Lumen Winter 2018 - Flipbook - Page 27
ADULT STEM CELLS
Adult stem cells are often tissue specific and can
differentiate, as needed, into the various cells that
make up that tissue.
How do we obtain adult airway stem cells?
By inserting a fine brush through a tube inserted into
the airway and brushing the epithelium to dislodge it.
The cells are then purified and can be grown in special
liquid that allows them to divide into more stem cells.
What can we do with the airway stem cells?
In the case of Nigel’s research, once the cells are
obtained from a patient they can be treated with geneaddition therapy, to insert a healthy copy and replace
the faulty one. The goal is to transplant the fixed cells
back into the patient’s airways to correct the disease.
By using the patient’s own cells, we can prevent the
immune system from being a barrier to the treatment.
This has been successful with bone marrow diseases,
and the team Nigel is working with is now attempting
to apply these successes to the airways.
How do adult stem cells differ from embryonic stem cells?
Top: Dr Nigel Farrow
Photo by Russell Millard
Above: Dr Farrow with daughter, Ella.
Embryonic stem cells have the ability to form all the
cells, tissue and organs of the human body. Adult stem
cells form the cells and tissue of a given organ, and are
present throughout life.
Adult stem cells can be obtained from a patient or
donor, and are therefore not subject to the same ethical
dilemma often found with using embryonic stem cells.
Alumni Magazine ~ Winter 2018
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