Stem cells have been known to help health experts treat disease in more ways than expected. And now, an independent study of the genetic make-up suggests that stem cells that have been particularly made for therapies are fit for patient's use.
The research which specifically focuses on human embryonic stem cells gave way for clinical trials of cell therapies to be able to treat health conditions like Parkinson's disease, age-related degeneration of the eyes and spinal cord injury.
The study also ensures that there is a cost-effective mode to monitor the quality of stem cell-based products and newly discovered cell therapies. Stem cells have the possibility to be any cell found in the human body. Researchers have been spending time studying how they can be used to repair or substitute impaired tissues in patients.
But because the cells continue to reproduce, there are concerns that they may have genetic abnormalities that may lead to cancer. Scientists at the University of Edinburgh examined the genetic composition of human stem cells that have been grown in the laboratory from cells found in the early embryo.
The 25 cell lines tested were all "clinical grade" meaning that they meet the strict quality requirements for cell lines distinction for use as therapies.
The team at the Medical Research Council Centre for Regenerative Medicine examined each of the cell lines using a technique called molecular karyotyping. It is an extremely sensitive method of determining genetic abnormalities.
They found that half of the cell lines were carrying large but stable genetic differences. However, the changes they saw can also be seen in healthy people without noticeable consequences, showing the genetic diversity of the human population. They also found that a few cell lines had genetic problems if they stayed in the laboratory for a long period of time.
Researchers say this marks the need to continue testing these genes for emerging stem cell-based products to make sure that they are fitting for patients to use.
The study is published in the journal Scientific Reports. It was funded by the Medical Research Council and The Cure Parkinson's Trust.
