Monday, October 31, 2011

Transforming Cells


A team of researchers led by the joint efforts of Sanger Institute and the University of Cambridge was able to use stem cells derived from skin cells of patients known as induced pluripotent stem cells or iPS cells for short than change it into a fully functional liver cell. Though iPS cells aren't as capable or as easily grown as the controversial embryonic stem cells, it still serves as a good platform for cell manipulation. The team was able to alter the mutated gene alpha1-antitrypsin in the skin cells prior to converting them to liver cells via the molecular scissor technique known as zinc finger nuclease to cut off the mutated portions and insert the correct genes using a DNA transporter named piggyBac so that proteins can be released properly from the liver. Patients with the mutated genes are not able to release proteins properly from their liver, with time that leades to liver cirrhosis and/or lung emphysema. This advance in gene therapy is still in the beginning stage, researchers said that it could be a full five to ten years before it is ready for human trial of this technique. If this treatment works, that could be the end of liver transplants as we know it.

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