http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/10/23/national/science-health/japanese-researchers-create-cardiac-tissue-sheet-vascular-cells-ips/#.VEl_xovF_Fo
According to an article from the Japan Times, a team of Japanese researches have successfully created a sheet of cardiac tissue from human stem cells. This discovery greatly affects individuals who suffer from poor cardiac conditions and various heart diseases. Researches have acquired evidence that when this cardiac tissue was used on mice with failing hearts, the cardiac conditions of the mice improved drastically. The team was able to generate the tissue by using a protein called VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor), a signal protein produced by cells that is part of the system that delivers oxygen supplies to tissues when blood circulation in inadequate, as well as human stem cells (more specifically iPS cells, cells that can grow or develop into a variety of body tissues). This led to iPS cells becoming different cardiac muscle cells, vascular mural cells, and endothelial cells (cells that are found on the interior of blood vessels). Cardiac disorders have plagued and continue to affect both animals and humans. At one point in time, scientists thought it was impossible to cure such disorders, however, with new research and modern technology, this team of Japanese scientists have begun to develop solutions and cures to this ever pressing problem.
As we are learning about cells and their specific functions, this article addresses the importance of iPS cells and their ability to grow into a variety of body tissues. Also, the article mentions proteins and how VEGF was used to generate the cardiac tissue. This relates to what we covered in class regarding the functions of proteins and how they build bodily tissues and organs. Without VEGF protein or iPS cells, this scientific breakthrough would have been unfeasible. This article offers a perspective on both cell functions and the importance of proteins in the human body, both of which were topics covered in class (Proteins- previous unit and Cells- current unit).
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ReplyDeleteIs there a special property of iPS cells that enables them to form many different types of tissues?
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question, iPS cells are unspecialized cells. This means that these cells can become specialized cells, serving various purposes (in this case becoming cardiac tissue). In order to become specialized, iPS cells undergo a process called differentiation. This is the process in which a less specialized cell becomes a more specialized one. Because iPS cells are not specialized, they are able to serve the purpose of growing into bodily tissues which has enabled scientists and researchers to use them on people with medical issues.
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