英国一家公司正计划进行一项新技术的临床试验,公司称这一技术能将白细胞转化为可用于治疗白血病和多种其它疾病的干细胞。
设在伦敦的TriStem 公司称他们发明的这个方法将消除从胚胎和胎儿获得干细胞的需要。早期胚胎的应用所涉及的伦理问题一直是阻碍干细胞应用的一个主要障碍。
TriStem几年前就声称他们能抽取任何人的半升血液,从中提取出白细胞,诱导它们回退到干细胞的状态。现在这家公司最终提供的证据至少可以证明他们早先声明中的一部分是真实的。
TriStem用这一技术将白细胞转化为存在于骨髓中的干细胞,然后导入到小鼠体内,结果细胞分化为不同类型的血液细胞。但一些著名的干细胞研究专家对公司的报道表示怀疑,他们表示还需要看到更多的证据才能确信这一技术的有效性。
TriStem已被批准用这个技术治疗来自一个不知名国家的12名再生障碍性贫血(Aplastic Anemia)病人。
“合作进行此次临床试验的当地政府部门要求公司就病人的国籍和身份保密。”公司补充说。
TriStem的科学家计划用衍生自组织匹配供体的干细胞进行这次临床试验。预计明年3月会产生结果。“一周内,我们应该就能发现细胞是否转化为干细胞。”公司的合伙人Ilham Saleh Abuljadayel说。
原文:
British firm plans human stem cell trial: report
A British company is planning human trials of a new technique which it says can transform white blood cells into stem cells that can be used to treat leukaemia and a range of other diseases.
London-based TriStem says the method it has developed eliminates the need for embryos and foetuses, rich sources of the stem cells that can develop into any cell type.
The use of early embryos has been a major stumbling block in the use of stem cells.
"TriStem has been claiming for years that it can take a half litre of anyone's blood, extract the white blood cells and make them revert to a stem cell-like state," New Scientist magazine reported.
"The company has now finally provided proof that at least some of its claims might be true."
The company used the technique to turn white blood cells into stem cells found in bone marrow, and injected them into mice to produce different types of blood cells.
It is due to report its findings in a peer-review journal in March.
But some leading stem-cell researchers are sceptical about the company's claims and say more proof is needed.
TriStem has been granted permission to use the technology to treat a dozen patients with a bone marrow disorder called aplastic anaemia in an unnamed country, according to the magazine.
"Senior government research collaborators in the country hosting the trial have asked for the location to be kept secret for now," it said.
Scientists at TriStem plan to use stem cells derived from tissue-matched donors for the trial. The results are due by March.
"Within a week, we should find if the cells have taken," said Dr Ilham Saleh Abuljadayel, a co-founder of the company.