Human stem cells from fat tissue fuse with rat heart cells and beat

At the molecular pathology department at the University of Texas in Houston, scientists were able to use stem cells from fat tissue of humans on heart muscle cells in rats. When the fat stem cells were fused they were able to regenerate into heart tissue and actually beat with the rest of the rat heart. The adipose tissue was able able to form into muscle cells. These cells were able to replace heart cells that were lost in myocardial infarction. The adipose cells did not have to be genetically modified in order to complete the procedure.

This is interesting because the scientists were able to use human stem cells to regenerate other cells. Not only did they do that, but then they were able to use the human stem cells on a rat. The adipose stem cells from humans may have the potential to regenerate human heart muscle cells and other diseased cells in the body. This could be a major break through in stem cell technology. This also might be a better choice than embrionic stem cells because these stem cells can be taken from adult human adipose cells and fused with other cells in the body.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-02/foas-hsc02281.php