Stem cells to repair damaged tissue

Researchers have developed a method to grow stem cells that can repair damaged connective tissue.

Scientists at the University of Manchester used rats with joint defects and grew embryonic stem cells into their cartilages to treat the damaged tissues.

Professor Sue Kimber of the Life Sciences Faculty at The University of Manchester, said: “This work represents an important step forward in treating cartilage damage by using embryonic stem cells to form new tissue, although it’s still in its early experimental stages”.

In the study, published in Stem Cells Translational Medicine, the scientists analysed the ability of embryonic stems cells to grow into precursor cartilage cells known as chondrocytes. The chondrocytes were implanted into cartilage defects in the knee joints of rats, and after four weeks the tissue was partially repaired. After eight weeks, the cartilage began to show signs of a smooth surface, similar to that of normal cartilage.

The team say the results are promising results with no rats showing any side-effects, such as abnormal or disorganised growth, and tumours. Cartilage produced in this way may be a safe effective treatment for people with joint damage such as osteoarthritis.

Director of Research at Arthritis Research UK, Dr Stephen Simpson who funded the research said: “Current treatments of osteoarthritis are restricted to relieving painful symptoms, with no effective therapies to delay or reverse cartilage degeneration. Joint replacements are successful in older patients but not young people, or athletes who’ve suffered a sports injury”.

Next, the scientists will collect more data and check if this method is has any toxic side-effects before tested onto people.

Paper: http://www.stemcellsportal.com/

Author: Craig Blanchard