Archive for the ‘Skin Stem Cells’ Category

Using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), a team led by Mount Sinai researchers has gained new insight into genetic changes that may turn a well known anti-cancer signaling gene into a driver of risk for bone cancers, where the survival rate has not improved in 40 years despite treatment advances.

The study results, published today in the journal Cell, revolve around iPSCs, which since their 2006 discovery have enabled researchers to coax mature (fully differentiated) bodily cells (e.g. skin cells) to become like embryonic stem cells. Such cells are pluripotent, able to become many cell types as they multiply and differentiate to form tissues. The iPSCs can then be converted again as needed into differentiated cells such as heart muscle, nerve cells, bone, etc.

While some seek to use iPSCs as replacements for cells compromised by disease, the new Mount Sinai study sought to determine if they could serve as an accurate model of genetic disease "in a dish." In this context, the dish stands for a self-renewing, unlimited supply of iPSCs or a cell line - which enables in-depth study of disease versions driven by each person's genetic differences. When matched with patient records, iPSCs and iPSC-derived target cells may be able to predict a patient's prognosis and whether or not a given drug will be effective for him or her.

In the current study, skin cells from patient with and without disease were turned into patient-specific iPSC lines, and then differentiated into bone-making cells where both rare and common bone cancers start. This new bone cancer model does a better job than previously used mouse or cellular models of "recapitulating" the features of bone cancer cells driven by key genetic changes.

"Our study is among the first to use induced pluripotent stem cells as the foundation of a model for cancer," said lead author Dung-Fang Lee, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. "This model, when combined with a rare genetic disease, revealed for the first time how a protein known to prevent tumor growth in most cases, p53, may instead drive bone cancer when genetic changes cause too much of it to be made in the wrong place."

Rare Disease Sheds Light on Common Disease

The Mount Sinai disease model research is based on the fact that human genes, the DNA chains that encode instructions for building the body's structures and signals, randomly change all the time. As part of evolution, some code changes, or mutations, make no difference, some confer advantages, and others cause disease. Beyond inherited mutations that contribute to cancer risk, the wrong mix of random, accumulated DNA changes in bodily (somatic) cells as we age also contributes to cancer risk.

The current study focused on the genetic pathways that cause a rare genetic disease called Li-Fraumeni Syndrome or LFS, which comes with high risk for many cancers in affected families. A common LFS cancer type is osteosarcoma (bone cancer), with many diagnosed before the age of 30. Beyond LFS, osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer in all children, and after leukemia, the second leading cause of cancer death for them.

Importantly, about 70 percent of LFS families have a mutation in their version of the gene TP53, which is the blueprint for protein p53, well known by the nickname "the tumor suppressor." Common forms of osteosarcoma, driven by somatic versus inherited mutations, have also been closely linked by past studies to p53 when mutations interfere with its function.

Rare genetic diseases like LFS are good study models because they tend to proceed from a change in a single gene, as opposed to many, overlapping changes seen in more related common diseases, in this case more common, non-inherited bone cancers. The LFS-iPSC based modeling highlights the contribution of p53 alone to osteosarcoma.

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Stem cell disease model clarifies bone cancer trigger

Two experimental therapies might help manage the inflammatory bowel disorder Crohn's disease, if this early research pans out.

In one study, researchers found that a fecal transplant -- stool samples taken from a healthy donor -- seemed to send Crohn's symptoms into remission in seven of nine children treated.

In another, a separate research team showed that stem cells can have lasting benefits for a serious Crohn's complication called fistula.

According to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, up to 700,000 Americans have Crohn's -- a chronic inflammatory disease that causes abdominal cramps, diarrhea, constipation and rectal bleeding. It arises when the immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of the digestive tract.

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A number of drugs are available to treat Crohn's, including drugs called biologics, which block certain immune-system proteins.

But fecal transplants take a different approach, explained Dr. David Suskind, a gastroenterologist at Seattle Children's Hospital who led the new study.

Instead of suppressing the immune system, he said, the transplants alter the environment that the immune system is reacting against: the "microbiome," which refers to the trillions of bacteria that dwell in the gut.

Like the name implies, a fecal transplant involves transferring stool from a donor into a Crohn's patient's digestive tract. The idea is to change the bacterial composition of the gut, and hopefully quiet the inflammation that causes symptoms.

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Fecal transplant, stem cells may help Crohn's disease

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From cleansers and toners to salt scrubs and perfumes there's plenty of beauty treats that have just been released. Mary-ann Astle puts forward some of the best new releases on the beauty market....

NURISS Swiss Apple Stem Cell Rejuvenator Serum

Skincare and wellness brand Nuriss has a new star product in the making. The Swiss Apple Stem Cell Rejuvenator Serum (30ml, 120) uses the longevity found in stem cells of the rare species of Swiss apple (the Uttwiler Sptlauber) to repair and rejuvenate your skin. When applied to the skin it can help with wrinkle reduction and increase collagen production.

Without wanting to blind you with science the serum is created by cultivating the apple's stem cells which are rich in phytonutrients and proteins which are beneficial to human skin. You don't need to use a lot to see the benefits after cleansing and toning, smooth one or two drops over your face and neck. Use morning and night to get the best results.

Click here to go to Nuriss

LouLouBelle Skincare of London

LouLouBelle has a new range of skincare products that will not only pamper you but which also smell absolutely gorgeous.

With tantalising blends like Geranium and Tea Tree, Lavender and Cypress and Palmarosa and Patchouli, LouLouBelle London is a boutique aromatherapy brand that uses natural ingredients to help make your skin feel great and smell delightful. It's also reasonably priced with cleansers (200ml, 19.95), toners (150ml, 17.95) and moisturisers (50ml, 24.95).

