Scientists at the University of California in Los Angeles have
identified a protein that regulates the ability of stem cells to renew
themselves. The results
may lead to better methods to grow stem cells, such as those derived
from cord blood, and increase both the number and potential of stem
cells in life-saving cell therapy treatments.
Unlike most other cells in the body, stem cells have the exceptional ability to renew and grow into more stem cells,
and change into the mature functional cells of the body such as blood,
muscle, and nerve cells. An ongoing challenge of cell therapy is the
development of methods to grow valuable stem cells once they are removed
from the body so that more cells are available for use, resulting in
improved transplantation outcomes. A further challenge is the growth of
stem cells after they have been transplanted into a recipient.
The current study shows that a newly identified protein, known as
protein tyrosine phosphatase sigma (PTPσ), regulates the ability of stem
cells to proliferate upon transplantation. Researchers Dr. John Chute
and colleagues showed that stem cells from PTPσ-deficient mice had an
improved transplantation outcome compared to normal stem cells. The
scientists then selected human umbilical cord stem cells that express
low levels of PTPσ, and discovered that these cells also had a better
regeneration potential following transplantation. Future therapies may
make use of this discovery to target the PTPσ protein in order to
increase the therapeutic potential of cord blood stem cells.
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