Study Could Change The Stem Cell Debate

Researchers Say Amniotic Fluid Offer Possibilities Of Research Without Use Of Embryos

(CBS/AP)  Scientists reported Sunday they had found a plentiful source of stem cells in the fluid that cushions babies in the womb and produced a variety of tissue types from these cells — sidestepping the controversy over destroying embryos for research.

Researchers at Wake Forest University and Harvard University reported the stem cells they drew from amniotic fluid donated by pregnant women hold much the same promise as embryonic stem cells. They reported they were able to extract the stem cells without harm to mother or fetus and turn their discovery into several different tissue cell types, including brain, liver and bone.

"Our hope is that these cells will provide a valuable resource for tissue repair and for engineered organs as well," said Dr. Anthony Atala, head of Wake Forest's regenerative medicine institute and senior researcher on the project.

It took Atala's team some seven years of research to determine the cells they found were truly stem cells that "can be used to produce a broad range of cells that may be valuable for therapy."

However, the scientists noted they still don't know exactly how many different cell types can be made from the stem cells found in amniotic fluid. They also said that even preliminary tests in patients are years away.

Still, Atala said the research reported in the scientific journal Nature Biotechnology expands far beyond similar work discussed at a heart research conference in November. There, Swiss researcher Simon Hoerstrup said he managed to turn amniotic fluid stem cells into heart cells that could be grown into replacement valves. Hoerstrup has yet to publish his work in a scientific journal.

Atala said the new research has found even more promising stem cells with the potential to turn into many more medically useful replacement parts.

"We have other cell lines cooking," Atala said.

The hallmark of human embryonic stem cells, which are created in the first days after conception, is the ability to turn into any of the more than 220 cell types that make up the human body. Researchers are hopeful they can train these primordial cells to repair damaged organs in need of healthy cells.

However, many people, including President Bush, oppose the destruction of embryos for any reason. The Bush administration has severely restricted federal funding for the embryo work since 2001, leading many scientists to search for alternative stem cell sources.

Dr. David Prentice, who's against using embryos in stem cell research, told CBS News correspondent Bianca Solorzano that the amniotic stem cell discovery won't ease the tension.

"Unfortunately it may not change the political debate," Prentice said. "The bill that is being proposed in the house is really a triumph of politics over caring for patients."

The cells from amniotic fluid "can clearly generate a broad range of important cell types, but they may not do as many tricks as embryonic stem cells," said Dr. Robert Lanza, chief scientist at the stem cell company Advanced Cell Technology. "Either way, I think this work represents a giant step forward for stem cell research."

It's the latest advance in the so-called regenerative medicine field that has sprung from Atala's lab in Winston-Salem, N.C. In April, Atala and his colleagues rebuilt bladders for seven young patients using live tissue grown in the lab.

In the latest work, Atala's team extracted a small number of stem cells swimming among the many other cell types in the amniotic fluid. One of the more promising aspects of the research is that some of the DNA of the amnio stem cells contained Y chromosomes, which means the cells came from the babies rather than the pregnant moms.

Dr. George Daley, a Harvard University stem cell researcher, said that finding raises the possibility that someday expectant parents can freeze amnio stem cells for future tissue replacement in a sick child without fear of immune rejection.

Nonetheless, Daley said the discovery shouldn't be used as a replacement for human embryonic stem cell research.

"While they are fascinating subjects of study in their own right, they are not a substitute for human embryonic stem cells, which allow scientists to address a host of other interesting questions in early human development," said Daley, who began work last year to clone human embryos to produce stem cells.

[hermit22]

in the old days when they were doing amniotic tests of babies before ultra sound, didn't many of those babies develope hearing loss or deafness?

They should do tests on old scientists and their families, then they have to live with the consequences first hand.

If the scientist doesn't want someone messing with his wife and babies environment, he shouldn't be disrupting someone elses space.