Every product is formulated from its own unique recipe that is created by selecting essential oils, plant essences and floral waters to match the specific requirements of a given skin type. The result is a refreshing range of cleansers, toners and moisturisers that are available in a different blend for each of the three main categories of skin dry skin, combination skin and problem/oily skin.

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MaryannAstle published Tried & Tested: Best beauty products new to the market

9 hours ago by Vicky Agnew

Inside the microscopic world of the mouse hair follicle, Yale Cancer Center researchers have discovered big clues about how stem cells regenerate and die. These findings, published April 6 in the journal Nature, could lead to a better understanding of how the stem cell pool is maintained or altered in tissues throughout the body.

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that replenish themselves and, based on their tissue location, can become specialized cells such as blood or skin cells. The hair follicle is an ideal site for exploring stem cell behavior because it has distinct and predictable oscillations in the number and behavior of stem cells, said the study's lead author, Kailin R. Mesa, a third-year doctoral student in the lab of Valentina Greco, associate professor of genetics, cell biology, and dermatology.

Using live microscopic imaging to track stem cell behavior in the skin of living mice, researchers observed that the stem cell niche, or surrounding area, plays a critical role in whether stem cells grow or die.

"Prior to this, it wasn't clear whether stem cell regulation was intrinsic or extrinsic, and now we know it is external in that the niche instructs the stem cells," Mesa said. "In terms of cancer, we can next explore how we might perturb or change the niche in hopes of affecting the growth of cancer stem cells."

Also, researchers were surprised to find that the stem cells within the pool fed on other dying stem cells. This reveals a mechanism for removing dead cells, a process previously observed in mammary glands but never in the skin.

Explore further: Limited self-renewal of stem cells in the brain

More information: Niche-induced cell death and epithelial phagocytosis regulate hair follicle stem cell pool, Nature, DOI: 10.1038/nature14306

Journal reference: Nature

Provided by Yale University

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Tiny hair follicle offers big clues about the life and death of stem cells

Inside the microscopic world of the mouse hair follicle, Yale Cancer Center researchers have discovered big clues about how stem cells regenerate and die. These findings, reported in the journal Nature, could lead to a better understanding of how the stem cell pool is maintained or altered in tissues throughout the body.

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that replenish themselves and based on their tissue location can become specialized cells such as blood or skin cells. The hair follicle is an ideal site for exploring stem cell behavior because it has distinct and predictable oscillations in the number and behavior of stem cells, said the study's lead author Kailin R. Mesa, a third-year doctoral student in the lab of Valentina Greco, associate professor of genetics, cell biology and dermatology.

Using live microscopic imaging to track stem cell behavior in the skin of living mice, researchers observed that the stem cell niche, or surrounding area, played a critical role in whether stem cells grow or die.

"Prior to this, it wasn't clear whether stem cell regulation was intrinsic or extrinsic, and now we know it is external in that the niche instructs the stem cells," Mesa said. "In terms of cancer, we can next explore how we might perturb or change the niche in hopes of affecting the growth of cancer stem cells."

Also, researchers were surprised to find that the stem cells within the pool fed on other dying stem cells. This reveals a mechanism for removing dead cells, a process previously observed in mammary glands but never in the skin.

Story Source:

The above story is based on materials provided by Yale Cancer Center. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

Here is the original post:
Tiny hair follicle holds big clues about the life and death of stem cells

Inside the microscopic world of the mouse hair follicle, Yale Cancer Center researchers have discovered big clues about how stem cells regenerate and die. These findings, published April 6 in the journal Nature, could lead to a better understanding of how the stem cell pool is maintained or altered in tissues throughout the body.

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that replenish themselves and, based on their tissue location, can become specialized cells such as blood or skin cells. The hair follicle is an ideal site for exploring stem cell behavior because it has distinct and predictable oscillations in the number and behavior of stem cells, said the studys lead author, Kailin R. Mesa, a third-year doctoral student in the lab of Valentina Greco, associate professor of genetics, cell biology, and dermatology.

Using live microscopic imaging to track stem cell behavior in the skin of living mice, researchers observed that the stem cell niche, or surrounding area, plays a critical role in whether stem cells grow or die.

Prior to this, it wasnt clear whether stem cell regulation was intrinsic or extrinsic, and now we know it is external in that the niche instructs the stem cells, Mesa said. In terms of cancer, we can next explore how we might perturb or change the niche in hopes of affecting the growth of cancer stem cells.

Also, researchers were surprised to find that the stem cells within the pool fed on other dying stem cells. This reveals a mechanism for removing dead cells, a process previously observed in mammary glands but never in the skin.

This study was supported by the Yale Dermatology Spore, National Institutes of Health, American Cancer Society, and New York Stem Cell Foundation.

Citation: Nature

(Photo via Shutterstock)

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Research in the News: Tiny hair follicle offers big clues about the life and death of stem cells

IMAGE:These are examples of 3-D neural tissue construct designs. 3D tissue and organoid models will provide incredible new tools and insights into neurological injury and disease, as well as great... view more

Credit: Richard McMurtrey / Institute of Neural Regeneration & Tissue Engineering

It is well known that neurological diseases and injuries pose some of the greatest challenges in modern medicine, with few if any options for effectively treating such diagnoses, but recent work suggests a unique approach for reconstructing damaged neural tissue. In an article published in the journal Neural Regeneration Research, several new designs for 3D tissue constructs are described for using stem cells grown on nanofiber scaffolding within a supportive hydrogel.

