Physicians at four European universities have successfully transplanted a human windpipe, using stem cells from the recipient’s own bone marrow to reline a donor trachea and prevent its rejection by her immune system, according to an article in the British medical journal The Lancet.
The operation, performed in June, was the first to use stem cells in transplanting an airway, and is considered an important advance because it allowed the surgeons to replace a larger segment than had generally been possible in the past. The hope is that the stem cells will transform themselves into the kind of cells that normally line the windpipe and carry out important functions such as clearing mucus out of the airway.
Similar techniques using other types of cells from patients have been used to fashion bladders and also to grow skin for grafting.
In this case, surgeons used stem cells from the patient’s bone marrow because they have the ability to transform themselves into different types of tissue. In that sense, the marrow cells are similar to embryonic stem cells, but they are free of the ethical issues raised by the use of embryonic cells.
I heard about this the other day and thought:
Those that have said adult stem cells show more promise were dismissed as ideological whack-jobs. We said, hands off the embryos, we have so much possibility with adult stem cells. Oh, but the embryos were a much more effective club to beat pro-lifers with weren’t they?
Be we all know – it was never really about the possibilities with some, don’t we know this?
Posted by: Kevin W | November 20, 2008 at 09:21 AM
I am confused. Why did you include embryonic in the title? Shouldn't it just be Non-Destructive Stem Cell Research?
Posted by: Todd | November 20, 2008 at 02:49 PM
Ha! Yes, indeed. Thanks, Todd.
Posted by: Amy Hall | November 20, 2008 at 03:10 PM
Sure does seem those that would post such an article would fail to forget that this IS "Adult Stem Cells". OH it did come from the New York Times, that explains it... Then again,
the same could be said about Global Warming, but now that has been changed to "Global Climate Crisis".
I've forgotten how many "Great" things have come from Embryonic Stem Cells. Oh thats right ZERO, but hey we still need to spend money in this research and keep that emotional debate alive.
An investor would conclude that its better for government to fund failed research. I'd think those supporting it need government money as well. They can't make it in the Free Market. My money is on the Adult forms of stem cells.
Posted by: james | November 29, 2008 at 10:47 AM