R&D
There is widespread agreement that stem cell contamination, and earlier in 2008 the Bundestag muscle. The attraction of this approach is that a
research holds out the hope of finding new (the lower house of the German parliament) patient would be unlikely to reject cells derived
treatments, possibly even cures, for diseases as passed amending legislation that will mean that from his own body. But this particular research is
diverse as cancer, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s human embryonic stem cell lines established up to still at a very early stage, and a number of issues
diseases, diabetes and heart disease, and it has April 2007 may be imported and used for remain to be resolved. For example, because
been suggested that stem cells could be a research. In practice, this will mean that the sperm precursor cells may also be the origin of
source of red blood cells for transfusion. But the number of cell lines available to German testicular cancers, there is an issue with safety. And,
area where agreement has been hard to come researchers will increase from 20 to about 500. of course, female patients would not be candidates
by is in the morality of stem cell research. The new legislation still sets out certain for such treatment.
Traditionally, human stem cells are obtained from criteria that must be met before a research On the other hand, cells derived from
four- or five-day-old human embryos that have project involving human embryonic stem cells menstrual blood, known as endometrial
been created for in vitro fertilisation purposes can go ahead, such as a requirement that the
regenerative cells, have been shown to restore
but which are no longer needed (so-called embryos must have been created by in vitro
blood flow in an animal model of critical limb
embryonic stem cells). fertilisation or similar artificial techniques for
ischaemia, an advanced form of peripheral
The problem is that, in some people’s eyes, reproductive purposes. But significantly, it
artery disease. In fact, these cells have been
such embryos have the potential to grow into removes the threat of legal sanctions from
found to be capable of being transformed into
complete human beings, and to destroy them German scientists involved in foreign research
at least nine different tissue types. A research
(which is necessary to obtain the stem cells) is projects using embryonic stem cells, thus
team based in the US and Canada recently
therefore tantamount to destroying a human life. facilitating international projects.
suggested that such cells could be used in an
One prominent holder of this point of view is At the opposite extreme are countries like
“off the shelf” manner because they can be
outgoing US President George W Bush who, in the UK, where research on embryonic stem cells
delivered at the point of care, do not require
2001, banned the use of federal funds to and the creation of new embryonic stem cell
matching, and are easily injectable without the
support research using human embryonic stem
lines are permitted, subject to approval from the
need for complex equipment.
cell lines established after August 2001, and has
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
One of the challenges with stem cells is coaxing
twice vetoed Congressional bills that sought to
(HFEA). Legislation currently passing through
them to differentiate into the desired tissue type.
reverse this policy.
Parliament would permit experiments using
One approach is to deliver specific genes into
Like his Republican opponent in the US
hybrid human-animal embryos for stem cell
pluripotent stem cells. Various vectors have been
presidential election, president-elect Barack
research, subject to HFEA approval.
used for this, and a team of Japanese researchers
Obama has voiced support for embryonic stem
As the moral debate about stem cell research
recently announced that the use of a helper-
cell research. Mr Obama has said that, without
goes on, scientists continue to find potential new
dependent adenoviral vector can considerably
federal funding for embryonic stem cell research,
uses for them. In addition, new sources of stem
increase the efficiency of the process.
the US will fail to keep up with developments
cells continue to be reported, although none so
In the case of differentiation into nerve cells, the
by the international research community. A
far has demonstrated the wide range of
method currently used in the laboratory is to
statement on his website declares that “…we
potential applications claimed for the pluripotent
stimulate the cells with a naturally occurring
must all work together to expand federal
embryonic stem cell.
substance, all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA).
funding of stem cell research”, adding that the
For example, Australian researchers recently
Unfortunately, ATRA is less than ideal for this
technique will require “comprehensive,
reported that stem cells extracted from teeth
purpose because it rapidly degrades on exposure
thoughtful and carefully crafted ethical and
could one day be used to help stroke victims. The
to light, heat and air, so it is difficult to be sure of
scientific guidelines”.
researchers, from the new Centre for Stem Cell
the concentration of ATRA in solution, and the
Like Mr Obama, the former Republican
Research in Adelaide, have been injecting stroke-
extent to which it has decomposed. Researchers in
presidential candidate Senator John McCain
damaged rat brains with adult dental pulp stem
the UK are hoping to overcome this problem by
voted in favour of the two Congressional bills
cells, and hope to publish their results by the end
developing more stable ATRA analogues. Two
vetoed by President Bush in 2006 and 2007, and
of 2008. Dental pulp stem cells are extremely
synthetic retinoids in particular have been
he has expressed his support for a reversal of
attractive as precursors of brain cells because they
developed that stimulate stem cell differentiation:
the Bush veto on devoting federal funds to
are easy to obtain, can be taken from the patient
not only are they more stable than ATRA, but they
embryonic stem cell research. According to needing treatment, and have properties similar to
also appear to affect differentiation in different
press reports, Mr McCain’s support was those of cranial neural crest cells, the embryonic
ways. One, for example, reportedly stimulates stem
bolstered after discussions with Nancy Reagan, precursors of cranial neurones.
cells to differentiate into nerve cells, while another
widow of former president Ronald Reagan, who Other Australian research suggests that stem
is particularly effective at producing epithelial cells.
suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, and a strident cells could be used to improve the performance
This opens up the possibility of studying structure-
advocate of stem cell research. of cochlear implants used to restore some
activity relationships and developing agents that will
Since the election, Mr Obama’s transition hearing to the profoundly deaf. The problem
lead to the production of specific cell types.
team leader John Podesta has confirmed that with cochlear implants is that, although they are
Clearly, stem cell research continues to tax
the restrictions on federal funding for embryonic designed to replace some of the function of the
the minds of both legislators and the research
stem cell research are among a number of Bush cochlear hair cells involved in converting sound
community. But the signs are that significant
Administration policies that could be reversed vibrations into nerve impulses, they cannot
progress is being made in the search for new
by an executive order by the president-elect, replace the hair cells themselves. So far the
treatments for a whole range of diseases. What
and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said that research, being carried out at the Melbourne
is needed now is the right regulatory
increasing stem cell research funding is a Eye and Ear Hospital, has shown that stem cells
environment to allow stem cell research, and the
legislative priority of the incoming administration. introduced into the inner ear survive, although it
new businesses it spawns, to flourish.
Another country with relatively strict limits on is not yet entirely clear whether they will grow
the type of stem cell research that can be carried into new hair cells.
out is Germany. The Stammzellgesetz (Stem Cell Meanwhile, research carried out in Germany
Dr Peter Charlish is a
Act) of 2002 prohibited the import or use of stem and the UK suggests that a certain type of stem
principal analyst for Informa
Pharma.
cell lines created after December 2001. However, cell derived from testicular tissue, known as sperm
researchers have continued to argue that most precursor cells, may be capable of being coaxed to
such cells lines are unusable because of viral grow into other types of tissue, such as bone or
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