'Molecular key' to successful blood stem cell transplants identified.Byline: ANI Washington, April 23 (ANI): Researchers at University of British Columbia Locations Vancouver The Vancouver campus is located at Point Grey, a twenty-minute drive from downtown Vancouver. It is near several beaches and has views of the North Shore mountains. The 7. have identified a 'molecular key' that has the potential to increase the success of blood stem cell transplants. Blood stem cell transplants are currently used to treat diseases such as leukemia, Hodgkin's lymphoma and aplastic anemia. During the procedure, donor blood stem cells - which can produce red and white blood cells White blood cells A group of several cell types that occur in the bloodstream and are essential for a properly functioning immune system. Mentioned in: Abscess Incision & Drainage, Bone Marrow Transplantation, Complement Deficiencies and platelets - are injected into the recipient to produce new blood. The stem cells then need to travel to the thymus thymus Pyramid-shaped lymphoid organ (see lymphoid tissue) between the breastbone and the heart. Starting at puberty, it shrinks slowly. It has no lymphatic vessels draining into it and does not filter lymph; instead, stem cells in its outer cortex develop into - an organ near the heart - and produce T-cells, a type of white blood cell that orchestrates the body's immune system. A common problem with blood stem cell transplants is the failure of stem cells to repopulate the thymus and generate T-cells. Without T-cells the patient is unable to fight infection and post-transplant prognosis is poor. Now, Prof. Hermann Ziltener and his research team at UBC's Biomedical Research Centre have identified a molecule called S1P that can tell the thymus to 'open the gates' and accept more stem cells. "This discovery gives us a handle on determining whether the thymus will be receptive to migrating stem cells. By treating patients with drugs that control S1P, scientists can now manipulate the thymic thymic /thy·mic/ (thi´mik) pertaining to the thymus. thy·mic adj. Of or relating to the thymus. thymic pertaining to the thymus. gates to either open or close," said Ziltener, a professor in the Dept. of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. The new study is published in the April issue of The Journal of Experimental Medicine The Journal of Experimental Medicine is an academic journal that publishes research papers and commentaries in the biomedical area. Topics covered include immunology, inflammation, infectious disease, hematopoiesis, cancer, stem cells and vascular biology. . (ANI) Copyright 2009 Asian News International The Asian News International (ANI) agency provides multimedia news to China and 50 bureaus in India. It covers virtually all of South Asia since its foundation and presently claims, on its official website, to be the leading South Asia-wide news agency. (ANI) - All Rights Reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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