The recent discovery of an alternative stem cell that does not require harvesting embryos could shift the ethical debate over their use.
A recent study directed by UW-Madison researchers found the alternative stem cells, known as induced pluripotent cells, to be 99 percent similar in protein structure to embryonic cells' ability to generate into any cell in the body.
""We looked at RNA, at proteins and at structures on the proteins that help regulate their activity and saw substantial similarity between the two stem-cell types,"" said Joshua Coon, an associate professor of chemistry and biomolecular chemistry who directed the study.
The discovery could mean IPS cells have the capability to replace embryonic cells used in stem cell research.
Coon said IPS cells are a strong alternative to embryonic stem cells because they are not taken from embryos, making them far less controversial. Additionally, they are grown from a patient's own cells, preventing the possibility of their immune system rejecting the stem cells.
While every cell in the body can construct the protein it needs, each cell regulates their proteins to ensure it fulfills its specific biological purpose.
New technology made the study possible by allowing researchers to measure the way the cells regulate their proteins, leading to the discovery of similarities between embryonic stem cells and IPS's.
According to Coon, the study is not the last step in determining the similarity between the two cells. He said stem cell research groups need to conduct follow-up studies to determine the IPS cells' ability to be transformed into a more specialized cell, such as a neuron cell.
