Japanese health ministry team has developed technology to safely and effectively reproduce stem cells from umbilical cord blood.

The technology may increase the success rate of stem cell transplantation, which is used to treat serious diseases such as leukemia, ministry officials said. Clinical tests using the new technique are already planned for leukemia patients.

Note: Cord blood contains stem cells that can be used in transplants for as many as 80 serious medical problems. It includes the most prevalent types of leukemia, metabolic disorders such as Tay-Sachs disease, blood-related conditions such as sickle cell anemia and severe anemia problems.

The technology is also expected to be useful in reproducing bone marrow stem cells, lessening the burden on bone marrow donors.

The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry team was able to reproduce cord blood stem cells 30 times in 12 days by mixing interleukin-6 and three other proteins in the cord blood. The reproduction rate is about four times faster than a similar method developed overseas.

Stem cells grown using this method did not become cancerous, officials said, adding the safety of the technology has been confirmed.

Note: Umbilical cord blood stem cells have the potential to treat a host of serious illness as mentioned above. However they are not multipotent as embryonic stem cells.

Source: The Japan Times