21 May 2013 Living Ink This is no ordinary printout. The pattern has been created not by ink, but by living human cells. Two types – stem cells (stained red) and blood vessel wall cells (stained green) – have been positioned on a patch using a device that’s similar to an office inkjet printer. Each cell type is released onto the patch in a set order, just as droplets of ink are printed onto paper. When the patch was applied to a damaged rat heart, the stem cells were able to help the blood vessels regenerate. Cells printed into a grid like this did a better job than those randomly jumbled up on the patch. Scientists now are beginning to print cells in three dimensions, creating made-to-order structures that resemble living tissues. Perhaps one day they will be able to print out whole organs at the touch of a button. Written by Emma Stoye — Wenzhong Li, Gustav Steinhoff Reference and Translation Center for Cardiac Stem Cell Therapy, University of Rostock, Germany Copyright Elsevier 2012 Published in Biomaterials 32(35): 9218-9230
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21 May 2013

Living Ink

This is no ordinary printout. The pattern has been created not by ink, but by living human cells. Two types – stem cells (stained red) and blood vessel wall cells (stained green) – have been positioned on a patch using a device that’s similar to an office inkjet printer. Each cell type is released onto the patch in a set order, just as droplets of ink are printed onto paper. When the patch was applied to a damaged rat heart, the stem cells were able to help the blood vessels regenerate. Cells printed into a grid like this did a better job than those randomly jumbled up on the patch. Scientists now are beginning to print cells in three dimensions, creating made-to-order structures that resemble living tissues. Perhaps one day they will be able to print out whole organs at the touch of a button.

Written by Emma Stoye

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Published in Biomaterials 32(35): 9218-9230

Source: bpod.mrc.ac.uk

Eye Insights The eyes of fish grow larger throughout their lives because stem cells produce new tissue in the retina, the light-sensitive lining at the back of the eye. Humans and other mammals lack these stem cells, so the retina can neither grow nor be repaired naturally. Studies of zebrafish show that the development of stem cells in the retina is controlled by chemicals from nerve cells nearby. This research may lead to a better understanding of degenerative diseases of the eyes and nervous system in humans and the causes of cancer, which can occur when stem cells go out of control. Pictured is a cross-section of a zebrafish eye. The ring stained green with the dark centre is the lens, with the retina appearing as a semi-circle around it. Stem cells are concentrated in the regions at either end of the red-stained arcs of nerve connecting tissue. Written by Mick Warwicker — Kara Cerveny Zebrafish Research, UCL, London
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Eye Insights

The eyes of fish grow larger throughout their lives because stem cells produce new tissue in the retina, the light-sensitive lining at the back of the eye. Humans and other mammals lack these stem cells, so the retina can neither grow nor be repaired naturally. Studies of zebrafish show that the development of stem cells in the retina is controlled by chemicals from nerve cells nearby. This research may lead to a better understanding of degenerative diseases of the eyes and nervous system in humans and the causes of cancer, which can occur when stem cells go out of control. Pictured is a cross-section of a zebrafish eye. The ring stained green with the dark centre is the lens, with the retina appearing as a semi-circle around it. Stem cells are concentrated in the regions at either end of the red-stained arcs of nerve connecting tissue.

Written by Mick Warwicker

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Source: bpod.mrc.ac.uk

Brand New Bone Scientists can now grow living bone from human stem cells, a process known as bone-tissue engineering. Stem cells are inserted into natural or synthetic scaffolds, where they differentiate into bone cells and form hard bone tissue. But different techniques used to get this process going affect its efficiency, and researchers are still perfecting their methods. This microscopy photo shows a purple-stained cell-scaffold that’s first been filled with a special stem cell-containing solution that encourages those cells to disperse and stick to the scaffold. It’s then cultured in a constant flow of fluid that simulates natural conditions This results in a higher density of cells and support structures than other methods, and better stimulates the differentiation of those cells. It also produces the healthiest bone grafts – living replacement parts that could one day be used to repair damaged or defective bones in humans. Written by Daniel Cossins — Jian-Zhong Xu The Third Military Medical University, China Originally published under a Creative Commons Attribution license Published in PLoS ONE 8(1): e53697
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Brand New Bone

