The ethical snag is that the best stem cells are harvested from human embryos, killing them.
Our hope was to have a healthy child, unaffected by Fanconi anemia, whose umbilical cord, after birth, might provide the best stem cells -- matched in terms of tissue proteins with Henry, and so able to give him the best chance for a healthy life.
This is a scheme modelled after the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), which they initiated to attract the best stem-cell scientists and build the best stem-cell research programmes.
The best known stem cell lines, those first derived by Dr. James Thomson of the University of Wisconsin in 1998, belong to the university's intellectual property arm, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.
A major goal of studies on the contribution of stem cells to skeletal muscle regeneration is to identify the best human stem cell for treatment of muscular dystrophies [11], [13], [30].
6– 8 Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) represent one of the best established stem cell lines, with well defined protocols for cell purification, amplification, and transplantation.
Based on the above reported results showing a predominant localization at the base of normal crypts and overexpression in the precancerous lesions and tumours, we found that LGR-5 was the best putative stem cell marker among those analysed.
Currently, several large yet elusive questions remain to be addressed: (1) optimal delivery approach, (2) best progenitor stem cell type, (3) most effective dose, and (4) timing of administration.
Within the HF, the best characterized stem cell compartment lies in the bulge, the lower permanent part of the HF (Cotsarelis et al, 1989, 1990; Oshima et al, 2001; Rochat et al, 1994) (Fig 2).
While the issues of optimal delivery approach, the best progenitor stem cell type, the most effective dose, and timing of administration remain to be addressed, we are highly optimistic that stem cell therapy will provide a clinically viable option for myocardial regeneration.
