Opposites Attract: How Genetics Influences Humans To Choose Their Mates

The MHC(major histocompatibility complexes) is a large genetic region situated on chromosome 6, and found in most vertebrates. It plays an important role in the immune system and also in reproductive success.

Females' preference for MHC dissimilar mates has been shown in many vertebrate species, including humans, and it is also known that MHC influences mating selection by preferences for particular body odours. The Brazilian team has been working in this field since 1998, and decided to investigate mate selection in the Brazilian population, while trying to uncover the biological significance of MHC diversity.

The scientists studied MHC data from 90 married couples, and compared them with 152 randomly-generated control couples. They counted the number of MHC dissimilarities among those who were real couples, and compared them with those in the randomly- generated 'virtual couples'.They would have expected to see similar results from both sets of couples. But they found that the real partners had significantly more MHC dissimilarities than they could have expected to find simply by chance.

Within MHC-dissimilar couples the partners will be genetically different, and such a pattern of mate choice decreases the danger of endogamy (mating among relatives) and increases the genetic variability of offspring. Genetic variability is known to be an advantage for offspring, and the MHC effect could be an evolutionary strategy underlying incest avoidance in humans and also improving the efficiency of the immune system, the scientists say.

Reference:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090525105435.htm

Genes May Determine Success of Hip Replacement Surgery

Out of a sample of 312 patients who had undergone hip replacement surgery, 162 suffered complications 10 years later. To test if certain genetic variations were responsible for the success of this surgery, DNA samples were taken from from all participants. It was discovered that patients with variations in MMP1 (matrix metalloproteinase 1- an enzyme that breaks down collagen, the main protein in bone) were more than three times as likely than patients lacking the variation to develop "aseptic loosening", a condition where the artificial joint loosens and the surrounding bone starts to disintergrate. In addition, genetic variations concerning the vitamin D receptor gene (vitamin D is necessary for strong, healthy bones) doubled a patient's chance of deep infection.

The researchers concluded that with further research these findings could help predict the long-term success of hip replacement surgery as well as develop targeted genetic treatments.

Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070314195704.htm

Opposites Attract: How Genetics Influences Humans To Choose Their Mates

Researchers have found that females often prefer mates with dissimilar major histocompability complex(MHC) in many vertebrate species, including humans, and that the MHC influences mating selection by preference for particular body odors.

The Brazilian team has been working in this field since 1998, and decided to investigate mate selection in the Brazilian population, while trying to uncover the biological significance of MHC diversity.

The scientists studied MHC data from 90 married couples, and compared them with 152 randomly-generated control couples. They counted the number MHC dissimilarities among those who were real couples, and compared them with those in the randomly-generated 'virtual couples'. If MHC genes did not influence mate selection, they would have expected to see similar results from both sets of couples. But they found that real partners have significant more MHC dissimilarities than they could have expected to find simply by chance.

The MHC is a large genetic region situated on chromosome 6, and found in most vertebrates. It plays an important role in the immune system and also in reproductive success.

Within MHC-dissimilar couples the partners will be genetically different, and such a pattern of mate choice decreases the danger of endogamy (mating among relatives) and increases the genetic variability of offspring. Genetic variability is known to be an advantage for offspring, and the MHC effect could be an evolutionary strategy underlying incest avoidance in humans and also improving the efficiency of the immune system, the scientists say.

Gene Therapy Effective Treatment against Gum Disease

ScienceDaily (Dec. 13, 2008)

Scientists at the University of Michigan have shown that gene therapy can be used to stop the development of gum disease such as periodontal disease. Gene therapy has not been used in non-life threatening disease. They were the first to use gene transfer to show potential in treating chronic conditions. The Seattle-based biotechnology company Targeted Genetics had carried out a human trial and the results showed that the same gene therapy approach had positive affects in human patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

An inactivated virus was used to produce more of a molecule called tumour necrosis factor receptor in certain cells. It is able to reduce the excessive levels of tumour necrosis factor which is a molecule known to cause bone destruction such as rheumatoid arthritis, joint deterioration and periodotitis. The periodontal tissues were spared from destruction by more than 60 to 80 percent with the use of gene therapy and the delivered gene keeps producing in the cells for a very long period of time.

