Stem cells used to model infant birth defectFri, 19 Mar 2010 17:00:00 EDTResearchers recently discovered that infantile hemangiomas originate from stem cells, and have used these stem cells to better understand this tumor in the laboratory. They show that steroids target hemangioma stem cells specifically, reveal their mechanism of their action and suggest other possible ways to halt and shrink hemangiomas.
Tool to measure severity of chronic graft-vs.-host disease symptomsFri, 19 Mar 2010 17:00:00 EDTResearchers have developed a new assessment tool to measure the severity of symptoms that can complicate stem cell transplantation. The tool assesses symptoms resulting from chronic graft-vs.-host disease (cGVHD).
Vitamin A: Key mechanism that guides cells to form heart tissueFri, 19 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EDTResearchers have identified a key cellular mechanism that guides embryonic heart tissue formation -- a process which, if disrupted, can lead to a number of common congenital heart defects.
Stem cells suspended in X-ray-visible microbubbles build new blood vessels to treat peripheral arterial diseaseFri, 19 Mar 2010 05:00:00 EDTBone marrow stem cells suspended in X-ray-visible microbubbles dramatically improve the body's ability to build new blood vessels in the upper leg -- providing a potential future treatment for those with peripheral arterial disease or PAD, say researchers.
Stem Cell Networks in ZebrafishFri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EDTEmbryonic stem cells (ES cells) have invaluable potential for regenerative medicine. Scientists are only just beginning to understand the diverse developmental possibilities (“pluripotency”) of ES cells. The Pou5f1/Oct4 protein is one of the most important stem cell factors. However, in contrast to Pou5f1/Oct4 itself, little is known about the structure and function of the regulatory network it controls.