Scientists Discover New Kind of Stem Cell: iXEN (Mar 4, 2016)
A team of researchers led by Michigan State University biochemist and molecular biologist Amy Ralston has discovered a new kind of stem cell — induced extraembryonic endoderm stem (iXEN) cells.
“Other scientists may have seen these cells before, but they were considered to be defective, or cancer-like. Rather than ignore these cells that have been mislabeled as waste byproducts, we found gold in the garbage,” said team member Anthony Parenti, also from Michigan State University.
Pluripotent stem cells can be created by reactivating embryonic genes to reprogram mature adult cells. Reprogramming mature cells into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, allows them to become malleable building blocks that can morph into any cell in the body.
Prior to the discovery of reprogramming, scientists developed pluripotent stem cells from embryos. However, the embryo produces not only pluripotent stem cells, but also so-called extraembryonic endoderm stem (XEN) cells.
“XEN cells have characteristics that pluripotent stem cells do not have,” Dr. Ralston said. “Because of those traits, iXEN cells can shed light on reproductive diseases.”
Scientists Discover New Kind of Stem Cell: iXEN (Mar 4, 2016)A team of researchers led by Michigan State University biochemist and molecular biologist Amy Ralston has discovered a new kind of stem cell — induced extraembryonic endoderm stem (iXEN) cells. “Other scientists may have seen these cells before, but they were considered to be defective, or cancer-like. Rather than ignore these cells that have been mislabeled as waste byproducts, we found gold in the garbage,” said team member Anthony Parenti, also from Michigan State University.Pluripotent stem cells can be created by reactivating embryonic genes to reprogram mature adult cells. Reprogramming mature cells into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, allows them to become malleable building blocks that can morph into any cell in the body.Prior to the discovery of reprogramming, scientists developed pluripotent stem cells from embryos. However, the embryo produces not only pluripotent stem cells, but also so-called extraembryonic endoderm stem (XEN) cells.“XEN cells have characteristics that pluripotent stem cells do not have,” Dr. Ralston said. “Because of those traits, iXEN cells can shed light on reproductive diseases.”
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