Hair Today, Stem Cells Tomorrow

[rpm]

Full Story

Long read, but very interesting.

MONDAY, March 28 (HealthDayNews) -- In the future, stem cell therapy could be just a pluck away, new research suggests.

Stem cells found in mouse hair follicles can develop into brain cells and other cell types, researchers report. The finding suggests human hair follicles may be an effective, accessible locale in which to harvest these regenerative cells.

"We had previously found that the stem cells that make the hair follicles have similar features to stem cells that make the brain," said lead researcher Robert M. Hoffman, who is also chairman of the board of the San Diego-based research company AntiCancer, Inc.

In experiments with mice, the researchers isolated and cultured whisker stem cells from what's known as the "bulge area" of the whisker follicle. After one week, the cells became neurons and other neural cells. After several more weeks and months, the stem cells differentiated into skin cells, smooth muscle cells, and skin-color-producing cells, the researchers said.

In addition, when the stem cells were transplanted under the skin of mice, they matured into neurons, according to the report, published in the March 28 early edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"Hair follicle stem cells might be sufficiently plastic that they can make other cells under human direction, and be used for therapeutic purposes," Hoffman speculated.

[Gunslinger]

Naw,

These wont work.  The only ones that truely get the job done are unborn baby fetuses.  But, all of those are tainted so we need to kill more babys for research.  


Man I'm being a smart alec tonite.  

[Russian]

It’s a progress from past research. Unless I’m mistaken this is first time they grew “skin cells, smooth muscle cells, and skin-color-producing cells” in the lab. In other words soon we can grow organs and tissues for ourselves that will not be rejected by our own immune system. Now next step is to brake trough constant G-0 in brain cells, and we will be set.

[Vulcan]

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Stem cell transplant recipient keen to return to NZ
29 March 2005  

Rotorua's Willie Terpstra is on the mend and keen to return home after a stem cell transplant.


The 64-year-old, who suffers from motor neurone disease had her operation in Beijing a little over a week ago.

She has written on her website about the emotional strain she is feeling. Her stitches came out yesterday and now it's one step at a time, she said.

"Yesterday was an emotional day. I am a bit homesick."

Last night, she watched a Belgian man walk for the first time after having his operation on Wednesday.

He hadn't walked for almost two years and Mrs Terpstra said it was an emotional time for both her and the man's wife.

"His wife was holding his hands and Rein (Mrs Terpstra's husband) was walking behind him with the wheelchair. He walked a long way two doors down from his room and when he sat down everybody started clapping. It made me cry," she said.

AdvertisementAdvertisementThe man gave some advice about drinking out of a straw.

"He said it was better for me to drink with a straw because that is what he had to do and it is good practice for your lips. So a straw it was, but it was so hard I couldn't do it.

"I felt like a baby I couldn't even blow in it I was not expecting that it was going to be so hard to learn to speak and one word at the time. I used to be a motormouth I think. It is hard for me to slow down," she said.
 

[Russian]

Vulcan,

Do you have link to that, or more info?

[Sixpence]

Look, can we create more hair follicles? Let's not lose sight of our priorities here, i'm getting thin on the top

[Vulcan]

Originally posted by Russian
Vulcan,

Do you have link to that, or more info?

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3230949a11,00.html

Been big news over here.

[Russian]

Originally posted by Vulcan
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3230949a11,00.html

Been big news over here.

That’s weak. Not enough info about disease or use of stem cells.

[Silat]

Originally posted by Gunslinger
Naw,

These wont work.  The only ones that truely get the job done are unborn baby fetuses.  But, all of those are tainted so we need to kill more babys for research.  


Man I'm being a smart alec tonite.  

Who kills babies for research?? Links please..

I hope I didnt miss your sarcasm:)

[Gunslinger]

Originally posted by Silat
Who kills babies for research?? Links please..

I hope I didnt miss your sarcasm:)

It was sarcasm based on all the complaining about not being able to use fertilized cells to harvest stem cells and do research on.  Me personally I think it sounds immoral to creat life to destroy it no matter how many lives it saves.

This is good news though.  I had an interesting discussion once with a guy I used to work with in Dallas.  He told me that alot of the more religious people are against this because it represents the modern day tower of babylon or the search for eternal life through other means.  I'm not sure I agree with that but I KNOW if my son or daughter needed a kidney and they could grow one in a jar from cells from their hair I'd do anything possible to get it done.