Reference:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081211081448.htm

In pubs, clubs, homes and parks all around the world, it is a common site to see people getting “boozed”. However scientists at the University of California may have found a solution for such mayhem. They have found a gene (aptly named happyhour) in the fruit fly genome, which when mutated away from the norm, allowed the flies to drink more alcohol without feeling the effects of it, as compared to regular fruit fly. When the flies gene was turned back on, their ability to tolerate alcohol was reduced to the normal accepted level among their fruit fly peers. It’s also been noted that this gene dampens a cellular network (epidermal growth factor or EGF) which has been implicated in cancer.

Drugs that also inhibit this network were tested on the flies and mice, and it was found that when on these drugs, the animals were more likely to not party hard and would not make it through the night. That is they were more affected by the alcohol that regularly. Surprisingly when such drugs were given to rats, they managed to control their urges and drank less alcohol. It’s believe that this may be related to dopamine and serotonin levels. This could lead to future treatments for alcoholics who can’t quit and provide a medical treatment to inhibit their addictions. The drugs which have before been tested on people for other reasons have shown to have little side effects, besides a skin rash.
References:
• http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17178-happyhour-gene-may-help-put-boozers-off-their-drink.html - 'Happyhour' gene may help put boozers off their drink - health - 21 May 2009 - New Scientist – 25/05/09
• Corl et al., Happyhour, a Ste20 Family Kinase, Implicates EGFR Signaling in Ethanol-Induced Behaviors, Cell (2009), doi:10.1016/j.cell.2009.03.020

Breast Cancer Genes

RASSF1A Polymorphism A133S Is Associated with Early Onset Breast Cancer in BRCA1/2 Mutation Carriers

http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/68/1/22

Author: Ashley St John

This article is about a small-scale initial study that was testing for a correlation between RASSF1A polymorphism A133S and an early onset of breast cancer in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers. The study shows a positive correlation in people who develop breast cancer through a BRCA1/2 mutation and the RASSF1A A133S polymorphism gene. This study also showed a higher frequency of the A133S gene in people who had family history of breast cancer.

The study showed that people who had the A133S gene and the BRCA1/2 mutation had an earlier onset of breast cancer. It also showed that people who did not have the mutation but did have breast cancer also had the A133S gene. This preliminary study produced interesting results and warrants and larger study to show how strong the correlation between A133S and breast cancer.

The Cloning of Dead Mice

Teruhiko Wakayama a genetic scientist from the RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology in Kobe, Japan led a team in a special mice cloning project that involved cloning mice that had been frozen for 16 years. The reason this is such a breakthrough is because this opens up the possibility of being able to clone long since extinct animals. The way this cloning process is done is by injecting the nucleus of a thawed out dead mouse tissue cell into a mouse egg with its nucleus removed. During their experiment the Wakayama team found that the easiest way to close the mice was by using some brain tissue this is quite a remarkable discovery as brain tissue has never been used for cloning. According to Wakayama freezing and thawing the tissue cells is the most effective way to clone the mice as it allows for an easy ‘reprogramming’ of the brain cell nucleus.

George Lukin

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn15111-cloning-resurrects-longdead-mice.html

Deadly Parasite's Rare Sexual Dalliances May Help Scientists Neutralize It.

Developing countries such as Asia Africa and India all face one major public health problem, disease through sand fly bites, in particular the parasite known as Leishmania. This parasite is known for killing more than hundreds of thousands of people annually. This infection cause’s the world second most fatal parasitic disease, black fever. Scientist believe that by getting this parasite “in the mood for love” and breeding their offspring may uncover a very important step in uncover the gene required to neutralize it.
The idea is to the mild strained parasite with the more harmful strain parasite then look at the offspring to see which will be more likely to cause severe infection and result in death. By tracking the deadly portions passed on by the parent’s genetic material they should then be able to identify the segments of the genome that are responsible for the parasites ability to cause severe infection. The hard part was to get these parasites to reproduce.
Like most microorganisms Leishmania can reproduce by cloning, involving one parasite, or by creating offspring with genetic material from two parasites. These microorganisms prefer to reproduce by cloning rather than sexual reproduction. Getting these microorganisms to have sex in cultured dish’s has been somewhat or a challenge for many scientists. After several years scientist came to the conclusion that it was a number game. Every time they had more parasites in the fly sexual crossing was evident and vies versa. Once the scientist can successfully bread the microorganism reproduction it will be a lot easier for them to isolate the required infection causing disease and thus they will be able to neutralize it
and save countless
life’s in third world countries.

