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Wednesday May 12, 2004
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Ottawa Research Team Finds Muscle-Generating Gene for Adult Stem Cells
OTTAWA, May 12, 2004, (LifeSiteNews.com) - Scientists at Ottawa Health Research Institute (OHRI) are beginning to identify the genetic processes of adult stem cells' ability to turn into specific tissue. Researchers often say that, although adult cells are most available, they are also limited in what kind of tissue they can be induced to produce. OHRI scientists led by Dr. Michael Rudnicki, Senior Scientist and Program director at the OHRI and Professor at the University of Ottawa, have now dispelled that notion. They have isolated the gene that directs non-differentiated adult stem cells to become muscle tissue.
The research team has demonstrated that the protein called Pax7, when inserted into adult stem cells will induce the cell to start regenerating as muscle tissue. In a media release, the Institute researchers say that by putting the Pax7 gene taken from uninjured muscle and inserting it into injured muscle tissue in mice, they were able to generate cells that readily differentiate into muscle cells. The group hopes that this breakthrough will lead to advances in Muscular Dystrophy.
Michael Rudnicki said, "This work demonstrates that Pax7 represents a key protein in the chain of events that directs stem cells to repair muscle. We now need to identify drugs that can activate Pax7 towards developing new therapies for the treatment of these devastating diseases."
"After 20 years in research on muscular dystrophy, it has become clear to me that the best hope for those with neuromuscular disorders is through regeneration of the damaged muscle and that stem cells provide the means to achieving this," explained Dr. Ronald Worton, CEO of the OHRI.
The group's findings will be published in Public Library of Science, a journal dedicated to the free distribution of scientific knowledge.
Public Library of Science website:
http://www.plos.org/
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