"The idea that neural structure can be guided in three dimensional hydrogels using nanofiber scaffolding and biochemical cues is quite unique," said Dr. Richard McMurtrey, the author of the work. "Evidence from in vitro work thus far has been fairly surprising, showing that after only a few days neurons can grow long neurite extensions that track along the coated nanofibers."

The tissue constructs have been designed for guidance of neural connections, acting like a road map for the growth of the neurons. "One of the weaknesses with prior studies of stem cell implantation into the nervous system is that no guidance is given for what the cells should do once they are implanted," says McMurtrey. "But if we combine signaling molecules and three-dimensional topographical guidance along with the stem cells, the chances of the cells achieving their intended function is much greater." Dr. McMurtrey likens the transplantation of cells into the harsh environment of the nervous system to dropping people off in the mountains with no resources and hoping that they form a functional civilization. "What we hope to do, however, is build some of the roads, bridges, street signs, and homes that can guide and protect the cells when they are transplanted. In this case, that infrastructure includes nanofibers, biochemical cues, and hydrogel composites."

Tissue at its most basic level is made of two parts: cells and the matrix outside of cells called the extracellular matrix. The approach discussed in the article seeks to provide both of these components for more complete reconstruction of the tissue. "The idea that neurons need scaffolding guidance along with biochemical signals is not entirely foreign," McMurtrey says. "During early development, precursor cells that will become neurons must migrate along a sort of scaffolding of radial glial fibers in the nervous system, and it is during this process that many anatomical pathways and lines of communication between neurons form." The materials used in building these constructs are compatible with implantation into the tissue of the brain and spinal cord and will biodegrade after a few weeks to months. It is hoped that this will give just enough time to help the implanted cells integrate into the nervous system.

Many challenges are expected in the development and implementation of this technology. Nevertheless, there is reason for optimism Dr. McMurtrey says: "Scientists must have a bit of skepticism," he says, "but they also need to have vision to try things that haven't been done before. Prior studies have implanted cells in hydrogels without patterned scaffolding and demonstrated better cell survival than when cells were implanted alone, so the idea of combining patterned and functionalized nanofiber scaffolds within protective hydrogels really makes a lot of sense. We know there will be challenges along the way, but we hope to be able to anticipate and overcome the difficulties that will likely arise. In many ways, this may be like the search for an ideal light bulb--we are looking for the right combinations of nanofiber filaments, hydrogel polymers, and molecular signals that will enable implanted neural cells to connect and communicate across lesions of neural tissue."

Much more study will be needed before a patient's own stem cells can be used clinically for things like spinal cord injury, stroke, or neurodegenerative disease, but the first implantation of a patient's own reprogrammed stem cells has recently been performed for a patient with macular degeneration in Japan in 2014 as a collaboration of researchers at RIKEN, one of the world's leading stem cell research centers. Dr. McMurtrey says that much more research and funding would be necessary to bring guided cell therapies into clinical use for neurological diseases, and even then it would not likely be a perfect cure. "The structure and function of the nervous system is more complex than anything else in the universe," says McMurtrey, "so this is not just something like rewiring a circuit board; rather, what we are doing is laying carefully designed pathways through space that neurons can use to reconnect relay centers, but the patient will still have to learn how to use and adapt to these new connections."

The technology may also have many applications apart from just regenerative medicine. These applications include constructing and studying simple artificial neural networks, testing new drugs, and investigating models of human neurological diseases on tissue-like structures in a dish. The Institute has successfully created 3D neural structures from a patient's skin cells that were reprogrammed into stem cells ("induced pluripotent stem cells") and then transformed into 3D neural tissue analogs, which opens up numerous possibilities for exploring complex neurological processes and diseases in human cells rather than in animal models.

"We hope that this approach will give us new capabilities to guide neural extensions, to study neural functions, and ultimately to achieve functional reconstruction of neural architecture in the brain and spinal cord. Henry David Thoreau wrote that 'We are all sculptors and painters, and our material is our own flesh and blood.' In clinical medicine, the protocols are all spelled out, but there are many diseases and limitations in medicine that move you, that frustrate you, and that inspire you, and I think this is the pice de rsistance, if you will. Just the chance that this work might help alleviate the long-term suffering of so many people with neurological injuries makes it a privilege to be part of such an endeavor despite all the challenges."

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New advancements in 3-D designs for neural tissue engineering

The Ormedic Lift
A blend of Pumpkin, pineapple, papaya, and mango fruit enzymes and peptides in an organic aloe Vera gel base this non-chemical peel re-balances, regenerates and restores skin while comfrey...

By: IMAGE Skincare

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The Ormedic Lift - Video

Lifeline Skin Care is stem cell skin care -- the only skin care products in the world based on non-embryonic Human Stem Cell Extracts. These extracts from highly-potent stem cells -- the same stem cells active early in life -- will stimulate your skins own abilities to repair itself and create smooth, beautiful skin. Non-embryonic stem cells means no embryos are created or destroyed.

Stem Cell Extracts Help New Skin Begin Lifeline stem cell skin care uniquely helps your skin build millions of new, young, healthy skin cells. You restore volume and fullness, you fill in lines around the eyes and mouth, and help reverse the damage caused by the sun's UV rays. It's literally "out with the old skin cells, in with the new, young, healthy skin cells."

What Specific Results Does Lifeline Provide? Stem cells are special cells that go to work whenever your skin needs to repair itself. But they become less potent with age. Lifeline Skin Care has discovered a patented, ethical way to take extracts from non-embryonic human stem cells, which then help create millions of new skin cells that rejuvenate skin. An independent clinical study showed the following results:

improve skin hydration by 93% increase skin elasticity by 73% decrease wrinkles appearance by 67% improved skin tone and brightness by 63%

Profits from Lifeline Skin Care are applied to fund stem cell research for curing degenerative diseases like diabetes and Parkinson's Disease, diseases of the liver, and blinding diseases of the eye.