Article from: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090409142250.htm
Image from: http://www.aids-images.ch/slides/1003,700,600,0,0.jpg

Neon Cats

Scientists from Gyeongsang National University in South Korea have developed a method for engineering and producing genetically modified cats. They cloned cats with a manipulated red fluorescence protein (RFP) gene. The research was conducted with the objective of gaining more information about procedures that could potentially help develop treatments for human genetic diseases. Cats were used as they share approximately 250 genetic diseases that affect humans.

In this study, immature oocytes were collected from super ovulating cat ovaries. Donor fibroblasts were obtained from an ear skin biopsy of one white, male Turkish Angora cat and were subjected to transduction with a retrovirus vector designed to transfer and express the chosen gene. 176 RFP cloned embryos were transferred into eleven surrogate mothers. However, only three of these mothers were successfully impregnated. Tests proved that the cloned cats were genetically identical to the donor cat. Presence of the RFP gene was confirmed through the detection o fit in tissue samples, including hair, muscle, brain, heart, liver, kidney, spleen, bronchus, lung, stomach, intestine and tongue.

These results suggest a possibility of developing new stem cell treatments for humans yet the area of animal cloning is one clouded with criticism due to the ethical issues involved.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18003942?dopt=Abstract

HIV vaccine turns muscle into antibody factories

The question HIV researchers have been trying to solve for years is ‘How does one deal with a virus which attacks the immune system that is trying to fight it off?’ The answer some American researchers have come up with is: to bypass the immune system altogether.

Currently, Phillip Johnson, of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, and his colleagues are using a novel vaccine for monkeys infected with the monkey equivalent of HIV – simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). The vaccine is a radical new approach to treating the virus. The vaccine instead uses the monkeys muscles as factories in which antibodies that can kill the SIV virus are secreted.

The monkey’s muscles are injected with a harmless strain of the virus, which contain genes for making immunoadhesins (antibodies pre-selected to attack SIV) -conventional vaccines primed ones immune system for attack before it is exposed to the real pathogen. Thus "Instead of expecting the person's own immune system to do the job, we're giving them their own supply of 'off-the-peg' antibodies," Johnson says.

The article goes on to mention that given such strong proof that the vaccine works in monkeys, the team is ‘gearing up for clinical trials’, with human antibodies from individuals who are HIV resistant.

Posted by: 42067508

Articles:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20227094.700-hiv-vaccine-turns-muscle-into-antibody-factories.html

DNA Dating: Can Genes Help You Pick A Mate?

Research from various institutes has shown that attraction could be genetically based. Past studies have shown that attraction is strongly related to smell. Now, researchers have found that women prefer the scent of men who have immune systems dissimilar to their own, as measured by genes for the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), which is involved in displaying antigens to immune cells. Other studies have found that men also prefer women with dissimilar MHC genes, more specifically known as human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes in humans. Various companies are now offering, at a high price, genetic love matching. By sampling DNA they can find compatibility by matching those couples with the most dissimilar MHC and HLA genes. These companies extract DNA from swabs of cheek cells, then analyse three key MHC or HLA genes. As we inherit a copy of each gene from each of our parents, six alleles are analysed, of which there are hundreds of common types. The companies believe that greater dissimilarity predicts greater compatibility. It is said that these genetically matched couples are promised a better sex life, more orgasms, a lower risk of cheating on each other, higher fertility and healthier children. They can also predict rate of conception, miscarriages and health of children.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20026873.600-dna-dating-can-genes-help-you-pick-a-mate.html

Lucy Mercer-Mapstone

Secret of a long life span

“How to get a long and healthy life span?” has been one of the most concern topics for all human beings. Scientists have now explained why some people can have their life span over a century. It’s widely believed that a gene called FOXO3A holds the genetic material that allows humans to live a long and healthy life. Out of the study, most of the men who participated had letter T at the key location along the identified genetic coding. However, the other participants who had letter G encoded at the key location doubled their chance of living old and healthy, and similarly those who had two G copies further increased their chance to triple. In term of healthy life, those who had G copies showed less heart diseases, stroke and cancer.

Research team finds important role for junk DNA

Scientists have called it "junk DNA." They also refer these "junk DNA" as "selfish DNA" if they make no specific contribution to the reproductive success of the host organism. Selfish DNA replicates and passes from parent to offspring for the sole benefit of the DNA itself. However, researchers have discovered that DNA sequences from regions of what had been viewed as the "dispensable genome" are actually performing functions that are central for the organism. They concluded that the genes spur an almost acrobatic rearrangement of the entire genome that is necessary for the organism to grow.

