Singapore, Aug 11, 2010: Scientists at the National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan, have announced a breakthrough in stem cell research with experiments that successfully turn cells in the umbilical vein, into “all-purpose” induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS).

The iPS can, as proven in preliminary experiments, be turned into cells of the nerves, skin, liver, pancreas and other organs. By doing so, the cells may, in the future, become key to treating diseases.

Research Associate Mr Yen Ling-yu has pointed out the difficulty in obtaining stem cells, describing the process as riddled with ethical concerns. Scientists in the US and Japan have been figuring out ways to make ordinary cells useful in stem cell technology for years.

The process by which ordinary cells become stem cells requires four additional transcription factors (OCT4, SOX2, c-MYC and KLF4). Research shows that the c-MYC and KLF4 genes could turn cells cancerous, which has greatly limited its scope of application for scientists.

The human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) used by National Health Research Institute scientists were found to be rich in KLF4 gene, a key role in stem cell transformation. The umbilical cells did not require the cancer-inducing genes of c-MYC and KLF4 to turn into a stem cell, scientists discovered.
The researchers pointed out that the HUVECs were taken from the umbilical cords of newborn infants, which are often discarded by obstetricians. In the future, the new stem cells can help treat strokes, diabetes and other diseases. The “all-purpose” factor of the cell — its ability to be turned into other types of cells in the body — opens up new opportunities for it to be tested as a treatment of disease.