ENDEAVOUR FORUM NEWSLETTER No. 119, SEPTEMBER 2005

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At present there are 58 types of diseases successfully treated by ADULT stem cell research - ZERO for embryonic stem cell research.  Almost daily we are getting reports of the advances made with ADULT stem cells and NOTHING regarding ESC (Embryonic Stem Cells).

The latest success story is from  Japan where  a University of Tokyo research team have been able to cure renal failure in rats with adult stem cells taken from kidneys of healthy rats. The scientists  say the same process should be able to work in humans. The  team transplanted somatic stem cells from  healthy rats into rats suffering from renal failure.  Such cells are able to develop into a variety of cells in that specific organ. The findings were announced in the June 20 issue of the U.S. science magazine "Journal of Cell Biology."  The researchers  involved  say  the possibility is strong that the same process can help humans with renal failure because human kidneys have similar somatic stem cells.

"It's been confirmed that somatic stem cells in kidneys are capable of not only creating new cells but also restoring damaged organs. We may be able to develop drugs aimed at (activating) somatic stem cells," said University of Tokyo Associate Prof. Keiichi Hishikawa. The research team identified the cells and confirmed that they exist in a part of the rat kidney called the stroma. The cells are also able to develop into blood vessels and  renal tubules. The team transplanted 10,000 cells into the kidneys of rats with renal failure and tests seven days later found that the kidney functions returned to normal.

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