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Lifeline Stem Cell Skin Care | Lifeline Skin Care Coupon ...

That's the promise of a high-end new facial treatment.

In a tiny room inside an Upper East Side dermatologist's office, I'm attempting to regain my youth. Or, at the very least, look better. I've come to try the HydraFacial, a multistep treatment that promises to erase wrinkles, reverse sun damage, lighten dark spots, and prevent acne. All of these transformations come from one key innovation using stem cells from an infant's foreskin to trick skin into behaving young again.

Why foreskin? Dr. Gail Naughton, a leader in regenerative science she developed technology to growhuman tissues and organs outside the body explains it this way: When we're born, our skin is in its best shape. Our cells naturally secrete proteins known as growth factors "that keep the cells healthy and stimulate them to divide," Naughton says. As we age, our cells divide at a slower rate, which contribute to the telltale signs of aging, like wrinkles and loss of firmness and luminosity. Growth factors captured from the donated foreskin of a baby (just one can generate over a million treatments) are at their peak ability in promoting rapid cell turnover. Applied topically, they spur adult skin cells to regenerate. This is said to have a smoothing effect on the skin.

I'm here to see if the process actually works specifically, on my nasolabial folds, the hereditary creases that stretch from my nose to my mouth. I'm told that three HydraFacial treatments will smooth the creases into near invisibility.

There are five parts to the HydraFacial. My skin is first wiped clean with a cleanser and then treated with a salicylic-and-glycolic-acid peel using a giant machine that looks like a cousin of R2D2. This is the HydraFacial machine, a fully equipped device with tiny suction tubes as arms and bottles of facial-treatment mixtures attached at the belly.

The salicylicand glycolic acids, like micro sandblasters, sweep away dead cells lingering on the surface of skin. The chemicals are a lightweight goop that feels cool on my face. Zahra, my esthetician, keeps asking me if I feel any tingling on my skin. I don't but she tells me that most people feel a slight burning sensation at this point. Must be my thick skin.

Next up is the extraction step. The tube that deposited the peel now works in reverse and becomes a micro vacuum cleaner. Blackheads and flaky skin are swept up in what feel (and looks) like the suction tube from a dentist's chair. It's an odd but not unpleasant feeling. I can actually see tiny deposits of my skin now swirling around in the extraction cup. Gross, but also kind of cool.

After my pores are cleared, a blend of skin-nourishing antioxidants and hydrating hyaluronic acid is smeared over my face. Here's where the foreskin extracts come in they're smeared on, too. The growth factors from the foreskin stem cells don't feel different than any other serum as the esthetician applies them to my face.

The final step of the facial is a quick, light therapy session, where a blue and red LED light targets oily skin, fine lines, and hyperpigmentation. In all, the entire facial lasts 30 minutes and induces not the faintest trace of redness or irritation.

Of course when it comes to facials, the proof is in the mirror. My skin glows in a way that I thought only Jennifer Lopez could glow. Fresh from the facial, I saunter into a photo shoot wearing no makeup because my confidence is at Beyonc levels. My nasolabial folds are still visible, although a bit less pronounced now. (Presumably, two more treatments would help even more.) And a part of me feels like a Disney evil queen, draining youth from a newborn for a few weeks of a restored complexion. Is this the future of facials? And if so, is it wrong that I want more?

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Can Cells From a Babys Foreskin Give You Youthful Skin?

Two approaches to fat grafting -- injection of fat cells versus fat-derived stem cells -- have similar effects in reversing the cellular-level signs of aging skin, reports a study in the April issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

Since the facial rejuvenation results are the same, the simpler approach using fat cells plus the "stromal vascular fraction" has advantages over the more time-consuming stem cell fat technique. Dr. Gino Rigotti of Clinica San Francesco, Verona, Italy, directed a research team consisting of Luiz Charles-de-S and Natale Ferreira Gontijo-de-Amorim from Clinica Performa, Rio de Janeiro; and Andrea Sbarbati, Donatella Benati, and Paolo Bernardi from the Anatomy and Histology Institute, University of Verona.

Fat Grafts vs Stem Cells for Facial Rejuvenation

The experimental study compared the two approaches to fat grafting for regeneration of the facial skin. In these procedures, a small amount of the patient's own fat is obtained by liposuction from another part of the body, such as the abdomen. After processing, the fat is grafted (transplanted) to the treated area, such as the face.

The study included six middle-aged patients who were candidates for facelift surgery. All underwent fat grafting to a small area in front of the ear.

One group of patients received fat-derived stem cells. Isolated and grown from the patients' fat, these specialized cells have the potential to develop into several different types of tissue. The other group underwent injection of fat cells along with the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) -- a rich mix of cell types, including stem cells.

Before and three months after fat grafting, samples of skin from the treated area were obtained for in-depth examination, including electron microscopy for ultrastructural-level detail.

After injection of fat cells plus SVF, the skin samples showed reduced degeneration of the skin's elastic fiber network, or "elastosis" -- a key characteristic of aging skin. These findings were confirmed by ultrastructural examination, which demonstrated the reabsorption of the elastosis and the development of relatively "young" elastic fibers.

In patients undergoing stem cell injection, the skin changes were essentially identical. "This result seems to suggest that the effect of a fat graft is, at least in part, due to its stem cell component," Dr. Rigotti and coauthors write.

