A group of researchers have created a new technique for stem cell generation that could help to treat Epidermolysis Bullosa. Epidermolysis Bullosa is a group of genetic conditions that cause the skin to become very fragile.
Scientists have already created methods for creating stem cells from adult stem cells. These techniques can create induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from a person’s skin cells or other mature cells.
iPSCs can then be prompted to change into virtually any other type of cell including lung cells, muscle cells, nerve cells, and skin cells. The power of iPSCs is the basis of many new stem cell treatments that are currently being developed.
Changing mature cells into iPSCs requires the use of transcription factors — proteins that control the transcription rates of genetic information. They are called Yamanaka factors, named after the person who created the process, Dr. Shinya Yamanaka. Unfortunately, stem cell generation can be slow, which has prompted researchers to look for new techniques.
Researchers from the University of Colorado recently published a paper in the journal Nature Communications, which describes their new process for stem cell generation. They harnessed a variety of factors including RNA molecules and microRNA molecules to improve the efficiency of iPSC generation from skin cells. The research team also improved how the factors could be delivered to cells, improving the rate of conversion even more.
As one of the paper’s senior authors, Dr. Ganna Bilousova, explains “Many groups had previously attempted to improve reprogramming efficiency by identifying novel modulators of the process. Instead of looking for new reprogramming enhancers, we took advantage of the versatility of RNA molecules to control the precise levels of reprogramming factors and microRNAs in cells during their conversion into iPSCs. We were surprised at how simple manipulations of the timing and dosing of the RNA molecules could affect the efficiency of reprogramming.”
This new technique could greatly improve the efficiency of iPSC production, speeding up stem cell research and improving the availability of stem cell treatments.
Source: Better Method of Stem Cell Generation Shows Potential for Treating Epidermolysis Bullosa
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