New Source of Stem Cells Discovered

Amniotic fluid cells don't come with ethical concerns that surround embryonic cells, researchers say.

By Amanda Gardner
HealthDay Reporter
Monday, January 8, 2007; 12:00 AM

Copyright © 2007 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.

SUNDAY, Jan. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists on Sunday reported the discovery of a new source of human stem cells that have the capability to develop into many different types of cells, including muscle, bone, fat, blood vessel, nerve and liver cells.

These stem cells, found in amniotic fluid, could one day lead to a readily available supply of stem cells that don't come with the ethical problems surrounding embryonic stem cells.

"These cells are easier to get, and from acceptable medical procedures [for example, amniocentesis] that are done on a routine basis," said study senior author Dr. Anthony Atala, director of the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

"This is another source of multi-potential cells," added Paul Sanberg, director of the University of South Florida Center for Aging and Brain Repair, in Tampa. "Because the cells can be accessed either post-birth or through amniocentesis, it's possible that people could store those cells. If the cell lines that are created were available, then people could do some research on a non-embryonic source, which eliminates all the ethical and political issues."

The discovery of the cells, known as amniotic fluid-derived stem (AFS) cells, is reported in the Jan. 7 issue of Nature Biotechnology.

The hope is that stem cells, which have the potential to develop into many different cell types in the body, may one day yield treatments or cures for diseases such as diabetes, liver failure, spinal injury, stroke, Alzheimer's disease and heart disease.

But embryonic stem cell research in the United States has been severely hampered since Aug. 9, 2001, when President Bush placed limits on federal funding of the field. As of that date, federal funds could only be used to study stem cell lines derived from embryos that had been destroyed before that date.

Scientists have thus been on a quest to find new, less controversial sources of stem cells.

It's been known for decades that the placenta and amniotic fluid contain a large number of cells shed from the developing embryo. "These cells could be harvested, grown outside the body and used," Atala said.