Liposuction fat ‘liquid gold of stem cells’
08 September 2009
Human fat removed during liposuction is “liquid gold” which can be easily converted to stem cells, researchers have said.
Some of the cells included in the fat can begin the process of reprogramming to stem cells immediately, without the need to grow them in a laboratory for weeks, according to researchers at Stanford University.
Skin cells, one of the most commonly used to make stem cells, have to be grown for between three or four weeks before the process can begin, they warn.
Scientists have developed techniques to turn different types of cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS), which can then be turned into other tissue cells.
The scientists believe that the cells, called adipose cells, are more “primed” for change than other cells.
The findings were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Dr Joseph Wu, who led the study, said: “Not only can we start with a lot of cells, we can reprogram them much more efficiently. Fibroblasts, or skin cells, must be grown in the lab for three weeks or more before they can be reprogrammed.
“But these stem cells from fat are ready to go right away.”
Scientists have previously used adipose cells to reverse the symptoms of multiple sclerosis in a small group of patients.
Author: Daily Telegraph
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