- MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australian
scientists say they have found a way to make blood cells in volume out
of human master cells, which could eventually lead to production of safe
blood cells for transfusions and organ transplants.
-
- Synthetically produced red blood cells would, in theory,
overcome the concerns about dangerous infections that can be transmitted
from blood donors to patients worldwide.
-
- But researchers said it would probably take years for
scientists to get to the stage where blood cells could be made in large
enough quantities for transfusions.
-
- "What would be nice is if it opens the possibility
for the future of making large quantities of blood cells in a controlled
environment which could be used to treat patients," said Andrew Elefanty,
who led the research at Monash University in Melbourne.
-
- Writing in the U.S. journal Blood, the researchers said
they were able to turn human embryonic stem cells into red and white blood
cells using a system that makes more blood cells more rapidly and more
safely, with fewer animal ingredients, than others have done.
-
- "The other thing we think is important is that the
way we've made the cells develop into blood is something which could be
applied to other types of cells as well," Elefanty told Reuters.
-
- The team's system was able to stimulate the stem cells
specifically into becoming red or white cells.
-
- Elefanty said the research showed that the path that
human embryonic stem cells take in becoming blood cells was similar to
experiments done in other animals, like mice.
-
- While other researchers have used serum from cows as
the medium for growing cells, the Monash team used a cocktail of salt and
electrolyte solutions with amino acids and fats.
-
- The system was not completely free of animal proteins,
as the albumin was purified from cows. The team plans to use synthetic
albumin eventually when it becomes available.
|