MHH-scientists are able to derive almost infinitely duplicable stem cells from umbilical cord blood

Scientists of Hanover Medical School (MHH) managed to derive so called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) from human umbilical cord blood. These are able to develop to every human cell, just like natural pluripotent stem cells can. Thus, they carry the hopes to treat numerous illnesses. The team of Professor Dr. Ulrich Martin, representative coordinator of REBIRTH, published their results in the renowned magazine Cell Stem Cell. First author is the biologist Alexandra Haase (photo). It is the first publication on human induced pluripotent stem cells from Germany.

Already in 2007, japanese scientists managed to derive iPS cells from human cells of adults. These cells are comparable with embryonic stem cells, but they are ethically inoffensive. Plus, the patient’s body won’t repel the cells as long as they are derived from his own cells.

IPS cells which are derived from adults probably a risk, though: In the course of a life, defective genes accumulate due to e.g. environmental influences. These mutations can generate tumours. Therefore, the MHH-scientists used a very young source to generate iPS cells: umbilical cord blood which can be drawn right after the cord clamping.

“So far, it is not very likely to use one’s own umbilical cord blood for benefit. Up until now, it was used especially to treat leukaemia,” Professor Martin explains. He hopes that in ten or 15 years this will be different. He even hopes to treat patients with stem cells of other people.

“We assume that iPS cells will be used to treat cardiovascular diseases, especially the heart attack, and to produce compensatory histoid,” REBIRTH spokesman Professor Dr. Axel Haverich says.

The derivation and usage of iPS cells is already an important topic in REBIRTH. The scientists managed to raised funds of more than 2,6 million Euro so far.