Submission + - Fat cells used to create beating heart cells (bobim.org)
Amenacier writes: Melbourne scientists recently made the discovery that stem cells isolated from adult fat cells could be made to turn into beating heart muscle cells when cultured with rat heart cells. This discovery may lead to the usage of fat stem cells in the reparation of cardiac damage, or to fix such cardiac problems as holes in the heart.
It is proposed that culturing the stem cells with rat heart cells allows them to differentiate into heart muscle cells through the action of signals from the heart cells. In the future it may be possible to inject/transplant the stem cells into the damaged area and have them naturally differentiate into the type of cell required, with only the natural stimuli provided by surrounding cells required to effect the process, without any danger of rejection by the body.
The original article can be found at the Bernard O'Brien Institute of Microsurgery website: http://bobim.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=88&Itemid=37
I for one welcome our rat-fat-heart cell overlords, what about you?
It is proposed that culturing the stem cells with rat heart cells allows them to differentiate into heart muscle cells through the action of signals from the heart cells. In the future it may be possible to inject/transplant the stem cells into the damaged area and have them naturally differentiate into the type of cell required, with only the natural stimuli provided by surrounding cells required to effect the process, without any danger of rejection by the body.
The original article can be found at the Bernard O'Brien Institute of Microsurgery website: http://bobim.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=88&Itemid=37
I for one welcome our rat-fat-heart cell overlords, what about you?