New drug combo/stem cells/RA | Arthritis Information

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090108/hl_nm/us_stemcells_repair;_ylt=AuXtHkw90yMqd357b6dZ8oMPLBIF

LONDON (Reuters) – A novel drug combination using Genzyme Corp's Mozobil shows it may be possible to spur bone marrow into releasing extra adult stem cells into the bloodstream to repair the heart and broken bones, researchers said on Thursday.

The study of mice raises hope that researchers could use the same technique to tackle autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis in which the body confuses healthy tissues for foreign substances and attacks itself, they said.

"We hope that by releasing extra stem cells, as we were able to do in mice in our new study, we could potentially call up extra numbers of whichever stem cells the body needs," said Sara Rankin of Imperial College London, who led the study.

"Our work could lead to new treatments to fight various diseases and injuries which work by mobilizing a person's own stem cells from within."

Stem cells are the body's master cells, giving rise to various tissues and the blood. They are found throughout the organs, blood and tissue and are in immature form until they generate needed cell types.

Doctors hope to use them some day in a new field called regenerative medicine in which tailor-made transplants of tissues and perhaps organs can be grown from a patient's own cells.

Rankin and her team looked at mesenchymal stem cells -- immature cells than can give rise to bone, muscle or blood vessels -- and endothelial cells that help make blood vessels in the heart.

They treated healthy mice with one of two proteins that occur naturally in bone marrow called VEGF and G-CSF growth factor. Following this treatment the mice received Genzyme's stem-cell transplantation drug Mozobil.

Researchers know that G-CSF in combination with Mozobil mobilizes one kind of stem cell used in bone marrow transplantation known as hematopoetic stem cells, which give rise to blood cells. But Rankin and colleagues wanted to see if VEGF growth factor could stimulate other types of stem cells involved in building heart and bone tissue and blood vessels.

The team, which reported the findings in the journal Cell Stem Cell, found that mice given VEGF and Mozobil released around 100 times as many endothelial and mesenchymal stem cells into the bloodstream compared to mice that had no treatment.

While trials of the drug combinations in humans is years away, the researchers said the next step is determining in mice whether the technique actually helps repair damage, Rankin said.

"One of the exciting aspects is this would be a non-invasive treatment," she said in a telephone interview. "With this you are just giving a drug to promote what is a natural process."

(Reporting by Michael Kahn; editing by Maggie Fox and Elaine Hardcastle)

I wonder if you mobilize the new stem cells, are they in any better position to respond to an intracellular infection? Growning body parts is one thing...and needed....but for chronic illness???

Pip

HI All,

yes stem cells CAN repair chronic AI but not reverse the severe damage

3 YEARS RA FREE AND MEDICINE FREE

Although I had extensive bone damage, repairs had been noted by MRI or x-ray in neck, hips, chest, ribs etc.

Breaking science is closer than you think.

LuAnn :)

Hi Stemcell,

My name is Rich and I have RA or at least all the Docs thinks so for the past 5 yrs and will be starting Orencia. Have you ever tried that ? and If so was there any change in your RA ? .

I am so glad to hear that you have been RA free for 3 yrs now, how did you do it ??????

Please tell me as much as you can. I hate RA it sucks to have pain and stiffness all the time and give up weightlifting because if it. Hope to hear from you soon , by the way I am 42 yrs old and average weight and Male .

Thanks

Richi Hook me up!!! Hi Richi,

I had Stem cell transplantation (like bone marrow transplant) through a clinical trial in Chicago. Its experimental and reserved for the worst ones. I do not reccommend it unless you are housebound and/or bedridden. You have to endure a week of cytoxin (Strong chemo) and bulsfan sp (like mustard gas). Its a long recovery due to the lovely chemo.

You can google my story. I am being followed for 5 years and I can say without a doubt they burned the hell out of the RA and it is gone...gone..gone LOL

Get agressive with your treatment to avoid the damaging part of the disease. In hindsight, I think I made matters worst by messing around with alternative without the aid of conventional. It did not help that my insurance did not cover me for two years and within that two years , bam, knees gone, both had to be replaced.

Do Your research and keep on top of regular check ups to monitor if damage is occurring.

Good Luck!!!!

LuAnn!

I've been thinking about you! I'm overjoyed to here you passed the 3 year mark! You go, Girl!

So, how was your Holiday and how's the baby!

Pip

i want to do it! how do you sign up? i have not been pain free for 22 years and this past year i have really gotten slow not even dressing daily. i use to have about 3 hours a day in the early afternoon i could count on unless it was a very bad day. now i may have an hour.... i have to send my husband to parties and weddings and church without me because i just do not have the stamina it takes. what is going to happen to my near future? most meals he has to prepare or go out and buy and bring them home to me because the effort to eat out is too much. what is wrong with me? oh and i am swelling up like a whale. sounds delightful, doesn't it?Hi Pip,

Don't pass this way often. We are still working on repairing our house from Hurricane IKE.

Ins and FEMA have been non-existant here. grrrrrrrrrrrrr

WuShu baby doing great :)

Have a good 2009!!!!!