Summary:
Stem cells found in amniotic fluid can be transformed into a more versatile state like embryonic stem cells, according to a new study. Scientists have succeeded in reprogramming amniotic fluid cells without having to introduce extra genes. The findings raise the possibility that stem cells derived from donated amniotic fluid could be stored in banks and used for therapies and in research, providing a viable alternative to the limited embryonic stem cells currently available.
Stem cells found in amniotic fluid could be transformed into a more versatile state like embryonic stem cells, according to a study published July 3 in the journal Molecular therapy. Scientists from Imperial College London and UCL institute of Child Health succeeded in reprogramming amniotic fluid cells without having to introduce extra genes. These findings raise the possibility that stem cells derived from donated amniotic fluid could be stored in banks and used for therapies and in research, providing a viable alternative to the limited embryonic stem cells currently available.
Amniotic fluid:
This fluid surrounds and nourishes the fetus in the womb. It can be extracted through the mother’s abdomen using a needle – a process known as aminocentesis. This process is also used for screening for genetic diseases. The fluid contains stem cells that come from the fetus. These cells have more limited capacity to develop and differentiate into other stem cell types in the embryo.
Culturing the cell:
Researchers used stem cells from amniotic fluid donated by mothers undergoing amniocentesis for other purposes during the 1st trimester of pregnancy. They were grown on a gelatinous protein mixture in the lab and reprogrammed into a more primitive state by adding Valproic acid to the culture medium. An extensive set of tests revealed that these reprogrammed cells have characteristics very similar to embryonic stem cells, that can develop into any cell type in the body- a property known as pluripotency.
After growing in culture for some time, the reprogrammed cells were able to develop into functioning cells of many different types, including liver, bone and neurons. They also maintained pluripotency even after being frozen and rethawed.
Results suggest that stem cells derived from amniotic fluid could be used in treatment of wide range of diseases. Donated cells could be stored in banks and used in treatments as well as in disease research and drug screening. A study estimated that cells from 150 donors would provide a match for 38% of the population.
Alternatives to embryonic stem cells are keenly sought because of ethical concerns and limited availability of donor embryos. Researchers showed that it is possible to make adult cells become pluripotent by introducing extra genes into the cells, often using viruses. However, the efficiency of reprogramming is very low and there is a risk of tumour occurrence. The new study is the first to induce pluripotency in human cells without using foreign genetic material.
The process of aminocentesis is associated with a small risk of causing a miscarriage, estimated to be about one in 100.
These amniotic stem cells have a wide range of potential applications in treatments and in research. Researchers are particularly interested in exploring their use in genetic diseases diagnosed early in life or other diseases such as cerebral palsy.
At GOSH researchers are focused on building organs and tissues for the repair of congenital malformations, which are usually diagnosed during pregnancy. Exploring the way generating pluripotent cells from the fluid that surround the fetus in the womb move us one step further in this direction.
The study was funded by the Genesis Research Trust, the Henry Smith Charity and Action Medical Research.