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Menstrual blood tapped as source of stem cells

Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 3:39 pm
by CureOrBust
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21996417/
While the excitement continues to swirl around the recent breakthrough of converting skin cells to stem cells, other researchers are quietly pursuing a new type of stem cell discovered in menstrual blood.
The technique for converting the skin cells involves using viruses to insert several genes, one of which is known to cause cancer.
Meng and Ichim's team had a hunch that stem cells may aid in the rapid expansion of the uterus lining during a woman's monthly period.
Experiments in lab dishes showed that under the right conditions, the menstrual stem cells could turn into more different tissue types — including bone, blood vessel, fat, brain, lung, liver, pancreas and heart — than other adult stem cells.
The lack of immune rejection could extend beyond women from whom the cells were initially derived. Ichim says the menstrual stem cells seem to have an immune system-suppressing effect that could enable them to be transplanted into other people without rejection.
another link ==>Adult stem cells found in menstrual blood
Cryo-Cell has now patented a collection and storage technique called "C'Elle", enabling women to preserve their own menstrual stem cells in case they could be used to treat heart disease, diabetes, and spinal cord injury in the future.

Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 7:33 pm
by ewizabeth
Wow, this sounds promising! What will they come up with next? Thanks for posting this Cure!

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 3:51 pm
by CureOrBust
Cryo-Cell has now patented a collection and storage technique called "C'Elle
and here is their shop front for the service. http://www.celle.com/ Now if only they were this quick to find a use for them, instead of just collecting money.
Its a concern, but no real supprise, that one of the links on their web site leads to a list of conditions where stem cells have been "successfully" used as a treatment. Including MS.
One thing that did come out of looking through their web site is that these stem cells may not be as transferable to other people as the original article implied. The web site only talks of their possible use in genetic relatives.

Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 1:25 am
by Chell
Hummm.. i would of never thought to thing of that...ok. i'll go with it..