Have you ever seen a gecko regrow its tail?
The regeneration of limbs by salamanders and geckos was the inspiration
for research done at UNSW Australia. The
research team identified stem cell therapies capable of regenerating any
human tissue damaged by injury, disease or aging.
The research, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science journal, describes a
process in which bone and fat cells are reprogramed to induced multipoint stem
cells (iMS).
The ground-breaking technique switches off the memory of fat
and bone cells and converts them into stem cells so they can repair different
cell types once they are put back in the body. This is done by mixing the cells
in a bath of 5-Azacytidine (AZA) and a platelet-derived growth factor. AZA is
known to induce cell plasticity and helps "relax" the hard-wiring of the cell.
The growth factor expands the cell transforming it into iMS cells. When the
stem cells are inserted into the damaged tissues site, they multiply, promoting
growth and healing.
Salamander limb regeneration also depends on the plasticity
of differentiated cells. Image Credit
The technique has been successfully demonstrated in mice and
human trials are expected to start in late 2017. Dr Ralph Mobbs, Neurosurgeon
and Conjoint Lecturer with UNSW's Prince of Wales Clinical School, will lead
the trials.
"The therapy has enormous potential for treating back
and neck pain, spinal disc injury, joint and muscle degeneration and could also
speed up recovery following complex surgeries where bones and joints need to
integrate with the body," Dr Mobbs said.
| 
Re: Revolutionary Regeneration