It all happens very quickly. Genes called transposons in the single-celled pond-dwelling organism Oxytricha produce cell proteins known as transposases. The focus is on Oxytricha because it undergoes massive genome reorganization during development.

During development, the transposons appear to first influence hundreds of thousands of DNA pieces to regroup. Then, when no longer needed, the organism cleverly erases the transposases from its genetic material, paring its genome to a slim 5 percent of its original load.

The transposons actually perform a central role for the cell and they stitch together the genes in working form. To prove that the transposons have this reassembly function, scientists disabled several thousand of these genes in some Oxytricha. The organisms with the altered DNA failed to develop properly.

But the present study suggests that some selfish DNA transposons can instead confer an important role to their hosts, thereby establishing themselves as long-term residents of the genome.

References:
http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/05/20/research.team

.finds.important.role.junk.dna
http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S24/28/32C04/

Submitted by: 41907447

Schizophrenia-Linked Gene Controls The Birth Of New Neurons

A gene that is arguably the most studied "schizophrenia gene" plays an unanticipated role in the brain: It controls the birth of new neurons in addition to their integration into existing brain circuitry, according to a report in the March 20th issue of the journal Cell, a Cell Press publication. The finding suggests that loss of the gene, as occurs in some cases of schizophrenia as well as bipolar disorder and major depression, may "tip the balance" in the brain, leading to an increased risk of compromised cognition and behavioral abnormalities, the researchers said.

What's more, the protein encoded by the gene aptly known as Disrupted in Schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) exerts its influence through a well-studied molecular pathway. Specifically, it interacts directly with and blocks the activity of GSK3b, a protein that is the target of the lithium treatments that doctors have used for decades in the treatment of bipolar disorder.

Schizophrenia is a severe brain illness that affects 0.5% of the world population, the researchers said. While its causes are poorly understood, accumulating evidence suggests that neurodevelopmental defects are involved and recent studies have identified many risk genes associated with schizophrenia, DISC1 among them. Studies of a very large Scottish family with a high incidence of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression over several generations also found that those family members who develop psychiatric disorders carry a mutation in DISC1.

Biochemical evidence later showed that DISC1 interacts with a growing number of binding partners and functional studies have revealed a role for the gene in the growth and migration of neurons and in the integration of neurons into the brain. Mice with the abnormal version of the gene also develop behaviors that are reminiscent of human psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia and depression.

In the adult mouse brain, loss of DISC1 function in the dentate gyrus, a portion of the brain that is important to the formation of new memories, led to reduced neural progenitor proliferation and elicited hyperactive and depressive behaviors in mice. Importantly, they found, those behavioral abnormalities were reversed when the DISC1-deficient animals were treated with a chemical that blocked GSK3b.

References:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/143152.php

SKG1 expression in response to stress

The environmental stress response in many human tissues is influenced by the Serum and Glucocorticoid-regulated kinase (SKG1) gene. This gene promotes cellular homeostasis under environmental stress, and is involved with sodium homeostasis and cell survival after exposure to UV light and hyperosmolarity, as well as insulin response. A variant (rs9493857) in this gene had allelic frequencies that correlated with latitude and climate in a worldwide population sample, which suggested that natural selection was involved in the differences of the ancestral and variant alleles, and therefore the SKG1 expression, in human populations.
When an environmental stress occurs, a key response in humans is increased systematic glucocorticoid secretion, which causes glucocorticoid receptors (GR) to become activated. GR and Oct1 (a GR cooperating transcription factor) enhance the regulation of GR target genes, such as SKG1. The variant rs9493857 affects the ability of GC-dependent Oct1 to bind at its predicted site, therefore having an effect on the regulation of the expression of SKG1.
The ancestral allele of this gene was determined by comparison to the chimpanzee genomic sequence. This allele was found to be responsible for more efficient binding of the GR-Oct1 complex, and a higher level of SKG1 gene expression in times of environmental stress, than the derived version. Across human populations, the ancestral allele was found to be more frequent in equatorial populations of humans. In figure 1, the ancestral rs9493875 allelic frequencies (black) across 52 populations are shown on a winter maximum temperature map.
An increased expression of SKG1 is also linked with salt-sensitive hypertension and breast and prostate cancers. In African American populations, these diseases have a higher prevalence. These populations also have a higher frequency of the ancestral allele, which suggested that this allele might be involved in increasing the susceptibility of people to these diseases.
By Simone Kefford (s4204905)

