Scientists from the U.S. and Japan have made a breakthrough in stem cell research, finding a cheap and easy way to reprogram adult cells from mice and return them in a state resembling embryonic when cells are able to differentiate into various cell types and tissues.

In other words - the specialists were able to obtain embryonic stem cells without embryos, Reuters, ending up publication in the journal "Nature." The discovery of embryonic stem cells, scientists have high hopes for their use in the treatment of many diseases because of their pluripotency - the ability to develop into different cells and tissues.

The problem with embryonic stem cells is that retrieval means the destruction of the embryo , which raises ethical issues. With the new method, these concerns fall. In 2006, scientists offer an alternative to embryonic cells - ie. induced pluripotent cells. These are normal adult cells back into an undifferentiated pluripotent state through the introduction of foreign genetic material. The problem of induced pluripotent cells , however, is that they can be differentiated only in certain cell types, in contrast to embryonic, which are able to develop into any cell type.

Now the authors of this study - specialists from Japan Institute for physico-chemical studies and their colleagues from the hospital "Brigham end uimins" in Boston and Harvard Medical School in the U.S. have demonstrated that any mature adult cell (somatic cell) has the potential to become equivalent of embryonic stem cells.

Scientists have demonstrated in preclinical models of innovative and unique way to reprogram adult cells that does not require the introduction of foreign DNA - a process used in induced pluripotent stem cells.
In the experiments specialists left mature adult cells to multiply , then they are stressed to near the limit, exposing them to different stress factors - trauma, limited oxygen, acidic environment. Scientists have found that within days the cells survived and recovered from stressful stimuls, returning naturally to a state similar to that of embryonic stem cells.

Thus obtained cells called STAP (Stimulus-triggered acquisition of pluripotency - acquired under the influence of incentives pluripotency) cells were able to differentiate and develop into different cell types and tissues depending on the conditions in which placed.

Cardiovascular problems - the most common cause of death for residents of Earth

American biologists for the first time in the world have created an artificial heart reprogrammed stem cells of human, using purified from cells of mouse heart as a "skeleton" of the future body, reported the journal Nature Communications.

According to the World Health Organization cardiovascular problems are the most common cause of death for residents of Earth. In 2008, for instance, over 17 million people have died of a heart attack or other cardiovascular diseases, and by 2030 the number could rise to 23 million.

Lei Yang of the University of Pittsburgh (USA) and his colleagues have made a big step towards reducing mortality from heart disease, having received a heart from reprogrammed stem cells to person.

Key step towards solving this problem was the creation of a special "blanks" - MCP-cells capable of becoming three key tissues of the heart - smooth muscle of vessel walls and in the so-called. cardiomyocytes, the core muscles of the body.

Another important component of the methodology Lei Yang and his colleagues is the "skeleton" of the heart, which is made from an old organ. For this purpose, researchers have handled it with a combination of chemicals that destroy cells and are left only locking them "skeleton." Then the "template" has been filled with cells - "preformed" and special preparations regulating their height. For the week the majority of these cells infiltrated "template" and is attached to it. 20 days give a "skeleton" has become a full heart, passed through itself and blood shortened to 40-50 times per minute.

A further task of scientists is to test whether they can use this method to obtain the part of the human myocardium.