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Controversy Over Embryonic Stem Cells
Scientists get opportunity to investigate disease treatment | |
THE USE OF HUMAN embryonic stem cells in possible treatments and cures for disease is one of the most hotly debated issues in the United States right now. People are grappling with the issue from ethical, legal, moral, political, religious, scientific and social perspectives.
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Embryos must be destroyed to harvest embryonic stem cells, which are young cells that have not yet differentiated to serve various functions, such as tissue production. Typically, these cells are derived from 5- to 7-day-old embryos that are discarded by in vitro fertilization clinics, which create multiple embryos in hopes of helping couples bear children. But there is also discussion about taking fetal stem cells from aborted fetal tissues, and about deriving embryonic stem cells from cloned embryos.
Stem cells can also be derived from adult tissue, but these cells can only serve functions related to the specific tissue from which they were taken. Embryonic stem cells, however, can be engineered to differentiate into many different types of cells related to any type of tissue. It is this ability that makes scientists believe embryonic stem cells may lead to treatments and cures for diseases, such as diabetes, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
The next year or so will reveal much more information about the actual potential of embryonic stem cells, says Steve Stice, a University of Georgia researcher, Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar and collaborator at the Georgia Tech/Emory Center for the Engineering of Living Tissues (GTEC). Because President George Bush recently began allowing limited federal funding for research involving 60 embryonic stem cell lines, research will expand from the private sector into academia. Stem cells can be reproduced in the lab indefinitely to form cell lines.
"This is a great step forward," Stice says. "I think we will find out quickly what the capabilities of embryonic stem cells are.... And we have an advantage in Georgia because we have four embryonic stem cell lines at Bresagen (an Australian-based company with a laboratory in Athens, Ga.) I work with them, and we are interested in bringing these cell lines (derived from U.S. sources) into research at UGA and other institutions in Georgia, including Georgia Tech."
The 60 embryonic stem cells lines may not ultimately be enough to lead to successful treatments and may not be accepted for human trials because many of cell lines have been mixed with mouse cell lines. The mouse cells help support stem cell growth. Many labs are working on more acceptable alternatives. But Stice believes the 60 lines are enough for initial research that will reveal their potential.
"I think it's on the scientists' back now to show there are applications for this technology," Stice adds.
Robert Nerem, director of GTEC, is also hopeful about embryonic stem cell research, particularly for applications in cardiovascular tissue engineering. Stice is working with GTEC to provide non-human primate embryonic stem cells as a source of endothelial cells for primate experiments with bioartificial blood vessels. Endothelial cells line blood vessels and, because of immune responses they provoke, are difficult for patients to accept from donors. In addition to embryonic stem cell sources, GTEC researchers are exploring several approaches to engineering endothelial cells.
"I don't know if stem cells represent the most promise," Nerem says. "I'm not convinced they are the solution. But we have to understand the developmental process from embryonic stem cells up the line. We are not interested in using embryonic stem cells in products, but for development in biological research only."
– Jane M. Sanders
For more information, contact Steve Stice, University of Georgia, Animal Science Complex, Athens, Ga., 30602. (Telephone: 706-583-0071) (E-mail: sstice@arches.uga.edu); or Robert Nerem, Georgia Tech/Emory Center for the Engineering of Living Tissues, 315 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA 30332-0363. (Telephone: 404-894-2768) (E-mail: robert.nerem@ibb.gatech.edu).
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Last updated: Nov. 12, 2001