Luca F, Kashyap S, Southard C, Zou M, Witonsky D, Di Rienzo A, Conzen SD (2009). ‘Adaptive variation regulates the expression of the human SGK1 gene in response to stress. PLoS Genet vol. 5, no. 5, viewed May 23, 2009, http://www.plosgenetics.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pgen.1000489

Identical Twins - Identical Problems: Scientists discover new genes linked to Rheumatoid Arthritis

A study was conducted at the University of Michigan to attempt to understand how identical twins can be so different when it comes to the development of genetic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis. This implies that other factors beyond the genetic code play a role in the development of genetic disease.

The advantage of studying identical twins is that their initial genetic information is the same. Therefore, differences in gene expression are due to environmental influences, which can cause random genetic mutation, or affect how DNA is packaged. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that damages joints, causing pain, lose of movement and bone deformities. The disease only develops in both twins 15% of the time. Scientists compared gene expression patterns of 11 pairs of monozygotic twins who shared the same egg and were genetically identical, but only one twin of the pair had rheumatoid arthritis. The study found that twins with rheumatoid arthritis had three over expressed genes compared to the twin without the disease. These three genes produced a protein that destroys other necessary proteins triggering the disease. The researchers believe that these genes are over expressed because they were susceptible to oxidative stress, which affects how cells repair themselves. However, there is only a small chance oxidative stress will trigger the disease, which is why most of the time only one twin develops rheumatoid arthritis.

This discovery and further research could lead to new developments in treating disease in the future. Further study could identify new treatment targets, which leads to the development of more effective drugs. Specific therapies could be designed to treat people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis based on their individual genetic makeup.

Identical Twins Identical Problems, Science Daily, 1 July 2007, viewed 24 May 2009. [http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2007/0711-identical_twins_identical_problems.htm]

Genetic Clue in Down Syndrome May help Cancer Research

According to Health News researches at Harvard University believe that there is additional chromosome material which causes people with Down syndrome (DS) to have a 10% risk of dying from the solid-tumour cancers. Research was conducted using the pluipotent stem cells and iPS cells from a volunteer with DS. People with the DS have a third copy of the chromosome 21; this gives rise to extra versions of the 231 genes. One of the extra versions is DSCR1 which suppressed the vascular endothelial growth factor, one of these compounds is important for angiogenesis. DSCR1 is crucial in suppressing tumour angiogenesis.

DSCR1 does not work alone there may be as much as five genes involved in angiogenesis. The DSCR1 works with another chromosome 21 gene DYRK1A to block the “calcineurin- signalling pathway” this allows the tumours to get the blood supply for growth and survival. When they target the calcineurin they suppress the ability of the endothelial cells to grow and form vessels. At this point though the role of DSCR1 in normal development is not yet fully understood. Tampering with this pathway to develop anti cancer drugs may have unintended consequences. The issue that needs to be resolved is determining any distinct differences between DSCR1’s effect on pathological versus physiological angiogenesis. The new findings can help the researchers decipher that mechanism. It is an extremely important way of looking for anti angiogenic therapy.

Original Link: http://www.healthnews.com/medical-updates/genetic-clue-down-syndrome-may-help-...

Posted By: S4203223

Deciphering Daddy’s DNA

A paternity identification test is conducted to establish whether a person is the biological father of a certain individual. In recent years fatherhood has been a mystery. No more. Advances in genetics have made paternity tests one of the simplest and most reliable medical tests ever available. DNA samples can even be taken from the dead to settle paternity claims. Far from Hollywood, DNA-based paternity tests are used every day to determine child support and custody or to put a worried mind at ease. With new technologies paternity tests are becoming easier and cheaper.

Previous paternity tests included blood type sampling in the 1960’s with only 40% accuracy rate. In the 1970s, new tests based on variations in white blood cells raised the exclusion rate to 80 percent. Modern DNA testing has made paternity testing almost foolproof, raising the accuracy rate to 99.99 percent for the most common tests. Current DNA tests make it possible to use old or degraded DNA samples, such as random cells from a man's razor or even from earwax on a used Q-Tip. Sometimes dental floss tells the tale.

