Breakthrough Achieved, Organ from Stem Cell Dublicated

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, November 20, 2001

Breakthrough Achieved, Organ from Stem Cell Dublicated

China has successfully regenerated and duplicated gastrointestinal organs by culturing stem cells -- another breakthrough in the study of human organ duplication.

China has successfully regenerated and duplicated gastrointestinal organs by culturing stem cells -- another breakthrough in the study of human organ duplication.

The achievement, following skin regeneration, may prove to be a valuable way of treating gastrointestinal diseases via regenerating gastric and intestinal mucosa tissues.

Professor Xu Rongxiang, a famous expert in burn treatment, announced his new development Sunday in Beijing. His achievement has been proved original, for no similar report was found worldwide after searching recent 20 years data in this field.

Xu and his team first cultured mouse gastric intestinal tissue in a culture fluid, which contained Gastro-intestinal Capsules (GIC), a material used to stimulate stem cells, which further divided into specialized cells. Xu said that after 18 days, cloned cells had multiplied and had grown quite well.

The research confirmed that GIC can actively improve the regeneration and replication of gastric-intestine mucosa and help repair mucosa tissue.

The technology has already been put into use. A medicine that aims to protect mucus and ensure the physiological functions of mucosa will soon be on the market. Meanwhile, technology to treat gastric and intestinal ulcers is under clinical study.

Xu said that the study of organ duplication is a promising field of life science in the 21st century. As a leading expert in stem cell study, Xu has published the regeneration formula firstly in the world and, given the first batch of his hi-tech products -- capsule containing GIC, to the national football team as a gift.

First State-level Stem Cell Base

China will start building a state-level stem cell base covering 4.47 hectares in Tianjin, north China, at the end of November.

��The base aims to store 500,000 samples of stem cells within three years of its establishment by which time selected patients can go through all curative processes including stem cell matching,transplanting and medicine application.

��The project, to be finished by the end of next year, will contain the stem cell storage center, a transplant center and a development center.

��At a cost of 300 million yuan (34.89 million U.S. dollars), thebase will be built by Xiehe Stem Cell Genic Project Limited Company, which has been set up by the blood research institute under the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences together with several listed companies.

��The company plans to make the base the most advanced stem cell transplanting center, the largest stem cell storage and network service in Asia, and a world class stem cell and antibody technology developing center with the largest domestic production base for genetic engineering, antibodies and medicine, said Lu Min,vice president of Xiehe Stem Cell Genic Project Limited Company.

��Establishment of the stem cell base will markedly boost the clinical application of stem cells throughout the country, according to Lu Min.

What is a stell cell

Stem cells have the ability to divide for indefinite periods in culture and to give rise to specialized cells. They are best described in the context of normal human development.
Human development begins when a sperm fertilizes an egg and creates a single cell that has the potential to form an entire organism. This fertilized egg is totipotent, meaning that its potential is total. In the first hours after fertilization, this cell divides into identical totipotent cells. This means that either one of these cells, if placed into a woman's uterus, has the potential to develop into a fetus. In fact, identical twins develop when two totipotent cells separate and develop into two individual, genetically identical human beings.
Approximately four days after fertilization and after several cycles of cell division, these totipotent cells begin to specialize, forming a hollow sphere of cells, called a blastocyst. The blastocyst has an outer layer of cells and inside the hollow sphere, there is a cluster of cells called the inner cell mass.

By PD Online Staff Li Heng

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