The DIY finger-prick technique opens door for extensive stem cell banking
1. Scientists at A*A*STAR’s Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) have developed a method to generate human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) from a single drop of finger-pricked blood. The method also enables donors to collect their own blood samples, which they can then send to a laboratory for further processing. The easy access to blood samples using the new technique could potentially boost the recruitment of greater numbers and diversities of donors, and could lead to the establishment of large-scale hiPSC banks.
2. By genetic reprogramming, matured human cells, usually blood cells, can be transformed into hiPSCs. As hiPSCs exhibit properties remarkably similar to human embryonic stem cells, they are invaluable resources for basic research, drug discovery and cell therapy. In countries like Japan, USA and UK, a number of hiPSC bank initiatives have sprung up to make hiPSCs available for stem cell research and medical studies.
3. Current sample collection for reprogramming into hiPSCs include invasive measures such as collecting cells from the bone marrow or skin, which may put off many potential donors. Although hiPSCs may also be generated from blood cells, large quantities of blood are usually required. In the paper published online on the Stem Cell Translational Medicine journal, scientists at IMCB showed for the first time that single-drop volumes of blood are sufficient for reprogramming into hiPSCs. The finger-prick technique is the world’s first to use only a drop of finger-pricked blood to yield hiPSCs with high efficiency. A patent has been filed for the innovation.
4. The accessibility of the new technique is further enhanced with a DIY sample collection approach. Donors may collect their own finger-pricked blood, which they can then store and send it to a laboratory for reprogramming. The blood sample remains stable for 48 hours and can be expanded for 12 days in culture, which therefore extends the finger-prick technique to a wide range of geographical regions for recruitment of donors with varied ethnicities, genotypes and diseases.
5. By integrating it with the hiPSC bank initiatives, the finger-prick technique paves the way for establishing diverse and fully characterised hiPSC banking for stem cell research. The potential access to a wide range of hiPSCs could also replace the use of embryonic stem cells, which are less accessible. It could also facilitate the set-up of a small hiPSC bank in Singapore to study targeted local diseases.
6. Dr Loh Yuin Han Jonathan, Principal Investigator at IMCB and lead scientist for the finger-prick hiPSC technique, said, “It all began when we wondered if we could reduce the volume of blood used for reprogramming. We then tested if donors could collect their own blood sample in a normal room environment and store it. Our finger-prick technique, in fact, utilised less than a drop of finger-pricked blood. The remaining blood could even be used for DNA sequencing and other blood tests.”
7. Dr Stuart Alexander Cook, Senior Consultant at the National Heart Centre Singapore and co-author of the paper, said “We were able to differentiate the hiPSCs reprogrammed from Jonathan’s finger-prick technique, into functional heart cells. This is a well-designed, applicable technique that can unlock unrealized potential of biobanks around the world for hiPSC studies at a scale that was previously not possible.”
8. Prof Hong Wanjin, Executive Director at IMCB, said “Research on hiPSCs is now highly sought-after, given its potential to be used as a model for studying human diseases and for regenerative medicine. Translational research and technology innovations are constantly encouraged at IMCB and this new technique is very timely. We hope to eventually help the scientific community gain greater accessibility to hiPSCs for stem cell research through this innovation.”
The Latest on: Stem cell banking
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Stem cell banking” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Stem cell banking
- Xiaomi launches 20000mAh power bank with built-in cable & 33W fast charging for $22on April 27, 2024 at 3:15 am
Xiaomi releases a 20000mAh power bank with built-in cable, 33W output, and dual color options for 159 yuan ($22).
- Daily Deals: Apple Watch Series 9, Samsung 4K OLED TV, TSA-Approved Power Bank, and Moreon April 26, 2024 at 7:35 am
Today's daily deals include a 25% discount on the latest Apple Watch Series 9, a new price drop on what was already the best deal we found on a Samsung OLED TV, the largest TSA-approved power bank ...
- Singapore – The Cordlife Saga – 3 Questions Affected Families Should Ask.on April 25, 2024 at 11:20 pm
In 2023, thousands of cord blood units stored at Singapore-listed cord blood bank Cordlife were found to have been damaged. The situation is still developing, with new information indicating that the ...
- John Cleese is spending thousands on stem cell therapy – is it really the secret to anti-ageing?on April 24, 2024 at 9:59 pm
“These cells travel around the body and when they discover a place ... Maybe put that trip to Switzerland on hold for now: your bank balance will certainly thank you.
- This swirly power bank might be the most sustainable battery pack on the planeton April 24, 2024 at 1:35 pm
Gomi makes power banks from recycled e-bike batteries and plastic bags, with excellent repairs, for peak sustainability.
- Stem cell bank sparks parental furyon April 23, 2024 at 4:51 pm
Thousands of parents here are furious, with some now pursuing legal action, after a major operator of cord blood banks in Asia irreparably damaged their children’s samples through improper handling.
- This Jackery Explorer 31,000mAh Power Bank Is TSA Carry-on Eligible and Under $100on April 23, 2024 at 10:40 am
Amazon is offering the Jackery Explorer 100 31,000mAh Power Bank for $99.99 after you clip the $30 off coupon on the product page. This is the largest capacity power bank we've seen that's TSA ...
- How a Cloned Ferret Inspired a DNA Bank for Endangered Specieson April 22, 2024 at 5:22 am
The birth of a cloned black-footed ferret named Elizabeth Ann, and her two new sisters, has sparked a new pilot program to preserve the tissues of hundreds of endangered species “just in case” ...
- Singapore stem cell bank scandal gives parents in Hong Kong, Philippines, India the jitterson April 21, 2024 at 4:03 am
The scandal now engulfing Cordlife Group Ltd. has implications across the region, given its operations in Hong Kong, Macau, Indonesia, the Philippines and India.
- ‘Nowhere is safe’: Fear and mourning inside the West Bank villages where Israeli settlers went on the rampageon April 20, 2024 at 3:39 pm
When a teenage Israeli shepherd died, a terrible price was paid by Palestinians living near by as settler violence reaches alarming new levels ...
via Bing News