onslaught of degenerative diseases, but scientists hope that stem cells can one day be used to rebuild tissue and grow new organs.

The research is published in Nature Biotechnology, the scientific journal.