Scientists can now grow living bone from human stem cells, a process known as bone-tissue engineering. Stem cells are inserted into natural or synthetic scaffolds, where they differentiate into bone cells and form hard bone tissue. But different techniques used to get this process going affect its efficiency, and researchers are still perfecting their methods. This microscopy photo shows a purple-stained cell-scaffold that’s first been filled with a special stem cell-containing solution that encourages those cells to disperse and stick to the scaffold. It’s then cultured in a constant flow of fluid that simulates natural conditions This results in a higher density of cells and support structures than other methods, and better stimulates the differentiation of those cells. It also produces the healthiest bone grafts – living replacement parts that could one day be used to repair damaged or defective bones in humans.

Written by Daniel Cossins

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Source: bpod.mrc.ac.uk

Hunting for Sox These snaking trails of coloured blobs are leading researchers to a deeper understanding of prostate cancer. These are thin slices of tissue taken from healthy prostate samples, labelled with fluorescent tags that highlight different molecules. On the left, cells carrying a protein called p63 are picked out in red, while cells bearing p63 together with another protein – Sox2 – are yellow. On the right, this image has been overlaid with a blue stain that detects the nuclei of the cells. Sox2 is well known to biologists as it plays an important role in stem cells, but these images show that it’s found in normal prostate cells too. Scientists have now discovered that there are particularly high levels of it in prostate cancers that are resistant to hormone therapy, so understanding what Sox2 is up to in these tumours could lead to more effective treatments in the future. Written by Kat Arney — Donald Vander Griend The University of Chicago, USA Originally published under a Creative Commons Attribution license Published in PLoS ONE 8(1): e53701
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Hunting for Sox

These snaking trails of coloured blobs are leading researchers to a deeper understanding of prostate cancer. These are thin slices of tissue taken from healthy prostate samples, labelled with fluorescent tags that highlight different molecules. On the left, cells carrying a protein called p63 are picked out in red, while cells bearing p63 together with another protein – Sox2 – are yellow. On the right, this image has been overlaid with a blue stain that detects the nuclei of the cells. Sox2 is well known to biologists as it plays an important role in stem cells, but these images show that it’s found in normal prostate cells too. Scientists have now discovered that there are particularly high levels of it in prostate cancers that are resistant to hormone therapy, so understanding what Sox2 is up to in these tumours could lead to more effective treatments in the future.

Written by Kat Arney

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Source: bpod.mrc.ac.uk

Dyed Hair We’re all hairy. Hair covers almost all of our bodies, from the flowing locks on our heads to the delicate wisps on our arms and legs. Far from being purely cosmetic, mammalian hair evolved millions of years ago as protection from the cold – long before any cave-person thought of sticking a bone through it and going on the hunt for a date. Pictured, dyed blue and green, is a bed of tiny mouse hair follicles, the organs in mammalian skin from which hairs sprout. Arrector pili muscles (stained red and pink attached to the follicles) pull the hair upright in cold weather to produce ‘goose bumps’ – trapping a layer of air next to the skin for warmth. At the base of each follicle is a round blue structure called ‘the bulge’ where stem cells are nurtured before being released into the follicle to produce new, luxuriant, hair growth. Written by John Ankers — Ian Smyth Monash University, Australia
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Dyed Hair

We’re all hairy. Hair covers almost all of our bodies, from the flowing locks on our heads to the delicate wisps on our arms and legs. Far from being purely cosmetic, mammalian hair evolved millions of years ago as protection from the cold – long before any cave-person thought of sticking a bone through it and going on the hunt for a date. Pictured, dyed blue and green, is a bed of tiny mouse hair follicles, the organs in mammalian skin from which hairs sprout. Arrector pili muscles (stained red and pink attached to the follicles) pull the hair upright in cold weather to produce ‘goose bumps’ – trapping a layer of air next to the skin for warmth. At the base of each follicle is a round blue structure called ‘the bulge’ where stem cells are nurtured before being released into the follicle to produce new, luxuriant, hair growth.

