Amnio stem cells may take heat out of ‘embryonic’ debate

STEM CELL researchers reacted with enthusiasm and some reservations to a report that scientists have found stem cells in amniotic fluid, a discovery that would allow them to sidestep the controversy over destroying embryos for research.

Researchers at Wake Forest University and Harvard University reported that the stem cells they drew from amniotic fluid donated by pregnant women hold much the same promise as embryonic stem cells.

“Our hope is that these cells will provide a valuable resource for tissue repair and for engineered organs as well,” said Dr Anthony Atala, head of Wake Forest’s regenerative medicine institute and the senior researcher on the project.

They reported they were able to extract the stem cells from the fluid, which protects babies in the womb, without harm to mother or foetus, and turn their discovery into several different tissue cell types, including brain, liver and bone.

However, Dr Atala said the scientists still don’t know exactly how many different cell types can be made from the amnio stem cells.

Preliminary tests in patients are expected to be years away.

The cells from amniotic fluid “can clearly generate a broad range of important cell types, but they may not do as many tricks as embryonic stem cells”, said Dr Robert Lanza, chief scientist at Advanced Cell Technology.

“Either way, I think this work represents a giant step forward for stem cell research,” he said.

Dr George Daley, a Harvard University stem cell researcher, said the finding raises the possibility that expectant parents can freeze amnio stem cells for future tissue replacement in a sick child without fear of immune rejection.

However, Dr Daley said the discovery shouldn’t be used as a replacement for human embryonic stem cell research.