An unexpected (and lucky) discovery made by researchers at the Romanian "Victor Babes" Institute in Bucharest is likely to turn the dream of regenerating cardiac muscle into reality and help thousands of people with other currently incurable diseases as well.
The researchers at the "Victor Babes" Institute in Bucharest discovered it by chance while doing studies of cells in the intestine, which together with the presence of the stem cells could restore damaged heart muscle of the heart, said on Monday, president of the Academy of Medical Sciences.
"We've studied the gastric and intestinal mucous membrane for several years now. During our studies we've noticed in the pancreas that covering the stem cells there are some extensions that were not part of the stem cells, but something else completely. Then is when we've discovered the telocytes cells. Our group has studied the presence telocytes in both cavity organs (heart, gastrointestinal tract, lung, uterus, fallopian tubes), non-cavity organs (like the pancreas, the mammary gland, the placenta) and in the covering membranes of the organs (pleura, pericardium, peritoneum). One of the most interesting findings related to the presence and role of the telocytes cells in cardiac repair after heart attacks, their involvement is of utmost importance, given that cardiovascvulare disease mortality ranks among the first in Europe", said the president of the Medical Sciences Academy, academician Laurentiu Popescu.
He said that from studies they have done in the Institute, stem cells could be far more effective in combination with telocytes.
"If we manage to isolate them, multiply them with stem cells, we could use them effectively in heart attack treatments", said professor Laurentiu Popescu. Analyzing these cells, researchers have reached an important conclusion, namely that both heart and brain have the power of regeneration.
'Until now we have only talked about the liver's ability to regenerate. But now we have seen that for people up to the age of 25, the heart can regenerate about 1 percent per year, and the elderly about 0.5 percent per year. Telocytes and stem cells could help regenerate the heart and the brain following an injury", said the head of electron microscopy laboratory, medical researcher Mihaela Gherghiceanu.
Furthermore, the president of the Medical Sciences Academy also said that it is encouraging to see that the presence of telocytes was confirmed independently by different methods, by groups from Italy, Germany, Britain and China.
"When there is one confirmation of the results, you can think of a possible coincidences, but when two, three or even four independent groups obtain similar results using different methods, we can say that we are facing a certainty. On this occasion will take the opportunity to present the telocytes (a discovery made by Romanian researchers and globally recognized)" said Mr. Laurentiu Popescu.
Telocytes are cells with a small body, but with extremely long extensions (similar to the extensions of neurons) present in almost all body organs. They cannot be seen using a normal microscope, as the extensions are below its detection limit. And viewing them under an electron microscope will only reveal telopode fragments, which is probably why they were constantly ignored or overlooked.
The cells were initially called "Cajal-like" interstitial cells due to similarities with the interstitial cells of Cajal in the digestive tract, responsible for its movements. A detailed study of the telocytes characteristics showed clear differences from Cajal cells and required the adoption of this new term.
The telocytes role is that of tele-coordination (or remote coordination) of other cell types through the use of their extremely long and thin extensions (telopodes), establishing contact of 'stromal synapses' type and communication with them through microvesicular structures (exozomies), explained the researchers.
"It's still in experimental stage. If it succeeds, it will be applied to those who have set aside reserves of stem cells", says neurologist Bogdan Popescu.
This whole experiment in muscle regeneration medicine is made with private funding. A stem cell bank offers researchers money and equipment for one year for carrying out such experiments on mice (lab rats).
The study lasts one year and wants to show that stem cells telocytes may improve serious illnesses. And because telocytes regenerate muscles we'll be able to see positive effects on patients suffering of respiratory failures or muscle problems. The experiments are willing to show that telocytes cells that can be found in the body (in the heart, digestive tract, lung, uterus, fallopian tube, pancreas, placenta and mammary gland) can effectively move and coordinate the stem cells exactly towards the affected tissue.
Currently, the tests are still done on mice and lab rats, by inducing them heart attacks and then stimulating the recovery with the use of telocytes and stem cells present in their own body.
Telocytes were discovered last year at the Romanian "Victor Babes" Institute, after a 5 year research period, during a study on the pancreas. The discovery was considered a worlds first and was announced in August 2010. A few months later China announced that they would also want to finance the project. Currently, the research is conducted with Romanian funding and in private partnership.
No comments:
Post a Comment