The researchers also found "suggestive" evidence that the rejuvenating effects of fat grafting are related to new formation of microscopic blood vessels. Further studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis, however. Dr. Rigotti comments, "In any case, this is the first study presenting clinical evidence showing skin rejuvenation after fat grafting and highlighting the anatomical and structural changes that are the basis of this rejuvenation."

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Two different fat graft techniques have similar effects on facial skin

$1 M gift from Mr. J. Sebastian van Berkom launches translational research into neurological disease

This news release is available in French.

A patient's very own skin cells may hold the key to new treatments and even cures for devastating neurological diseases. A generous $1 million donation from Mr. J. Sebastian van Berkom, and critical partnerships with Brain Canada, Laval University, Marigold Foundation and the FRQS-Rseau Parkinson Quebec are driving an innovative, iPSC (induced pluripotent stem cell) research platform that will transform research into Parkinson's and other neurological diseases.

Millions of Canadians are affected by diseases of the brain such as ALS, Parkinson's and brain tumours, for which there are limited treatments and no cures. By 2020, neurological conditions will become the leading cause of death and disability. "Everyone's lives are touched in some way by neurological disease, says Mr. van Berkom, President of Van Berkom and Associates Inc." In creating The van Berkom Parkinson's Disease Open-Access Fund, I hope to change lives and support new research that will lead to new treatments and one day cures. The iPSC platform is a new paradigm for neuroscience research and as one of the world's great neuroscience centres, The Neuro is the place to drive it forward."

"This is the ultimate bench to bedside paradigm, from patient to the bench, back to the patient," says Dr. Guy Rouleau, Director of The Neuro. "With a unique interface between fundamental and clinical research, The Neuro is uniquely positioned to be a central hub in the iPSC platform. Partnering with Mr. Van Berkom, a generous and visionary philanthropist, propels The Neuro toward the goal of significantly deepening insight into disease mechanisms with unprecedented efficiency."

Patients' skin cells will be reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) at Laval University, under the leadership of Dr Jack Puymirat, and then differentiated at The Neuro into disease relevant cells for research. For example, in the case of Parkinson's this could be dopamine neurons. The cells can also be genome-edited, a state-of-the-art technique that can introduce or correct disease associated mutations - creating the most accurate disease models. These iPSCs will be made widely and openly available to researchers across Quebec for neuroscience research. This open-access approach exponentially increases the likelihood of breakthroughs in neurological disease.

"The unique and exciting aspect of this platform is that we are creating the most specific cells for studying disease using the patient's own tissue, which has distinct advantages over using generic cells or animal models," says Dr. Edward Fon, neurologist and co-Director of the Quebec iPSC platform. "Disease models using human samples are increasingly shown to be far more efficacious in trials, as they much more accurately mimic the disease condition. In the iPSC platform, not only can specific mutations be introduced but, cells are from patients' whose specific clinical history and genetic profile are known, a first step on the road toward neurological personalized medicine. The Neuro has access to a large and well-characterized patient population, who can help create a rich clinically-and genetically-derived registry and biobank. The initial targets in the platform will be ALS and Parkinson's disease (PD), using dopamine neurons for PD and both motor neurons and astrocytes for ALS."

The Quebec iPSC core facility is a provincial core headed by Drs. Fon and Puymirat. Reprogrammed cells at Laval University will be created from different sources such as skin biopsies, blood or urine. The Neuro's component of the platform will consist of two core facilities. The iPSC neuronal differentiation core - which differentiate iPSCs into functional neurons, headed by Dr. Eric Shoubridge, and the iPSC genome-editing core providing unprecedented ability to study the influence of disease mutations, headed by Dr. Peter McPherson.

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The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital

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Using patients' own cells to accelerate research into neurological disease

Durham, NC (PRWEB) March 31, 2015

Stem cells may provide Crohns disease sufferers relief from a common, potentially dangerous side effect fistulas according to the results of a phase 2 clinical trial published in the latest issue of STEM CELLS Translational Medicine (SCTM). After receiving an injection of their own adipose-derived stem cells (ASC), which are collected from fat tissue, the fistulas in 75 percent of the trial participants were completely healed within eight weeks of their last treatment and remained so two years later.

Crohn's disease is a painful, chronic autoimmune disorder in which the body's immune system attacks the gastrointestinal tract. Inflammation in Crohns patients can sometimes extend completely through the intestinal wall and create a fistula an abnormal connection between the intestine and another organ or skin. Left untreated, a fistula might become infected and form an abscess, which in some cases can be life threatening.

Chang Sik Yu, M.D., Ph.D., of Asan Medical Center in Seoul, Korea, a senior author of the SCTM paper, describes the results of a clinical trial conducted in collaboration with four other hospitals in South Korea, stated, Crohns fistula is one of the most distressing diseases as it decreases patients quality of life and frequently recurs. It has been reported to occur in up to 38 percent of Crohns patients and over the course of the disease, 10 to 18 percent of them must undergo a proctectomy, which is a surgical procedure to remove the rectum.

Overall, the treatments currently available for Crohns fistula remain unsatisfactory because they fail to achieve complete closure, lower recurrence and limit adverse effects, Dr. Yu said. Given the challenges and unmet medical needs in Crohns fistula, attention has turned to stem cell therapy as a possible treatment.

Several studies, including those undertaken by Dr. Yus team, suggest that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) do indeed improve Crohns disease and Crohns fistula. Their phase II trial involved 43 patients for a term of one year, over the period from January 2010 to August 2012. The results showed that 82 percent experienced complete closure of fistula eight weeks after the final ASC injection.

