Image Credit: Phase Images. In Stem Cell Information [World Wide Web site]. Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2008.
We read about stem cell lines all of the time. Suppose you wanted to experiment with stem cells. Where would you start?
Stem Cell Information, published by the National Institute of Health (NIH) is a good 'first' resource. One of the first things you read is that the subject is complex - several schools and organizations offer courses to teach researchers how to propagate and maintain a stem cell line. An example is WiCell's Introductory Course. They will teach you how to culture human Embryonic Stem (hES) cells in mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) feeder layers, and much more.
If you have laboratory experience, perhaps you only need the protocols, such as Culture of Human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESC). As an example,
- 6-well plates (Falcon Cat #353046) are coated for 20 to 60 minutes at room temperature with 0.1% gelatin (Sigma Cat #G1890) in dH2O.
- Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (CF1 strain), cultured in MEF medium, are mitotically inactivated by treatment with 10μg/ml mitomycin C (Roche Cat #107 409) for 2 to 3 hours at 37°C. Cells are washed three to four times with PBS, trypsinized (Invitrogen Cat #25300-054), and plated at a density of 0.75 x 105/ml with 2.5ml per well of a gelatin-coated 6-well dish. Alternatively, cells may be inactivated by exposure to 8000rads of X-irradiation and plated at the same density
The NIH Human Embryonic Stem Cell Registry is a good place to purchase a line of stem cells. These 44 stem cell lines have been approved under U.S. policy and are considered 'immortal' by researchers. A stem cell creates a replica of itself, and with these stem cell lines being propagated independently by laboratories all over the world, they should never die. There is large distinction between non-profit and commercial use of the stem cell lines. (Sheesh - our culture of everyone trying to take the last nickel off the table becomes wearying.)
There are three different types of stem cells. Multipotent cells are specialized, but have the ability to adapt within a band of specialization. Pluripotent cells are highly prized, because they can become any type of cell within the body. There are issues - first, they must come from embryos, and second, researchers don't know how to switch them into a specific type of cell. More recently induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC) have been discovered. Through some genetic manipulation, an adult cell can be converted into something very similar to an embryonic stem cell.
Imagine that your car mechanic could only repair an existing part - no additional parts could be purchased for your automobile. That is analogous to medicine today. Imagine if retinas, or livers could be regrown. Stem cells offer a huge advancement for medicine, and ultimately for mankind.
Comments