Open Forum: Regarding stem cells, organ repair, ‘time getting closer’

Continuing my conversation with Dr. Joe Jeffers regarding stem-cell research, I asked for his reaction to a statement by Dr. James Thomson, the discoverer of embryonic stem cells: “If human embryonic stem-cell research does not make you at least a little bit uncomfortable, you have not thought about it enough.”

Jeffers: Any system can be abused. Having a commercial clinic hire people to bring in the eggs and sperm to create blastocysts would not meet the ethical standards by which science is done in this country. But could such a clinic produce blastocysts that could be harvested for embryonic stem cells? You bet! Anything is subject to misuse. That is why we have some general ethical principles by which science is done.

Downs: What’s the potentially good news about stem cells?

Jeffers: Pluripotent stem cells have the potential to differentiate into cells of virtually any organ-heart, brain, blood, etc. Cells are considered pluripotent if they have been grown in culture for six months without beginning to differentiate into other cell types. We have two sources of pluripotent stem cells—blastocysts and adult cells that have been triggered to revert to stem cells.  We also have partially differentiated adult stem cells in various organs. So organ repair or replacement therapies could develop from stem cell research. Consider another promising area. If a drug company is trying to develop medications that are effective against cystic fibrosis or other known genetic disorders, then working with stem cells that contain these disorders provides a great opportunity to develop effective drug therapies.

Downs: What are the steps involved in developing stem cells that would morph into hearts or a kidneys or other organs?

Jeffers: The first step is to learn what triggers a cell to change. Ultimately, we want to stimulate cells to develop into heart cells, kidney cells, etc., to address a medical issue. But right now, we don’t know how. Studying the development of pluripotent stem cells as they differentiate will provide those clues. Animal models help, but there are too many differences to rely on animal models alone.

Downs: But you are optimistic that this can eventually be done?

Jeffers: I have no doubt that we will be able to do it. Again, the point is that we have to know how the system works. And the best way to do this is to start with the cells that begin the process and see what the triggers are that cause them to develop. We know some of these triggers, but not nearly enough of them.

Downs: Do adult stem cells offer the same exciting promises?

Jeffers: Yes. In fact, they offer even greater promise. We already know that stem cells exist in many of our organs but we’re not sure about others.

Downs: Are there certain ways that adult stem cells can be used to repair specific parts of the body?

Jeffers: Absolutely! In my opinion, the great promise of adult stem cell research, once we know how everything works, is that if we need to correct something for adults, we can use their own stem cells, because genetically it would be unlikely that their bodies would reject them.

Downs: Are adult stem cells as plentiful as embryonic stem cells?

Jeffers: No, and that’s one of the research issues we face because embryonic stem cells are easier to grow in culture than adult stem cells. So researchers are looking for ways to increase the numbers of adult stem cells we havenow. On another exciting note, Dr. James Thomson and his coworkers reported in the March 26 issue of Sciencexpress that they were able to reprogram adult skin cells to become pluripotent stem cells. And they did so without using viruses as had been the case in earlier reports. More research is necessary before we know if the adult pluripotent stem cells and those from blastocysts will behave similarly.

Downs: In other words, an adult stem cell could be taken from a person’s skin, placed in a faulty heart and repair whatever damage there may be?

Jeffers: Yes. Once we know how the system works, a pluripotent stem cell from any source or a heart stem cell could be placed in the heart and directed to go precisely to the right place. The potential here is phenomenal. Again I have to emphasize that all of this research and development is in its infancy. We are not going to be able to cure many terminal or incurable illnesses in the next few years. But that day is coming.
Back in the ’70s, I told my students, “Look, I won’t see it and you may not see it, but by the time your grandkids or great grandkids come, we will be able to correct a lot of maladies because we can take cells, change them into whatever kind of cells we need, and repair organs ... or even grow new ones.” That time is getting closer.

Dr. Joe Jeffers is dean of the Patterson School of Natural Sciences and professor of chemistry at Ouachita Baptist University.

Next week: Ideas? Questions? Solutions? Contact Bill Downs: downsw@sbcglobal.net