Reprogramming Stem Cells — In a review paper published in the July 17, 2014 issue of Nature, Dr. Paul Frenette and colleague Dr. Daniel Lucas discuss recent advances in producing blood stem cells by reprogramming adult cells to develop into induced pluripotent stem cells that would then differentiate into blood stem cells—also known as hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Bone marrow transplants involve harvesting and transplanting HSCs, which can migrate to the bone marrow and produce healthy new blood cells. Because of the shortage of bone marrow donors, researchers are trying to reprogram patients’ own cells into HSCs. One approach is to reprogram adult endothelial cells (which line the inside of blood vessels) into HSCs. The success of this strategy would represent a major advance in treating patients with blood diseases, the authors note. Dr. Frenette is chair and director of the Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research, and professor of medicine and of cell biology. Dr. Lucas is a former postdoctoral fellow of Dr. Frenette and is now on the faculty at University of Michigan Medical School.
Posted on: Wednesday, September 10, 2014