Recent Advances in Adult Stem Cell Research and Other Alternatives to Embryonic Stem Cell Research

June 2006 – February 2007

OVERALL SUCCESS

• “Adult cells are behind much of stem cell success so far,” Milwakee Journal Sentinel, September 2, 2006, www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=489953&format=print
• “Review: Ex Vivo Engineering of Living Tissues with Adult Stem Cells,” Tissue Engineering, October, 2006, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=17064229

ADULT STEM CELL VERSATILITY

• “Adult stem cells are touchy-feely, need environmental clues,” EurekAlert, August 24, 2006 www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-08/uop-uop082306.php
• “Induction of Pluripotent Stem Cells from Mouse Embryonic and Adult Fibroblast Cultures by Defined Factors,” Cell, August 25, 2006 www.cell.com/content/article/abstract?uid=PIIS0092867406009767&highlight=Yamanaka
• “Adult Stem Cells Can Become Muscle,” The Daily Californian, November 1, 2006 dailycal.org/printable.php?id=22084
• “U of MN adult stem cell research shows promise for transplant therapies,” EurekAlert, January 15, 2007, www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-01/uom-uom011207.php

STEM CELL SOURCES

• “Clonogenic multipotent stem cells in human adipose tissue differentiate into functional smooth muscle cells,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, June 12, 2006 www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.0604850103
• “Fat Stem Cells Being Studied As Option For Breast Reconstruction,” Medical News Today, October 30, 2006, www.medicalnewstoday.com/printerfriendlynews.php?newsid=55275
• “Penn Prof. Makes ‘Hair’-Raising Stem Cell Discovery,” The Evening Bulletin (Philadelphia), November 17, 2006 www.zwire.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=17480108&BRD=2737&PAG=461&dept_id=576361&rfi=8
• “Isolation of a Novel Population of Multipotent Adult Stem Cells from Human Hair Follicles,” The American Journal of Pathology, December 2006 ajp.amjpathol.org/cgi/content/abstract/168/6/1879?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&author1=Yu&titleabstract=Isolation+of+a+novel+population+of+multipotent+adult+stem+cells+from+human+hair+&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&resourcetype=HWCIT
• “Stem cells found in adult hair follicles may provide alternative to embryonic stem cells,” EurekAlert, December 11, 2006 www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-12/mcow-scf121106.php
• “Don’t Surrender Any More Teeth to the Tooth Fairy,” Scientific American, December 26, 2006 www.sciam.com/print_version.cfm?articleID=C0956FBC-E7F2-99DF-3DF2604378A72C61
• “Isolation of amniotic stem cell lines with potential for therapy,” Nature Biotechnology, January 7, 2007 www.nature.com/nbt/journal/v25/n1/abs/nbt1274.html
• “Bioengineer Advances Survival, Promise of Adult Stem Cells,” Science Daily, February 28, 2007 www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/02/070227121355.htm

CORD BLOOD

• “States seek to save umbilical cord blood,” Stateline.org (Pew Research Center), August 2, 2006 www.stateline.org/live/printable/story?contentId=131281
• “State expands storage for stem-cell-rich blood,” North Jersey Media Group, Inc., October 18, 2006 www.northjersey.com/print.php?qstr=ZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTcwMDY3ODkmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk1
• “Stem cell transplant: a ray of hope for thalassemic children,” The Hindu, October 26, 2006 www.thehindu.com/2006/10/26/stories/2006102614470200.htm
• “Cytotherapy Report Confirms BioE Stem Cell First Human Cord Blood Stem Cell to Differentiate into Lung Cell,” BioE News Release (St. Paul, MN), November 1, 2006 www.bioe.com/stream_document.aspx?itemID=973&parentID=971
• “New use of cord blood to treat childhood leukemia: study,” Yahoo! News (Canada), January 5, 2007 ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/070105/health/us_health_cancer_2&printer=1
• “First Israeli saved from acute leukemia by umbilical cord blood from two separate births,” Jerusalem Post, February 12, 2007 www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1170359842760&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FPrinter

BONE/CARTILAGE

• “Gene Silencing Directs Muscle-derived Stem Cells to Become Bone-forming Cells,” Medical News Today, June 1, 2006 www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=44400
• “One-Off Treatment to Stop Back Pain – Using Patients’ Own Stem Cells,” The University of Manchester Web site, December 4, 2006 www.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/news/display/index.htm?id=86105
• “Aussie stem cell trial wins US approval,” The Age (Australia), December 20, 2006 www.theage.com.au/news/National/Aussie-stem-cell-trial-wins-USapproval/2006/12/20/1166290605626.html
• “Stem cells revolutionize spinal surgery,” Victoria Advocate (Texas), February 3, 2007 www.thevictoriaadvocate.com/328/story/23340.html
• “Case Study Reports That Orthopedic Trauma Surgeon Injects Adult Stem Cells Derived From the Patient’s Own Marrow Into Her Broken Legs, Which Had Not Healed by Seven Months Post-Injury –
  Instead of Open Surgery,” Yahoo Finance, February 8, 2007 biz.yahoo.com/iw/070208/0213099.html?printer=1

