At last, some good news is out for the scientists and doctors engaged in the study of induced pluripotent stem cells. Stem cell news that has been published online in National Academy of Sciences Proceedings says that Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (IPS) that have gone through gene correction do not possess high mutation in cancer causing genes. The team that was involved in this study said that the gene therapy performed with the genetically mutated cells of the patients itself shows positive results.
Induced pluripotent cells are pluripotent cells that are derived from the adult cells artificially. It includes addition of chemicals, proteins or some genes which reprogram them to resemble embryonic cells. IPS cells are fully capable to become like any cell type in the body of human being. As these cells are derived from the body of the patients, hence these cells will provide some advantages over the embryonic stem cells of human body. It is like lesser rate of rejection by the patient’s body and thus avoiding many problems. Secondly, it will also remove the present debate over the use of embryonic stem cells.
The research done by the scientists proves that these induced pluripotent stem cells carry large amount of mutations with anonymous significance. The scientists are thus emphasizing upon studying the risk held by mutations before they are declared safe to test upon human beings. Thus the stem cells therapy proves to be much significant. The induced pluripotent cells are derived from the patient having a genetic defect. So, these cells will automatically be defected. On the other hand if they are grown with the copy of gene that is working, then there is a great possibility that such cells would grow into some healthy tissue. The tissue is then safe for a transplant in the patient.
The scientists of Salk institute Dr. Inder Verma and Dr. Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte – both of them are busy on the approaches of gene therapy to use IPS cells. A study was performed on the induced pluripotent cells extracted from the body of patient suffering from gyrate atrophy of retina and choroid. It is a disease which leads to sight loss gradually and finally causes blindness. The target Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells of retina have been generated from induced pluripotent stem cells in advance. Through various research studies carried out on animals previously have shown that such cells are very safe to use and act as a shield.
The researchers did detailed study before and after the research to find out whether they produce extra mutations or variations in the cells. The research proved that the induced pluripotent stem cells which have been used earlier carry a significant load of mutation. After analyzing these results it is recommended that collection of mutation might not reduce the clinical usage of the gene target approaches. Although, the wide characterization or study of the genes of earlier IPS cells clones would be vital. Many experts have this opinion that there is great need of development in such studies and stem cell treatments much before they continue to be used for trial in medical field.
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