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Embryonic Stem Cells Create Healthy Muscle in Mice
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Page: << Prev | 1 | 2 "At the present time, no one has yet demonstrated that genetic manipulation of human embryonic stem cells can be used to derive functional skeletal muscle progenitors from these cells, so it's far too early to tell whether this technique could lead to any potential clinical application," said Perlingeiro. "The main hurdle is to make sure we can indeed combine successfully these two approaches, and test these cells exhaustively in mouse models before we think about clinical trials."
Muhlrad also cautioned that this research is a long way from human use.
"While mice provide an excellent model system, experiments that work in mice don't always readily transfer to humans. Scientists would probably want to replicate the experiments in dog models of muscular dystrophy before moving on to human studies," Muhlrad said. Additionally, the mice had to take immunosuppressants to prevent their bodies from rejecting cells from another mouse. The ideal approach would be to use a body's own stem cells to avoid the issue of rejection.
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To learn more about the different types of muscular dystrophy, visit the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
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Copyright © 2008 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.
Last updated 1/20/2008
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SOURCES: Paul Muhlrad, Ph.D., research program coordinator, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Tucson, Ariz.; Rita Perlingeiro, Ph.D., assistant professor, developmental biology and molecular biology, Department of Developmental Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas; Jan. 20, 2008, Nature Medicine online
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