European Financial support helps research on stem cell
EU-funded scientists have discovered that stem cells from one of the main organs of the immune system can be reprogrammed to form hair follicle stem cells, thanks to alter the environment in which the cells are grown. These results demonstrate that it is possible to alter stem cells without genetic manipulation.
The three germ layers that develop as an embryo grows are ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm. Over time, these layers form the basis of skin and nerves (ectoderm) of the gut, liver, pancreas, thymus and other organs (endoderm), and of muscle, bones and blood (mesoderm).
Scientists have always thought that the boundaries that define these layers could not be crossed. Nevertheless, results from a study now demonstrate that the boundaries are much more versatile, and that stem cells that switch layers can produce startling results.
The team from Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland and the University of Edinburgh in the UK has shown that cells originating in one germ layer can be developed into cells associated with one of the other two layers.
The scientists grew stem cells from the thymus - an important organ of the immune system – to determine their findings, using the conditions required for growing hair follicle skin stem cells. They found that the transplanted cells maintained skin and hair for more than 12 months, which was significantly more than hair follicle stem cells produced under natural conditions. Gradually, the cells' genetic markers remarkably began to resemble those of hair follicle stem cells.
This means that a surrounding environment can reprogramme stem cells to generate tissues that, under normal circumstances, would not be possible. The findings suggest that the cross-over could extend to other organs. This would represent a major breakthrough in the field of organ transplantation and regeneration, and could help many people including burn victims.
The research is supported by the EU with its Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) and Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) as part of the work of three projects: EUROSTEMCELL ('European consortium for stem cell research'), which received EUR 11.91 million under FP6's 'Life sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health' Thematic area; EUROSYSTEM ('European consortium for systematic stem cell biology'), which received EUR 12 million under FP7's Health Theme; and OPTISTEM ('Optimization of stem cell therapy for clinical trials of degenerative skin and muscle diseases'), which received EUR 11.99 million also under FP7's Health Theme.