It strongly demonstrated MSCs derived from ASCs are a safe and useful therapeutic tool for the treatment of Crohns fistula, Dr. Yu said.

The latest study was intended to evaluate the long-term outcome by following 41 of the original 43 patients for yet another year. Dr. Yu reported, Our long-term follow-up found that one or two doses of autologous ASC therapy achieved complete closure of the fistulas in 75 percent of the patients at 24 months, and sustainable safety and efficacy of initial response in 83 percent. No adverse events related to ASC administration were observed. Furthermore, complete closure after initial treatment was well sustained.

These results strongly suggest that autologous ASCs may be a novel treatment option for Crohns fistulae, he said.

Stem cells derived from fat tissue are known to regulate the immune response, which may explain these successful long-term results treating Crohns fistulae with a high risk of recurrence, said Anthony Atala, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of STEM CELLS Translational Medicine and director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

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Trial Shows Stem Cells Provide Long-Term Relief from Dangerous Crohns Side Effect

Stem cell research has long been seen as a new frontier for disease therapeutics. By coaxing stem cells to form 3D miniature lung structures, University researchers are helping explain why.

In a collaborative study, University researchers devised a system to generate self-organizing human lung organoids, or artificially-grown organisms. These organoids are 3D models that can be used to better understand lung diseases.

Jason Spence, the assistant professor of internal medicine and cell and developmental biology, who was a senior author of the study, said one of the key implications of these lungs is the controlled environment they offer for future research.

These mini lungs will allow us to study diseases in a controlled environment and to develop and test new drugs, he said.

Specifically, Spence said, scientists will be able to take skin samples from patients with a particular form of a lung disease, reprogram the cells into stem cells and then generate lung tissue for further study. He said by analyzing the disease in a controlled environment, researchers can gain insight into the progression of various diseases and then tailor drugs for treatment.

Rackham student Briana Dye was also a lead author of the study. She said the team manipulated numerous signaling pathways involved with cell growth and organ formation to make the miniature lungs.

First, Dye said the scientists used proteins called growth factors to differentiate embryonic stem cells into endoderm, the germ layer that gives rise to the lungs. Different growth factors were then used to cause the endoderm to become lung tissue.

We add specific growth factors, proteins that turn on pathways in the cells, that will then cause them to lift off the monolayer so that we have this 3D spherical tissue, she said.

Previous research has used stem cells in a similar manner to generate brain, intestine, stomach and liver tissue. Dye said one of the advantages of stem cell research is its direct path to studying human tissue.

We have worked with many animal models in the past, Dye said. Animal models present obstacles because they dont exactly behave the way human tissue and cells do. This is why stem cells are so promising.

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Research develops mini-lung structures

Aminah Sagoe

Aminah Sagoe recently developed a skincare range called Emmaus. She opens up on why she set up the brand

Q: How did you delve into skincare treatment?

A: The inspiration came about while I was trying to treat my skin condition called keratosis pilaris, aka chicken skin. It is a common skin condition that causes rough patches and small, acne-like bumps, usually on the arms, thighs, cheeks and buttocks. The bumps are usually white, sometimes red, and generally do not hurt or itch. The condition can be frustrating because it is difficult to treat. In my quest to find a cure, I developed a skin care range to treat the condition. I have always been a product junkie.

Q: How long did this take?

A: It took 22 months of research to come up with these products. It has been very hectic but we kept going with the flow. It can be used by both sexes and it is the first natural skincare line in this part of the world to mix plant stem cells with natural ingredients. It can be used by people with eczema, psoriasis, scaly skin and uneven skin tone but it doesnt bleach. The ingredients are extremely healthy and safe for the skin. The three step range consists of the pampering smiling beads body wash, touch of love mini towels and a soothing softness bliss body lotion that nourishes and protects the skin

Q: What does Emmaus mean?

A: It is a biblical word and signifies a rebirth or a new beginning. I am a convert; I was born a Muslim but I am now a Christian. I got converted after I got married to my husband who is a Christian. I was in my late 20s when I picked up the Bible, read it and believed. Believing in Christ has brought me so much joy, peace and clarity.

Q: What are some of the challenges you faced while developing the products?

A: The formulation took so long to be formulated because it is made up of natural products and preservatives. At some point, we had issues where one product will interact with another and that took a lot of time to fix. The products do not bleach or alter your skin colour. The process took 15 months to complete.

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I dont have time for glamour Aminah Sagoe

Delray Beach, FL (PRWEB) March 27, 2015

Inspired by the latest advances in skin aging, BABORs Research and Innovation Center has developed a groundbreaking new skincare innovation: the anti-aging collection ReVersive, with the ultra-effective RE-YOUTH COMPLEX.

ReVersive is unique, as it contains a high-performance formula with four active ingredients that interact in perfect synergy. Designed as a complete anti-aging system, ReVersive restores youthful radiance and luminosity, leaving the complexion looking firmer and smoother with a beautifully even appearance.

VISIBLE EFFECTS FOR TIMELESSLY BEAUTIFUL SKIN

In a recent study conducted by the independent research organization, Derma Consult, the ReVersive collection showed impressive results. Testing was conducted on 100 women, aged 35 to 67, and in just 4 weeks time users reported the following exciting results:

99% MORE YOUTHFUL APPEARANCE 87% ENHANCED RADIANCE 90% FIRMER SKIN

THE RE-YOUTH COMPLEX

Telovitin: Keeps cells younger for longer Telovitin, an active ingredient based on Nobel Prize-winning research, combats skin aging at its source: cell activity. It protects the telomeres (the ends of the chromosomes) and thus extends the life cycle of the skin cells.

