CET Reports New Pluripotent Stem Cell Approach

Cellular Engineering Technologies and the John Paul II Medical Research Institute Report New Approach to Create Safer and Non-Controversial Pluripotent Stem Cells

Coralville, IA, USA – May 12, 2017
 
Cellular Engineering Technologies, a Coralville, Iowa biotechnology company, and the John Paul II Medical Research Institute, an Iowa City, Iowa based non-profit organization have announced a better and more robust approach for creating safer pluripotent stem cells. The organizations, which were founded by Dr. Alan Moy, presented their research findings in this month’s issue of Future Science Open Access in a manuscript entitled “Efficient Method to Create Integration-Free, Virus-Free, and Myc and Lin28-Free Human IPS Cells From Adherent Cells. “ Their novel method for the creation of induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSC), which are ethically noncontroversial since they are adult stem cells created by genetically reprogramming adult cells into embryonic like stem cells, is significant in that it reduces the potential risk associated with transplantation of these cells for clinical studies.
 
While IPSC do not require the need for the destruction of a human embryo, prior technologies to create IPSC have required c-Myc and Lin28, oncogenes that genetically reprogram adult cells into pluripotent stem cells.  These specific oncogenes are the major determinants of IPSC in causing tumors when transplanted into mice.  The new approach described in the manuscript uses small molecules to replace the need to use c-Myc and Lin28. This novel and exciting approach opens a pathway for creating safer IPSC-based cell therapies and satisfies an important regulatory pathway to bring regenerative medicine to treat many unmet medical needs.  Co-authors of the article included scientists from the University of Iowa, Western New England University and the University of Pittsburgh. The technology also offers solutions in advancing personalized medicine, drug discovery, gene therapy, bio-banking and bio-processing.
 
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