A new type of stem cells is revolutionizing the concept of regenerative medicine, writes The Daily Mail. The restoration of organs and tissues will resemble the process of growing limbs in a salamander, which is able to regenerate bones and soft tissues.
Soon people will be able to appreciate all the advantages of this mechanism, scientists from the University of New South Wales (Australia) are sure.
Induced multipotent stem cells (iMS) -based therapies could be tested in humans next year. iMS cells were obtained by reprogramming bone and adipose tissue cells. In theory, iMS is capable of repairing bones, cartilage and muscles.
Unlike other stem cells that turn into cells of different tissues, iMS does not carry the risk of developing cancer, although they do have some functional limitations. These cells are derived from the influence of a compound tentatively called AZA and a growth factor derived from platelets.
AZA deprives the cell of clear determinism (that is, its predetermination in terms of which cell to become), and the growth factor enhances the effect. This is how iMS cells are obtained from the cells of adipose and bone tissues. This is an absolutely safe process, scientists say.