Agicyl: Activates defenses against skin aging This multifunctional active ingredient, which is extracted from the stem cells of the Alpine plant Globularia cordifolia, prevents the break down of the collagen fibers so that the skin retains its elasticity. It also neutralizes free radicals and environmental aggressors.

Lumicol: Creates luminosity and radiance The active radiance-boosting ingredient Lumicol, which is extracted from microalgae, can activate a protein that destroys these dark pigmentation and age spots to ensure an even-looking complexion and restore radiance.

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BABOR Launches Innovative Anti-Aging Collection ReVersive

Pause Hydra Creme -Menopause Skin care
Menopause Skin Care By http://www.phytomone.com/menopause-skin-care/ Benefits of Pause Hydra Crme *Specifically designed for menopausal skin *Uses rich source of plant hormones to correct...

By: Phytomone Ltd

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Pause Hydra Creme -Menopause Skin care - Video

Stemologica Review - Reduce Wrinkles Appearance Using Stemologica
Click the link below to get a risk free trial; http://skincarebeautyshop.com/go/have-your-stemologica-free-trial/ Read the Terms and Condition before you order. Click the link below to read...

By: Mher Barbs

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Stemologica Review - Reduce Wrinkles Appearance Using Stemologica - Video

Julie Gramyk 3 21 2015 Youtube
Julie Gramyk, Medical Esthetic, explains how Momentis #39; new skincare system is the first in the world to penetrate beyond the skin #39;s barrier and target the skin #39;s stem cells resulting in rebuilding...

By: judyrstak

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Julie Gramyk 3 21 2015 Youtube - Video

Mar 25, 2015

Scientists at the University of Copenhagen have captured thousands of progenitor cells of the pancreas on video as they made decisions to divide and expand the organ or to specialize into the endocrine cells that regulate our blood sugar levels.

The study reveals that stem cells behave as people in a society, making individual choices but with enough interactions to bring them to their end-goal. The results could eventually lead to a better control over the production of insulin-producing endocrine cells for diabetes therapy.

The research is published in the scientific journal PLOS Biology.

Why one cell matters

In a joint collaboration between the University of Copenhagen and University of Cambridge, Professor Anne Grapin- Botton and a team of researchers including Assistant Professor Yung Hae Kim from DanStem Center focused on marking the progenitor cells of the embryonic pancreas, commonly referred to as 'mothers', and their 'daughters' in different fluorescent colours and then captured them on video to analyse how they make decisions.

Prior to this work, there were methods to predict how specific types of pancreas cells would evolve as the embryo develops. However, by looking at individual cells, the scientists found that even within one group of cells presumed to be of the same type, some will divide many times to make the organ bigger while others will become specialized and will stop dividing.

The scientists witnessed interesting occurrences where the 'mother' of two 'daughters' made a decision and passed it on to the two 'daughters' who then acquired their specialization in synchrony. By observing enough cells, they were able to extract logic rules of decision-making, and with the help of Pau Ru, a mathematician from the University of Cambridge, they developed a mathematical model to make long-term predictions over multiple generations of cells.

Stem cell movies

'It is the first time we have made movies of a quality that is high enough to follow thousands of individual cells in this organ, for periods of time that are long enough for us to follow the slow decision process. The task seemed daunting and technically challenging, but fascinating", says Professor Grapin-Botton.

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Stem cells make similar decisions to humans

Celprogen Released Stem Cell Active Ingredients for the Cosmetic Industry Tested and Validated in Cosmetic Products for a Decade

The present invention relates to culturing stem cells in animal free conditions has been developed and optimized by Celprogen utilizing single use bioreactor technology. The cosmetic industry has benefited from this technology for their regenerative skin care product lines. The topical application of these skin care products utilizing Celprogens Stem Cell Derived Conditioned Media have been in the market for 10 plus years.

About Celprogen Inc. Celprogen Inc. is a global Stem Cell Research & Therapeutics company which is developing a proprietary portfolio of unique therapeutics products and life science research tools that includes genetic engineering technologies, stem cell technologies for regenerative medicine, as well as bio-engineering products for tissue & organ transplants. Headquartered in Torrance, California, Celprogen is committed to the research, development, and manufacture of quality Stem Cell, Cancer Stem Cell and Primary Cell Culture products to serve our global community. Additional information about Celprogen is available at http://www.celprogen.com.

For additional information on the product line contact: Jay Sharma Phone: 310 542 8822 info@celprogen.com http://www.celprogen.com

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Celprogen Released Stem Cell Active Ingredients for the Cosmetic Industry Tested and Validated in Cosmetic Products ...

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have grown functional "mini-lungs" using stems cells derived from the skin cells of patients with a debilitating lung disease. Not only can the development help them in coming up with effective treatments for specific lung diseases like cystic fibrosis, but the process has the potential to be scaled up to screen thousands of new compounds to identify potential new drugs.

Creating miniature organoids has been the focus of many a research group, as it allows scientists to better understand the processes that take place inside an organ, figure out how specific diseases occur and develop or even work towards creating bioengineered lungs.

The research team from the Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute studied a lung disease called cystic fibrosis, which is caused by genetic mutation and shortens a patient's average lifespan. Patients have great difficulty breathing as the lungs are overwhelmed by thickened mucus.

To create working mini-lungs, the researchers took skin cells from patients with the most common form of cystic fibrosis and reprogrammed them to an induced pluripotent state (iPS), which allows the cells to grow into a different type of cell inside the body.

They then activated a process called gastrulation which pushes the cells to form distinct layers such as the endoderm and foregut. The cells were then pushed further to form distal airway tissue, the part of the lung that deals with exchange of gases.

