Stem cells and tissue-specific cells can be grown in abundance from mature mammalian cells simply by blocking a certain membrane protein, according to scientists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Their experiments also show that the process doesn’t require other kinds of cells or agents to artificially support cell growth and doesn’t activate cancer genes.
“Stem cells prepared by this new procedure should be much safer to use in patients,” senior author David D. Roberts, Ph.D noted. “Also, the technique opens up opportunities to treat various illnesses by injecting a drug that stimulates patients to make more of their own stem cells.”