BRAIN DAMAGE

• “Transplanted adult neural progenitor cells survive, differentiate and reduce motor function impairment in a rodent model of Huntington’s disease,” Experimental Neurology, June 2006 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16626705&query_hl=3&itool=pubmed_DocSum
• “Researchers Find Healing Potential in Everyday Human Brain Cells,” Newswise, August 16, 2006 www.newswise.com/p/articles/view/522823/
• “Scientists spur growth of adult brain stem cells,” MSNBC (Reuters), November 14, 2006 www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15720021/print/1/displaymode/1098/
• “An appointment with chance,” The Economist, November 30, 2006 www.economist.com/science/PrinterFriendly.cfm?story_id=8348729
• “Cells’ Capability in Mouse Brain Tissue Repair Revealed By UCSF Stem Cell Study,” Medical News Today, December 21, 2006 www.medicalnewstoday.com/printerfriendlynews.php?newsid=59133
• “Scientists produce neurons from human skin,” EurekAlert, February 22, 2007 www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-02/ul-spn022207.php

CANCER

• “Catholic Priest’s Adult Stem Cell Donation Saves Kentucky Woman’s Life,” LifeNews.com (Kansas City, MO), June 29, 2006, 66.195.16.55/bio1580.html
• “Cancer-Killing Invention Also HarvestsStem Cells,” Medical News Today, January 8, 2007 www.medicalnewstoday.com/printerfriendlynews.php?newsid=60251
• “Researchers first to map gene that regulates adult stem cell growth,” EurekAlert, January 14, 2007 www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-01/uok-rft011207.php
• “A new hope for cancer treatment: ‘U’ researchers find stem cells that cause tumors,” Michigan Daily, February 2, 2007 www.michigandaily.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticlePrinterFriendly&uStory_id=c5489b59-d0ef-43f2-8597-66a769ac3a1e

DIABETES

• “Stem cells may help Bergen boy fight diabetes,” NorthJersey.com (North Jersey Media Group Inc.), August 18, 2006 www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkzJmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2OTc3MTcx
• “International Trial of the Edmonton Protocol for Islet Transplantation,” New England Journal of Medicine, September 28, 2006 content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/355/13/1318?firstpage=1318&volume=355&sendit=GO&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&volume=355&firstpage=1318&resourcetype=HWCIT
• “Insulin Stem Cells Hold Hope for Diabetes Treatment,” Forbes, November 7, 2006 www.forbes.com/forbeslife/health/feeds/hscout/2006/11/07/hscout535944.html
• “Multipotent stromal cells from human marrow home to and promote repair of pancreatic islets and renal glomeruli in diabetic NOD scid mice,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), November 14, 2006 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=17088535
• “AmCyte Presents Promising Adult Stem Cell Data at 7th Annual Rachmiel Levine Diabetes and Obesity Symposium,” Genetic Engineering News, November 9, 2006 www.genengnews.com/news/bnitem.aspx?name=8531775&child=4&taxid=39
• “Researchers Make Stem Cell Breakthrough,” The Korea Times, January 23, 2007 times.hankooki.com/lpage/tech/200701/kt2007012317475111810.htm
• “Diabetes repair ‘occurs in womb’,” BBC News, January 23, 2007 newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6286997.stm

EYE

• “Bone Marrow May Restore Cells Lost in Vision Diseases,” Science Daily (University of Florida), June 8, 2006 www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/06/060608225650.htm
• “Eye experts showcase new treatments for glaucoma,” ABC Sydney, November 7, 2006 www.abc.net.au/news/items/200611/1783265.htm?sydney
• “Retinal repair by transplantation of photoreceptor precursors,” Nature, November 9, 2006 www.nature.com/nature/journal/v444/n7116/abs/nature05161.html