In a sense, what weve created are mini-lungs," says Dr Nick Hannan, the lead researcher. While they only represent the distal part of lung tissue, they are grown from human cells and so can be more reliable than using traditional animal models, such as mice."

To find out whether the mini lungs could actually be used to screen drugs, the team tested them out with the aid of chloride-sensitive fluorescent dye. Cells from cystic fibrosis patients typically malfunction and don't allow the chloride to pass through, so there's no change in fluorescence levels.

The team added a molecule that's currently undergoing clinical trials and noted a change in fluorescence, signaling that it was effective in getting the diseased lung cells to function properly and that the mini lungs could, in principle, be used to test potential new drugs.

"Were confident this process could be scaled up to enable us to screen tens of thousands of compounds and develop mini-lungs with other diseases such as lung cancer and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis," says Dr Hannan. "This is far more practical, should provide more reliable data and is also more ethical than using large numbers of mice for such research."

The research was published in the journal Stem Cells and Development.

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Scientists create functioning "mini-lungs" to study cystic fibrosis

Immune system response isn't as crucial as activity of the infected cells themselves

DURHAM, N.C. -- For people infected with the human papilloma virus (HPV), the likelihood of clearing the infection and avoiding HPV-related cancer may depend less on the body's disease-fighting arsenal than has been generally assumed.

A new study finds that the body's ability to defeat the virus may be largely due to unpredictable division patterns in HPV-infected stem cells, rather than the strength of the person's immune response.

If the mathematical model behind the findings holds up, it could point to ways of tweaking the way infected cells divide in order to make HPV infections go away faster and hence lower the risk of developing cancer, said co-author Marc Ryser of Duke University.

The results appear online in the journal PLOS Computational Biology.

More than six million people in the U.S. become infected with HPV every year. Most people clear the virus on their own in one to two years with little or no symptoms. But in some people the infection persists. The longer HPV persists the more likely it is to lead to cancer, including cancers of the cervix, penis, anus, mouth and throat.

To better understand why some HPV infections go away and others progress, Duke mathematicians Marc Ryser and Rick Durrett developed a model of HPV infection at the level of the infected tissue.

HPV spreads through intimate skin-to-skin contact during sex with an infected person, and takes advantage of the tissue's natural internal repair system to reproduce and spread.

The invading virus breaks through the layers of cells that line the cervix and other tissues and infects the stem cells in the innermost layer, called the basal layer.

Usually, when an infected stem cell divides into two, one of the new cells stays in the basal layer and the other cell is pushed outward into the upper layers where it dies and is sloughed off, releasing virus particles that can then infect another person.

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Why some HPV infections go away and others become cancer

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Cambridge stem cell scientists searching for new cystic fibrosis treatments have grown "mini-lungs" in a laboratory.

The millimetre-wide cell clusters were created using stem cells derived from the skin of patients with the devastating lung disease.

They are the latest in a line of 3D "organoids" produced to mimic the behaviour of specific body tissues, following "mini-brains" for studying Alzheimer's disease and "mini-livers" to model diseases of the liver.

Dr Nick Hannan, led the team from Cambridge University.

He said: "In a sense, what we've created are 'mini-lungs'.

"While they only represent the distal (outer) part of lung tissue, they are grown from human cells and so can be more reliable than using traditional animal models, such as mice.

"We can use them to learn more about key aspects of serious diseases - in our case, cystic fibrosis."

Cystic fibrosis occurs when the movement of water to the inside of the lungs is reduced, causing a build up of thick mucus that leads to a high risk of infection.

The scientists reprogrammed ordinary skin cells to create stem cells that could be transformed into lung tissue.

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Stem cell "mini-lungs" created in Cambridge University lab

New York, March 20 (IANS): High stress levels can have a critical impact not only on the surface, making our skin age, but also on a molecular level, when stressed cells cannot cope with the pressure and perish much faster than the ones which can.

In a new research report released on Thursday, scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, analysed blood stem cells and found that the cell's ability to repair damage in the mitochondria, their power source, was critical to their survival.

Researchers tried to "relax" these stressed-out cells by slowing down the activity of their mitochondria.

"We found that by slowing down the activity of mitochondria in the blood stem cells of mice, we were able to enhance their capacity to handle stress and rejuvenate old blood. This confirms the significance of this pathway in the aging process," Xinhua news agency quoted Danica Chen, an assistant professor with the Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology.

This pathway lies mainly in the multitude of proteins that need to be folded properly for the mitochondria to function correctly. When the folding goes awry, the mitochondrial unfolded-protein response, or UPRmt, kicks in to boost the production of specific proteins to fix or remove the misfolded protein.

Researchers found that certain proteins known as SIRT7 help cells cope with the stress of unfolding the proteins in the mitochondria, helping those with higher levels of SIRT7 survive longer by making them "unwind". But the levels of SIRT7 decrease as people age.

"The protein level decreases as years go by," Chen said. "But if we increase this protein in blood stem cells, we can make them live longer. Cells in general don't just die suddenly; they are submitted to high stress levels and lose their functions with age."

Chen does not want to encourage the thought that she and other researchers have found the "fountain of youth", but more of a new path for study.

"We still don't know if this would work on other kinds of stem cells, such as pancreatic stem cells or heart cells, and we don't have any expertise with those tissues, so we would be very happy to collaborate with other laboratories to tackle the matter," she said.

The study, published on Thursday in the Science journal, is expected to help researchers gain more insight into the aging process, and even slow it down.

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Fountain of youth might hide in 'relaxed' stem cells: Study