The current techniques for paternity testing are using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. DNA for the most part has dominated as the most popular method for paternity testing with an accuracy rate of 99.999%. That’s 99,999 out of 100,000 for the case where the mother’s, the child’s, and the two disputed father’s DNA are available. With advances in biotechnology the persisting question, ‘Who’s your daddy?’ is more than answerable.
Posted by: Anna Waldie 42027267

Reference:

Shute, N. (2007). ‘Genetic advances have improved paternity tests’, US News, 3/4/07 at http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/articles/070304/12test_2.htm Accessed 24/05/09

New Method for Creating High Coverage shRNA Libraries

University of California and San Francisco scientists have crafted a method for the rapid identification of large numbers of short hairpin RNA that has the ability to silence gene expression through RNA interference. The method has so far been utilized by the UCSF research team to create a library of 22,000 shRNAs for approximately 60 human genes. These genes provide scientists with a powerful tool for the study of genetically based diseases such as HIV, Parkinson’s disease and cancer. The UCSF research team is progressively accumulating shRNAs for the library with the ultimate goal of creating a complete set for the entire human genome.

Until recently, the process of finding shRNAs was not effective. The new method produces approximately 10 times the volume than that of the conventional method. This enables researchers to screen for RNA interference much faster at a lesser cost.

Though many diseases have been linked to specific genes that are either mutated or activated to cause illness, the process of how the genes actually cause illness is still unclear. With the use of shRNA to deactivate genes, scientists can study specific genetic function and start to identify treatments to change it. Further research in the production and utilization of shRNAs could lead to the ultimate goal of manipulating the gene expression of genetic diseases.

Journal reference:
Bassik et al. Rapid creation and quantitative monitoring of high coverage
shRNA libraries. Nature Methods, online: 17 May 2009, In print June 2009.
Accessed 23/5/2009. Available:
http://www.nature.com/nmeth/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/nmeth.1330.html

Submitted by: 42065803

British researchers have discovered a potentially new method of delivering a cancer-killing protein to tumors, by using genetically engineered stem cells from bone marrow. Experiments conducted on mice and cell cultures showed that adult stem cells – a type known as mesenchymal stem cells- could target cancer cells and deliver the lethal protein to destroy them. This allows the stem cells to attack only the cancer and spare normal healthy tissue, unlike many present cancer treatments which destroys healthy cells.

Essentially, the researchers have combined two pieces of research. The first is that mesenchymal stem cells have an innate ability to seek out tumors throughout the body and induce apoptosis (cell death). The cells have also been altered to express or make the cancer-killing protein called TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand or TRAIL.

Studies in cell cultures showed the cells were able to find and kill cells from lung, squamous, breast and cervical cancer. Many types of cancer are highly sensitive to this trail protein. Mice which have been injected with breast tumors demonstrated that the TRAIL protein was able to safely kill the tumors but leave the healthy tissue intact. When they delivered the therapy, 38 percent of the tumors were completely eliminated.

The goal of the research would be to develop a cell-based cancer treatment for humans that specifically targets cancer cells.
An advantage of these cells is that they are “immunoprivileged”, meaning the body will not reject them as foreign invaders. Thus, they can be made in large quantities/batches instead of having to make custom treatments for each patient. Several more safety studies would be needed, but the team hopes human trials could begin in two or three years.

Stem cells are also used in stem cell therapy. Their ability to differentiate into any of the different tissues making up the human body, offers enormous potential to treat and even cure serious diseases such as multiple sclerosis or spinal-cord injury by replacing diseased cells with healthy cells.Once placed into a patient's body, stem cells intended to treat or cure a disease could end up wreaking havoc simply because they are no longer under the control of the clinician.

One of the biggest potential problems with stem cell therapy is the development of tumors. Another problem is that stem cells directed to become beating heart cells might mistakenly end up in the brain when control over the growth of stem cells is lost.Instead of gene therapy being done in the patient, as is the case in cancer, it's being done in the cells in a laboratory before doctors use them for therapy so that they still have control of these cells.

Therapists would rig certain genes to respond to a "remote control" signal. For instance, giving a certain drug could prompt a "suicide" gene to kill a budding tumor.Gene therapy needs to be carefully done and, ideally, two independent gene-manipulation systems would be used to ensure that stem cells remain firmly in control of clinicians.

Original links: http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre54i76u-us-cancer-treatment/
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090521131317.htm

Posted by: S4193764