Method found to grow unlimited stem cells

In what's described as a leap toward making stem cell therapy widely available, researchers at the Ansary Stem Cell Institute at Weill Cornell Medical College say they've discovered endothelial cells that line various body cavities produce growth factors that can grow copious amounts of adult stem cells within just a few weeks.

The researchers said until now, adult stem cell cultures would die within four or five days despite any efforts to grow them.

"This is groundbreaking research with potential application for regeneration of organs and inhibition of cancer cell growth," said Dr. Antonio Gotto Jr., dean of the Weill Cornell Medical College.

Professor Shahin Rafii, co-director of the stem cell institute, said the study will have a major impact on the treatment of any blood-related disorder that requires a stem cell transplant.

"We are the first group to demonstrate that endothelial cells elaborate a repertoire of stem-cell-active growth factors that not only stimulate stem cell expansion, but also orchestrate differentiation of these stem cells into their mature progeny," added Dr. Jason Butler, a senior investigator at Weill Cornell Medical College and first author of the study.

The research appears in the January issue of the journal Nature Reviews Cancer and in the Jan. 17 issue of Nature Biotechnology.

Copyright 2010 United Press International.