Trachea developed using Stem Cells from Amniotic Fluid

Undifferentiated stem cell from amniotic fluid,collected during pregnancy was used for producing the cells needed.The theory used is that mesenchymal stem cells descend directly from embryonic stem cells and they later specialize in making connective tissues, including muscle, bone, cartilage, fat and tendon.These cells are also rich in amniotic fluid, which in this case was exploited.

Even though defects in the windpipe or trachea are rare in humans, but they can be life-threatening and are difficult to repair once they occur. Often, surgery soon after birth is full complications, including brain damage. Hence it is hoped this technique can offer a way around such problems by repairing the defect before the baby is born.

"The fetus doesn’t need the trachea, so the repair would have time to heal in utero,"Dr. Dario Fauza of the Children’s Hospital of Boston said in a statement, "and fetal healing is very good -- it’s better than adult healing."

Mesenchymal cells from amniotic fluids were used by the scientists to culture the cells and grow them in cell culture tubes, with the required nutrients. Once the grafts with the engineered tissues were ready they were reconstructed on to the lambs.After about four to five weeks ,when the lambs were born, it was found that all five lambs that survived to term were able to breathe spontaneously at birth, four of them with no sign of respiratory distress.

Dr. Robert Lanza, vice president of medical and scientific development at Advanced Cell Technology in Worcester, Mass., praised and appreciated the results of the study. He was involved in a similar research in cows conducted about three years ago that generated a miniature kidney and heart muscle tissues."This study heralds a new phase of stem cell research," Lanza told United Press International. "To realize the full potential of any stem cells -- embryonic or adult-- we need to be able to use them to generate complex structures."

[inline:1] As mesenchymal stem cells can be obtained without harming the fetus they would avoid the ethical debate that currently surrounds embryonic stem cells and thus prove to be quite advantageous. In addition according to Dr.Lanza there are some indications mesenchymal stem cells equal embryonic stem cells in their ability to give rise to many of the cell types of the body.

Another advantage is that since mesenchymal cells originate from the fetus’ own cells, rejection risk by the immune system is reduced as is also in the case when tissues are transplanted from one person into another.Besides Very small amount of amniotic fluid is required to develop fetal cells and to repair malformation in newborn babies.

"Fetal cells are the best cells you can have for tissue engineering," he said. "They grow very well, and they’re very plastic -- you can coach them to do what you want."

With all the benefits and the success rate this surely seems as a breakthrough that could lead to ways to repair congenital defects before birth.