Amniotic Stem Cell Discovery Backed up by New Study

By Hilary White WINSTON-SALEM, January 8, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.Com) – A new study from North Carolina's Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Harvard University shows that stem cells from amniotic fluid could present a new source that does not require the death of an embryonic stage human to obtain. The study reports that amniotic stem cells have many of the properties of both embryo cells and adult stem cells. They can double in number every 36 hours, dividing at least 250 times without mutating, and without forming tumours. They were successfully turned into new bone, heart muscle, blood vessels, fat, nerve and liver tissues in lab mice. "We asked the question: 'Is there a possibility that within this cell population we can capture true stem cells?' The answer is yes," said lead researcher, Dr. Anthony Atala, head of the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Wake Forest University. "It has been known for decades that both the placenta and amniotic fluid contain multiple progenitor cell types from the developing embryo, including fat, bone, and muscle," Dr. Atala said. The research, published online in the journal Nature Biotechnology this weekend, comes at the moment the US government prepares to reconsider its prohibition on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. Though the researchers warn that tests for treatments in human patients are years away, they are hopeful that the cells could be harvested even from healthy children and banked for use in case of injury or illness in later life. The research coincides with similar findings from the University of Pittsburgh in 2005 in which it was discovered that the placenta could be a rich source of embryo-like stem cells. It is in line with the discovery, also in 2005, by Dr. Dario Fauza of Boston's Children's Hospital of possible uses for amniotic fluid stem cells to treat a variety of birth defects. With the condition of firm assurance that these amniotic cells will only be harvested withougt posing any danger to preborn babies immersed in the fluid along with assurance that the collection will be not done as part of "search and destroy" amniocentesis procedures, the method is certain to receive wholehearted support of pro-life citizens and leaders. Read related LifeSiteNews.Com coverage: Placenta Cells Share Characteristics of Embryo Cells Without Tumor Formation http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/aug/05081004.html