JamesMcC
Distinguished member
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2009
- Messages
- 106
- Reason
- PALS
- Diagnosis
- 01/2009
- Country
- US
- State
- idaho
- City
- V
For Mouse Muscle Tissue, a Fountain of Youth
Marissa Weiss (2010-11-11)
GREELEY, CO (KUNC) - Scientists at the University of Colorado in Boulder have discovered muscle stem cell transplants can improve the heartiness of that tissue in mice. A new study says it could one day lead to therapies for patients with muscular dystrophies or age-related muscle decline.
A lot has been made about the promise of stem cells to regenerate tissue, and recent work at CU is adding to those claims. Professor Brad Olwin led the research; his team transplanted the kind of cells that repair muscle following heavy exercise, so a person is not so sore the next day. They found the resulting tissue was larger, stronger, and resisted normal age-related weakening.
"The cells that we transplanted in the muscle seem to be repairing and maintaining that muscle more efficiently than the cells that the mouse normally has," says Olwin.
He doesn't yet understand why the transplants take hold and resist aging, and that's the target of his ongoing work. Also, he doesn't think that the transplants will necessarily work in humans; he thinks for people, stimulating our own bodies to increase stem cell production is more promising. The study appears in the current issue of Science Translational Medicine.
© Copyright 2010, KUNC
Marissa Weiss (2010-11-11)
GREELEY, CO (KUNC) - Scientists at the University of Colorado in Boulder have discovered muscle stem cell transplants can improve the heartiness of that tissue in mice. A new study says it could one day lead to therapies for patients with muscular dystrophies or age-related muscle decline.
A lot has been made about the promise of stem cells to regenerate tissue, and recent work at CU is adding to those claims. Professor Brad Olwin led the research; his team transplanted the kind of cells that repair muscle following heavy exercise, so a person is not so sore the next day. They found the resulting tissue was larger, stronger, and resisted normal age-related weakening.
"The cells that we transplanted in the muscle seem to be repairing and maintaining that muscle more efficiently than the cells that the mouse normally has," says Olwin.
He doesn't yet understand why the transplants take hold and resist aging, and that's the target of his ongoing work. Also, he doesn't think that the transplants will necessarily work in humans; he thinks for people, stimulating our own bodies to increase stem cell production is more promising. The study appears in the current issue of Science Translational Medicine.
© Copyright 2010, KUNC