[nothappyatall]

Yeha well, the neocons will still object, they will always FIND something wrong to object about, if they can't obsess over collections of cells in the uterus then their battle cry will be "interfering with nature"

[ajapierce]

My only comment about this stem cell research is that if we cannot find a way to stop the growth of cancer(s). Then, where do the scientists think that letting stem cells, which have the potential to grow into anything and as many cells that is needs, that those wouldn't become a cancer too?

I don't know if you have read up a bit on malignant cancers, but at the core of these aggressive cancer tumors is actually a stem cell.

[bobgee_1999]

Of course it won't end the debate. Atavistic, anti-intellectual Luddite dingbats have never let factual information get in the way of their bigotry before, why would they start now? Progress is scary--ooooooooooooooooooooooooh! But it's nice to see science bending over backward to accomodate these cretins who want to handicap the rest of us with their superstitious nonsense.

[carlosestu]

No laws in the world will be able stop the advance of science. The comunists tried and failed. If it can be done it will be done.

[carlosestu]

Thanks God science and scientists are destroying the barriers created by narrow minded legislators and government officials. All they can accomplish is to slow down its progress to great loss to humanity.

I lost a 15 year old daughter to leukemia three years ago and if stem cell research had been done years earlier, it is quite possible she would be sitting next to me right now. I really hope that they find a cure for all of the kids that have to ask mom and dad if they will live another day. That was one of my daughter questions before she passed away

[emtak1]

Yeay! Thanks God if this is true : )

[linfinster]

I Don't support stem cell research if it destroys embryos. I sure am glad they may have found an alternative.
I question, though, if they know if the grown stem cells can be scaned for future flaw outcomes. If you think about it, there are many reasons people die from flawed genes, how does this play into growing stem cells and implanting them to supposedly "correct" a wacked out system. Maybe that stem cell will be just as wacked out?

[frankly6]

The stem cells that were used were to be thrown away anyway. Opposition to this is largely based on histaria and manipulative lies. I'd rather see them help reduce suffering than thrown in the trash.

[frankly6]

I hope this sends the extremist wackos who were fighting this technology back into the margins where they belong.

[alphaa10-2009]

Some have posted disdain for the concept of ethical values in science, as though the product of "atavistic, Luddite dingbats" or "narrow-minded legislators and government officials".

How interesting these posters should disagree with scientists, themselves, on the essential importance of ethics in science. Clearly, our posters do not grasp science research as a human activity governed by ethics. Yet, the same posters would be the first to champion ethics in medical experimentation, in scrupulous observance of their own moral principles.

And they miss the point about science, itself. A "science" as mere technique is not science, apart from of the context and meaning which makes it truly knowledge. Just as data is not knowledge, so the Latin term "scientia" means more than technique, but knowledge in the fullest context-- even of responsibility.

Oppenheimer and others in the Manhattan Project wrestled with ethical questions the rest of their lives, even as they collectively pushed the button to further victory over Japan. Their non-scientist counterparts, anong them Gen. Leslie Grove, were not burdened with the same doubts. This lack of concern does not impugn the humanity of generals and politicians, perhaps, but it clearly demonstrates ethics is a species of concern of wrenching import to scientists

[wondering_2]

Two good comments ajapiece and Hermit22.
I'm curious as to where they think they are going to get such amounts of amniotic fluids... will it be made mandatory of ALL expectant mothers to donate a certain amount of their amniotic fluid via governmental order signed into law similar to the random trial testing of synthetic (fake) blood product is by paramedics. As I recall during my own pregnancies, when a persons "water breaks" it's gone.. everywhere! lol I can hear it now..."Yes mama, we will supply you with our all new high tech diapers. Please wear them everyday until the amniotic fluids harvesting/donation date arrives. Thank you, and if you have any further question, please feel free to contact us."
fake blood product: http://www.wired.com/news/medtech/0,1286,62955,00.html

[hillaryin08]

The stem cells from abortions were to be thrown away anyway. Opposition to this is largely based on histaria and manipulative lies. I'd rather see them help reduce suffering than thrown in the trash.

Vote for me. I mean Hillary

[hillaryin08]

I hope this sends the Liberal extremist wackos who wanted to use aborted fetus's back into the margins where they belong.