HEART

• “Researchers grow human heart tissue from stem cells,” ABC Online, June 7, 2006 www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2006/s1657710.htm
• “Stem Cell Trials Show Sustained Heart Function Improvement,” Medical News Today, September 21, 2006 www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=52366
• “Cultured autologous stem cell trials show sustained heart function improvement,” Managed Care Business Week, October 17, 2006 www.newsrx.com/article.php?articleID=365417
• “Injecting Patient’s Own Stem Cells Treats Severe Coronary Artery Disease,” Medical News Today, October 24, 2006 www.medicalnewstoday.com/printerfriendlynews.php?newsid=54836
• “Using the Body’s Own Stem Cells to Grow New Arteries,” KGO-TV (ABC-7) San Francisco, November 12, 2006 abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=edell&id=4754901&ft=print
• “Adult Pig Stem Cells Show Promise in Repairing Animals’ Heart Attack Damage,” Johns Hopkins University Web site, November 13, 2006 www.hopkinsmedicine.org/Press_releases/2006/11_13_06.html
• “Amniotic Stem Cells Offer Hope Against Congenital Heart Defects,” Washington Post, November 14, 2006 www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/14/AR2006111400889_pf.html
• “Potential Source of Stem Cells for Heart Repair, Other Uses Found in Fat of Elderly, Chronically Diseased Patients: Presented at AHA,” Doctor’s Guide, November 17, 2006  www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/NewsPrint/852571020057CCF685257229005A86CB
• “Adult Heart Cells Learn to Heal,” Medical News Today, November 20, 2006 www.medicalnewstoday.com/printerfriendlynews.php?newsid=57088
• “U of M Finds Cell in Adult Heart with Embryonic Stem Cell Capability,” Academic Health Center at the University of Minnesota, January 18, 2007
  www.ahc.umn.edu/print/news/releases/heartcell011807/home.html
• “Desperation leads to one last gamble in overcoming heart failure,” Orlando Sentinel, January 28, 2007 http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/custom/science/orlstemcell2807jan28,0,1745635.story?coll=orl
• “Stem cells from fat transplanted into heart,” MSNBC (Reuters), February 6, 2007 www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17007196/print/1/displaymode/1098/
• “Heart patients head to Bangkok for life-saving stem cell treatment,” Yahoo News (United Kingdom), February 13, 2007 uk.news.yahoo.com/13022007/323/heart-patients-head-bangkok-life-saving-stem-celltreatment.html
  “M.D. Anderson moves forward in heart repair research,” Houston Business Journal, February 15, 2007 masshightech.bizjournals.com/masshightech/othercities/houston/stories/2007/02/12/daily66.html?t=printable

IMMUNE SYSTEM (Multiple sclerosis, lupus, etc.)

• “Stem Cell Treatment Eliminates Lupus,” ABC7/KGO-TV/DT (San Francisco), June 5, 2006 abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=edell&id=4238935&ft=print
• “Adult stem cells in the treatment of autoimmune diseases,” Rheumatology, October, 2006 rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/45/10/1187
• “Stem cell treatment helps former police officer,” The Intelligencer (Philadelphia), October 24, 2006 www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/113-10242006-731427.html

KIDNEY/LIVER

• “Isolation and Characterization of Multipotent Progenitor Cells from the Bowman’s Capsule of Adult Human Kidneys,” Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, August 2, 2006 jasn.asnjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/17/9/2443?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&author1=Sagrinati%2C+C&fulltext=kidneys&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&volume=17&firstpage=2443&resourcetype=HWCIT
• “British scientists grow human liver in a laboratory,” Daily Mail (United Kingdom), October 30,
  

MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY

• “Mesoangioblast stem cells ameliorate muscle function in dystrophic dogs,” Nature, November 15, 2006 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&list_uids=17108972&cmd=Retrieve&indexed=google
• “Human adult stem cells regenerate muscle,” United Press International, February 15, 2007 www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Science/20070215-024231-4646r/

PARKINSON’S DISEASE

• “Stem Cell Treatment Proven to Reduce Parkinson’s Symptoms,” Medical News Today, October 25, 2006, www.medicalnewstoday.com/printerfriendlynews.php?newsid=54956

SPINAL CORD

• “Olfactory Mucosa Autografts in Human Spinal Cord Injury: A Pilot Clinical Study,” Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2006, www.apssci.org/pdf/olfactory.pdf
• “Bone marrow stromal cells can achieve cure of chronic paraplegic rats: Functional and morphological outcome one year after transplantation,” Science Direct, July 10, 2006 www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T0G-4K0FJWC-
  2&_user=10&_coverDate=07%2F10%2F2006&_alid=469379479&_rdoc=1&_fmt=summary&_orig=search&_cdi=4862&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=203dead71214575a7c9c0ff0390ae8c9
• “Pioneering steps for spine treatment,” Atlanta Business Chronicle, October 23, 2006 atlanta.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2006/10/23/story6.html
• “The use of hemopoietic stem cells derived from human umbilical cord blood to promote restoration of spinal cord tissue and recovery of hindlimb function in adult rats,” Journal of Neurosurgery, Spine (JNAS), November 2006 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?tmpl=NoSidebarfile&db=PubMed&cmd=Retrieve&list_uids=17120892&dopt=Abstract
• “Man walks, courtesy stem cell therapy,” The Tribune (India), February 25, 2007 www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070226/main7.htm

WOUNDS/BURNS

• “Adult Stem Cells Can Reduce the Side Effects of Radiation Therapy,” FreeRepublic.com (Fresno, CA), October 9, 2006 www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1716594/posts
• “IU doctors treating PAD with stem cells,” South Bend Tribune (Indiana), December 13, 2006 www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061213/Lives08/612130449/-1/LIVES05/CAT=Lives08
• “Aldagen Announces Texas Heart Institute as First Site in its Stem Cell Clinical Trial to Treat Critical Limb Ischemia,” Medical News Today, December 16, 2006 www.medicalnewstoday.com/printerfriendlynews.php?newsid=59182

We advise you to look up these articles and, if you want to print hard copies, do so immediately, as some may be available online for a short time only. If the link is no longer working, do an Internet search for the article, as it may be posted elsewhere.

Articles compiled by
Richard M. Doerflinger
Deputy Director of Pro-Life Activities