Written by John Ankers

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Source: bpod.mrc.ac.uk

Mind Control Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease – shaking, rigidity and slowness of movement – are caused by the death of brain cells that produce dopamine, a substance that allows signals to travel along nerve channels. As dopamine levels fall, the brain gradually loses control of movement in the body. There is currently no cure but scientists hope that in future it may be possible to replace these nerve cells, known as dopaminergic neurons, by culturing new ones from stem cells in the laboratory and injecting them into the patient’s brain. Experiments are beginning to yield promising results. Embryonic stem cells taken from a mouse are seen here developing into new dopaminergic neurons (stained red), while those stained green have already begun the transition and are known as progenitor cells. Written by Mick Warwicker — Nicole Gennet MRC Clinical Sciences Centre
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Mind Control

Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease – shaking, rigidity and slowness of movement – are caused by the death of brain cells that produce dopamine, a substance that allows signals to travel along nerve channels. As dopamine levels fall, the brain gradually loses control of movement in the body. There is currently no cure but scientists hope that in future it may be possible to replace these nerve cells, known as dopaminergic neurons, by culturing new ones from stem cells in the laboratory and injecting them into the patient’s brain. Experiments are beginning to yield promising results. Embryonic stem cells taken from a mouse are seen here developing into new dopaminergic neurons (stained red), while those stained green have already begun the transition and are known as progenitor cells.

Written by Mick Warwicker

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Source: bpod.mrc.ac.uk

Brain Transplant Brain transplants may seem like science fiction but for Huntington’s disease patients the concept brings hope. This progressive disorder is caused by the loss of neurons [brain cells] that die in response to the build up of a toxic mutant protein. If scientists could replace the lost cells with those containing a normal protein is it possible they could lessen the symptoms? Such an innovative technique is risky so must be tested in a model system to show that the treatment works and is safe. The picture shows such a model: human stem cells – with the capability to become any cell – were cultivated into neurons and then transplanted (stained green) into the region of a rat’s brain (shown in red) worst affected by a form of Huntington’s. The research is still at an early stage but has potential as a treatment for more common brain disorders such as dementia. Written by Julie Webb — Charles Arber MRC Clinical Sciences Centre
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Brain Transplant

Brain transplants may seem like science fiction but for Huntington’s disease patients the concept brings hope. This progressive disorder is caused by the loss of neurons [brain cells] that die in response to the build up of a toxic mutant protein. If scientists could replace the lost cells with those containing a normal protein is it possible they could lessen the symptoms? Such an innovative technique is risky so must be tested in a model system to show that the treatment works and is safe. The picture shows such a model: human stem cells – with the capability to become any cell – were cultivated into neurons and then transplanted (stained green) into the region of a rat’s brain (shown in red) worst affected by a form of Huntington’s. The research is still at an early stage but has potential as a treatment for more common brain disorders such as dementia.

Written by Julie Webb

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Source: bpod.mrc.ac.uk

Pee-Brain When we’re born we have the potential to become anything from an astronaut to a zookeeper, but as we grow up our options narrow. The same is true of cells, with stem cells representing that time in our life when anything is possible. A stem cell can transform into any cell the body requires (such as neurons, pictured) - a trait that scientists are keen to harness to treat disease. The adult human body doesn’t have an ample supply of stem cells, so efforts are underway to convert mature, specialised cells into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. Scientists have already succeeded using viral DNA that wheedles itself into the mature cell’s genome to reprogramme it. Now a potentially safer way has been developed. Cells from urine were infected with bacterial DNA, which didn’t disrupt the cells’ genome but still converted them into iPS cells. These were then nurtured into neurons. Written by Lux Fatimathas — Research published in Nature Methods 2012 Image available under Creative Commons Licence (CC-BY-NC-ND 2.0), Courtesy Rakesh Karmacharya, Wellcome Images
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Pee-Brain

When we’re born we have the potential to become anything from an astronaut to a zookeeper, but as we grow up our options narrow. The same is true of cells, with stem cells representing that time in our life when anything is possible. A stem cell can transform into any cell the body requires (such as neurons, pictured) - a trait that scientists are keen to harness to treat disease. The adult human body doesn’t have an ample supply of stem cells, so efforts are underway to convert mature, specialised cells into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. Scientists have already succeeded using viral DNA that wheedles itself into the mature cell’s genome to reprogramme it. Now a potentially safer way has been developed. Cells from urine were infected with bacterial DNA, which didn’t disrupt the cells’ genome but still converted them into iPS cells. These were then nurtured into neurons.