Vote for me. I mean Hillary

[gmcnally2]

"The bill that is being proposed in the house is really a triumph of politics over caring for patients."

That statement is bogus. It is a triumph of ethics over a minority who want to kill other people's children to save themselves. And abortion should not be legal, either. Let's stop making the same mistakes over and over. It is becoming more and more obvious we do not need to kill people for this technology.

[rochest]

the embryonic stem cells that would be used in the House proposal are the ones that President Bush allows to be backdoor aborted by allowing the frozen embryos to be thrown out as medical waste or to die of freezer burn during storage. I considered this hypocrisy of the highest form! since these cells could be used to save the existing lives our grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, and children.

[frosaire]

Two lines for people with life endangering illness form. Line one for those who will benefit from stem cell research. Line two for those who refuse treatment on ethical and moral grounds. You are sick, very sick..which line did you choose? No, really..

[weewilly43]

This of course is a hot topic with many on different sides of the fence. Nothing can be resolved using strictly worldy sense in this issue. If you are worldly you will support this initiative and if you are spiritually orientated you will not agree with the way they propose to do things. We need guidance from both sides and a one sided decision is not in the best interest of mankind. I guess if you think that you will live forever and you are in your sixties when you thing this you can say "so far so good". The inevitable will come no matter what you think will happen.

[reasnmclucus]

It is clear from some of the comments that many are unaware of the success of adult stem cell treatments. In 1994 the Vacanti brothers used stem cell to develop a new chest for a boy born without the cartilage that normally is found in the chest.
http://www.businessweek.com/1998/30/b3588001.htm

Stem cells in the form of bone marrow transplants have been used for years in the treatment of various forms of cancer. Adult stem cells are being used to treat spinal cord injuries
http://www.stemcellresearch.org/testimony/dominguez.htm

The article mentions a supposed need for liver cells, but recipients of partial livers in transplants already use their own stem cells in add to the new liver.

Major cell types including nerve cells and muscle cells can already be produced with adult stem cells as can more minor cells like cornea cells and insulin producing islets.

[hanpasunka]

When I was in research 'several hundred' years ago, we knew that amniotic fluid contained Y chromosomes.. Someone in one of the neighboring labs noticed it. Given the doctrine of 'publish or perish' & that it applies to everything noticed & therefore, noted, I thought this was common knowledge among doctors until I read this article. Hm!
I don't doubt that there will be a land rush of women donating some of their amniotic fluid.. The catch will be to scan it all for genetic diseases before someone jumps the gun & uses some containing some major defect in some way they shouldn't, & causing some other problem while "meaning well". Not every researcher, unfortunately, is as patient as s/he optimally ought to be. The road to hell is, after all, fully paved now & doesn't need any more bricks.
Still - stem cell research is a good thing; the 'discovery' of stem cells & Y chromosomes in amniotic fluid are valuable. And I wish, would put an end to the screaming that attends use of fetal tissue since it should now prove to be a non-issue.

[sarahpfink]

and yea i am a freshman in high school
and this has been a big discussion in our bio class!

[susanhelit]

Just for your bio class then - stem cells don't come from aborted babies - it's far, far, far earlier than that. They're around just after egg and sperm merge, creating a microscopic mass of undifferentiated cells - no skin, no skeleton, no heart, no brain, just a little mass of cells.

They're produced from fertility treatments, most often, which create tons of these stem cell clusters, and throw most of them out.

It's one of those things - look at it without the spin on it, and it's so hard to understand - here's a little cluster of cells, very useful cells, that we are going to toss away. By working with them, there's a ton of potential to save the lives of so many people who will die otherwise. And, our president says no, and a vocal minority says no, so we don't???? Yeesh! Just because someone calls this soon to be discarded bundle of cells a baby doesn't make it one. Calling it an embryo is really reaching, IMHO.

An addendum, if you haven't been following, the researchers who published this story have heard about the fuss, and come out to say that the cells in amniotic fluid in no way at all replace using stem cells from the discarded embryos.