Scientists use stem cells to repair arthritis damage in mice

Scientists modified stem cells to help in the repairing of damage caused by arthritis. The doctors, lead by Ryosuke Kuroda, MD, PhD, at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh tweaked the DNA of a collection of stem cells to pump up the production of a bone-building protein called BMP-4. The results of the experiment were published in the May 2005 issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.

For the experiment, the team took stem cells from mouse muscles and used it, in conjunction with a specially synthesized binding chemical to act as a sort-of cellular spackle, on mice with knee injuries. Some mice got stem cells that had been genetically altered to make more BMP-4 while others got stem cells with normal genes. A third group received no stem cells. The mice could move freely around their cages as their knee injuries healed and were checked after four, eight, 12, and 24 weeks.

The mice that got the genetically altered stem cells healed best. The study reported that these mice grew glossy, white tissue that effectively repaired the joint damage. In the other groups, however, the healing didn't not go quite as well: Their joint repairs were rougher and didn't last as long. According to Mary Goldring, PhD, who wrote a journal editorial about the study, the results appeared "encouraging."

Article References
Stem Cells May Mend Arthritis Damage, site accessed on 05/08/2006