Written by Lux Fatimathas

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Source: bpod.mrc.ac.uk

Home From Home New blood cells are born in the marrow deep inside our bones. It’s a special environment packed with blood vessels, spongy walls and a host of supporting cells, known as stromal cells, which provide all the right signals for blood cell creation. But as well as providing the right environment for healthy blood cells, bone marrow can also harbour the rogue stem cells that fuel leukaemia [blood cancer]. Because of its hidden location it’s hard for scientists to see exactly what’s going on in the bone marrow. To get round this problem, researchers have developed artificial bone marrow implants from a sponge-like gel soaked with supporting stromal cells. When placed under a mouse’s skin, the implants (stained blue) quickly become threaded with blood vessels (green), attracting leukaemia cells (pink) that thrive there. The new implants will be a useful tool for scientists studying healthy and cancerous blood cells. Written by Kat Arney — Jungwoo Lee Harvard Medical School, USA Published in PNAS 109(48) 19638-19643
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Home From Home

New blood cells are born in the marrow deep inside our bones. It’s a special environment packed with blood vessels, spongy walls and a host of supporting cells, known as stromal cells, which provide all the right signals for blood cell creation. But as well as providing the right environment for healthy blood cells, bone marrow can also harbour the rogue stem cells that fuel leukaemia [blood cancer]. Because of its hidden location it’s hard for scientists to see exactly what’s going on in the bone marrow. To get round this problem, researchers have developed artificial bone marrow implants from a sponge-like gel soaked with supporting stromal cells. When placed under a mouse’s skin, the implants (stained blue) quickly become threaded with blood vessels (green), attracting leukaemia cells (pink) that thrive there. The new implants will be a useful tool for scientists studying healthy and cancerous blood cells.

Written by Kat Arney

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Source: bpod.mrc.ac.uk

Backward Jump The multitude of different cells in our body derive from the single cell formed at conception. If we could reverse this biological clock, it may be possible to reprogramme DNA in one type of cell to form another – for example, new heart or liver tissue could be generated from skin cell DNA. Our knowledge of regenerative medicine is being advanced by experiments on the African clawed frog, whose developing egg cells, or oocytes, have the remarkable ability to reprogramme adult DNA to an immature condition. By inserting mouse DNA into oocytes and observing the changes that occur, scientists recently identified a group of proteins that play an important part in early reprogramming of cells. The oocytes seen here are from an experiment in the laboratory of Sir John Gurdon, who was this year awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine for his discovery that mature cells can be reprogrammed. Written by Mick Warwicker — Vincent Pasque, University of Cambridge Wellcome Image Award Winner 2012 Originally published under Creative Commons (CC-BY-NC-ND)
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Backward Jump

The multitude of different cells in our body derive from the single cell formed at conception. If we could reverse this biological clock, it may be possible to reprogramme DNA in one type of cell to form another – for example, new heart or liver tissue could be generated from skin cell DNA. Our knowledge of regenerative medicine is being advanced by experiments on the African clawed frog, whose developing egg cells, or oocytes, have the remarkable ability to reprogramme adult DNA to an immature condition. By inserting mouse DNA into oocytes and observing the changes that occur, scientists recently identified a group of proteins that play an important part in early reprogramming of cells. The oocytes seen here are from an experiment in the laboratory of Sir John Gurdon, who was this year awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine for his discovery that mature cells can be reprogrammed.

Written by Mick Warwicker

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Source: bpod.mrc.ac.uk