Mice With Parkinson's Cured Using Cloned Stem Cells in Study

[ruggerson]

Source: Bloomberg

March 23 (Bloomberg) -- Researchers cured mice with a version of Parkinson's disease by treating them with brain cells made from clones of their own skin cells.

The researchers employed nuclear transfer, which involves swapping genetic material from one individual into an egg cell belonging to another. The same procedure was used to create Dolly the sheep, one of the first animals produced by cloning.

The findings, published today in the journal Nature Medicine, offer a glimpse into how the cloning technique might one day be used to develop therapies, as opposed to making copies of an individual. There are still hurdles to clear before the technique could be used in people with Parkinson's, said Mark Tomashima, a stem cell researcher at Sloan-Kettering Institute in New York.

``This is the first proof of principle for therapeutic cloning,'' said Tomashima. ``This is the first study where we've made individual nuclear transfer lines and used them to treat mice with disease.''



Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601124&sid=aNrZqpZyqV8w&refer=home

[gateley]

1. KIND of OT, but

I heard a medical reporter talking about a surgeon (in Peru, maybe?) who was getting extremely impressive results using the patient's OWN stem cells. There was a young woman on the show who had been paralyzed in a car accident who underwent surgery -- he injected her own stem cells into her and a year later, with physical therapy, she's able to stand and walk by herself.

I don't recall precisely what exactly the injury was, nor where he injected her cells specifically, but I DO remember that the doctors at the time said she would never be able to walk again.

This surgeon actually performs the surgeries free of charge for those who can't afford it, but the patient has to GET there on his/her own.

What could be more perfect -- using our own stem cells to help heal our own bodies!

EDIT to add they were looking into other areas where this could be beneficial, and Parkinson's was on the list (near and dear to me because that's what my dad died from).

[ruggerson]

2. That's interesting

I've heard something about that as well.

The cloning thing caught my eye because this is a huge breakthrough - the first time they have proved the concept actually works.

And secondly, it will be a very big political firestorm. The Catholic church is dead set against cloning for any purpose and will fight this tooth and nail.

My thought is if they can use this to cure people of degenerative diseases, the real sin is using religious dogma to try and stop or delay it.

[gateley]

3. The Catholic Church can be mighty stubborn

(says gateley who spent 12 years in Catholic schools).

If they are able to develop and bring this treatment to the world (utilizing one's own stem cells), even the Church couldn't find fault with that.

[crim son]

4. Let us hope the Catholic Church does not have the power

to decide, one way or the other.

This is great news, really great news.

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. How incredibly wonderful.

[marshall]

6. Paging Michael J. Fox and Janet Reno

Hopefully their suffering will soon be over.

[Greyskye]

7. kick for hope

:kick: & R

[northernsoul]

8. Heartily seconded

:kick:

[lunatica]

9. kick

[Javaman]

10. Fantastic! does this mean that they remembered where the cheese is located?

[wildbilln864]

11. kick for later! nt