juk,
From what I am gathering the online report became available on May 28, same day as PR, which makes sense. You probably saw the June 5 date here, according to the statement publication is June 5.
"The research was reported online in the journal Cell Stem Cell and is due to be published June 5. The lead author, Kwang-Soo Kim, is a director of the CHA Stem Cell Institute, which is operated by CHA Biotech Co. Ltd. of Korea. CHA Biotech and Advanced Cell formed a joint venture last year to develop stem cell technologies focused on human blood cells."
By Lisa Eckelbecker TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
leckelbecker@telegram.com
WORCESTER — Scientists say they have found a way to generate human stem cells from skin cells without using viruses or genetic material, a technique that could provide a safer way to produce cells for patients.
The Harvard Medical School researchers, along with collaborator Dr. Robert P. Lanza of Advanced Cell Technology Inc. of Worcester, reported yesterday that they used a cell-penetrating peptide to ferry four key proteins into connective tissue cells. The proteins reprogrammed the cells to become induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells, a type of cell similar to embryonic stem cells.
The method differs from a technique, unveiled three years ago at Kyoto University, that deploys viruses to deliver genes into cells and reprogram them. Dr. Lanza, Advanced Cell chief scientific officer, said the new method eliminates risks associated with genetic and chemical manipulation. It also provides a way for patients to contribute cells that would be combined with proteins, grown into stem cells and used to generate other cells for the patient’s treatment.
“Not only can you create these stem cells, but they’re your own stem cells, so you don’t have to worry about rejection,” Dr. Lanza said.
The researchers said the iPS cells they created generated a range of cells, including neural, muscle and cartilage cells. Their method could be used to produce iPS cells for drug research, disease studies and future medical uses. But they also reported that the method was “very slow and inefficient and requires further optimization.”
The research was reported online in the journal Cell Stem Cell and is due to be published June 5. The lead author, Kwang-Soo Kim, is a director of the CHA Stem Cell Institute, which is operated by CHA Biotech Co. Ltd. of Korea. CHA Biotech and Advanced Cell formed a joint venture last year to develop stem cell technologies focused on human blood cells.
Dr. Lanza said Advanced Cell is using the new technique to produce cells and hopes to seek Food and Drug Administration approval to start human studies in mid- to late 2010 of a treatment for retinal degenerative disease.
