Stem cells are not necessary for updating of tissues ...

Whether can provide specialised cells of an adult organism physiological updating of tissues without participation stem cells? Scientists under the guidance of professor Michael Sieweke from Centre d'immunologie de Marseille Luminy in France have shown, that such is possible. In their experiment it has been shown long (within several months) self-maintenance of a colony of macrophages - specialised cells of immune system. In November, 2009 results of this work have been published in magazine Science. This research allows to understand better the processes underlying a differentiation of cells, and also gives rise to hopes of possible application of the received knowledge in clinic.

Researchers and clinicians consider, that the future medicine will be based on replacement of the damaged and lost cells of an organism by stem cells. Стволовые cells are capable not only to share practically beyond all bounds, but also to give rise to a number of specialised cells in an organism. Nevertheless, a differentiation of various types stem cells - difficult process in which course there can be various undesirable phenomena - for example, malignant transformation. For this reason application possibility in cellular therapy not stem, and already specialised cells seems rather attractive.

Usually cells, having reached a differentiation end-stage, cease to share and function during certain time then perish. It is fair for cells nervous, muscular and other tissues. The macrophages which are key cells in realisation of immune reactions, also are not capable to a proliferation, having reached a final stage of a differentiation. However the French researchers managed to "force" to share macrophages of mice, having blocked in them by means of genetic updatings activity transcription factors MafB and c-Maf. After return introduction in an organism of an animal such genetically modified macrophages behaved normally: they did not give the beginning to malignant tumours and perfectly coped with functions of usual macrophages - for example, with absorption of bacteria and with secretion of specific biologically active factors.

It has appeared, that the inactivation of factors MafB and cMaf leads to activation of four others transcription factors, in particular, c-Myc and Klf4 which can return an adult cell in a condition close to «stem». Probably, the approach used in this work, will be applied not only in basic researches of a differentiation of cells, but also in clinical practice to reception of necessary quantities of the specialised cells, capable to restore function of the damaged organs and tissues

Drug Search