John Roach for National Geographic News
September 8, 2009
The research appears online today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Using leftovers from liposuction patients, scientists have turned human fat into stem cells, a new study says.
The discovery may also help avoid the controversy spawned by the use of stem cells from human embryos.
Human fat is "an abundant natural resource and a renewable one," said Stanford University plastic surgeon Michael Longaker, whose liposuction patients donated the fat for the study.
Longaker envisions a future in which doctors will be able to use fat from a patient to grow, in a lab, new tissues and organs for that patient.
The opportunity wouldn't be limited to the obese.
"Even if you're in great shape, there is still enough fat to be harvested from the vast majority of patients," added Longaker, who co-authored the study.
From Fat to Stem Cells to New Organs?
The reprogrammed cells, called induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells, are capable of turning into most types of cells in the body.
Scientists are keen to obtain these cells to study disease and, one day, use them to grow new tissue and replacement organs.
Previously, researchers had shown that they could derive this type of stem cell from ordinary skin cells.
But the fat technique is about twice as fast and 20 times more efficient, said Joseph Wu, the study's senior author.
"We can get iPS-like colonies, basically, in about 16 days, compared to 28 days to 32 days using [skin]," said Wu, a Stanford stem cell expert. "And if you count the number of colonies in [skin] versus fat ... we get about 20 times more the number of iPS colonies."
Reprogramming Cells
To create the stem cells, the scientists injected Trojan horse-like viruses into smooth muscle cells found in fat that surrounds blood vessels. Once inside, the viruses introduced genes that reprogrammed the cells, spurring them to grow into new forms.
Previously, this process had required growing the stem cells in a culture dish with nutrients from mouse cells. This had raised alarms about the potential for contamination from mouse proteins—a potential obstacle to government approval, Longaker, the plastic surgeon, said.
That the new method works at all is "somewhat surprising" and remains something of a mystery, Longaker said.
Sidestepping Stem Cell Controversy
The fat and skin methods allow researchers to sidestep the ethical controversy over the use of embryonic stem cells from cell lines originally harvested from unused human embryos from in vitro fertilization clinics.
In addition, Longaker noted, tissue or organs grown from a patient's own stem cells should be less likely to be rejected by the body.
The speediness of the fat method, in particular, could be lifesaving, he added.
For example, if a surgeon wanted to implant new heart tissue—derived from a heart attack victim's own fat—into a patient, the doctor might have only a short time before scar tissue would compromise the operation.
If he or she were able to generate the tissue within a few weeks, Longaker said, that "would be a big deal."
31 comments:
The growth of stem cells from human fat seems incredibly unbelieavable, but possible as researchers state their discoveries. It is amazing how science has advanced up to such a high degree, in which new human tissues will be able to be produced in a laboratory. New information learned from the blog was that researchers had also shown they could derive these stem cells from ordinary skin cells. Also, that the fat technique is much more faster, twenty times faster than the original skin cell technique. My personal point of view is quiet confusing. To a certain degree it is incredible on how science can help create new organs that a human may need to transplant, but then again i don't think it is right that science should be re-creating part of The Creator's primary creations. My point of view is between my moral views but then again how one can benefit from it. It is something amazing but I'm not a hundred percent in approval towards it because of my religious perspective and understanding. This blog will help others understand how science is growing each day, and how one can be helped by these advances. This may give hope to those who are in need of a transplant, and encourage them to seek science's newest advances.
* For it was Your who created my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I will praise You, because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, and I know this very well.
Psalm 139:13-14
Diseases and viruses form around everything now, and getting sick person to person is alarming as well. If scientists have gone this far as to investigate a faster,easier, and yet more efficent way of restoring "useless" fat into something that can save our lives. why is the death rate higher? In concern to the previous comment, I respect your religion and I as well believe He is the all mighty, but there is this situation where life and spiritulaity cant come to comparison. Something that I learned was that not only can someone with a serious problem, like a heart trransplant, can depend on fat, but that it could be way more efficient that past studies. But...what if a larger disease was to be created? I can say that if this was really a great step into science and life, why have researchers not put it to work? I there side effects? Can it affect your mental or physical structure? Is there any defects? How much of a positive percentage has it shown?
This is a great accomplishment for people around the world. One being that the case of fat replacing unborn fetuses makes it a more moral based for us because it doesnt come from that of a dead baby fetus. Also pertaining to the fact that the fats are being used makes it a speedy process making it less expensive for research funds in this category of research. This is a big step to the stem cell research i think.
Using fat to create stem cells is unimaginable. I didn't know that that was possible. The fact that fat is faster in creating ips cells than skin is amazing. This article really amazed me. I think other readers would be fascanated in this article. Readers would like to know interesting things about the human body.
Wow fat being use to create stem cells. Its amazing how many unimaginable discoveries are coming out into light. This is a big step for the modern science which would help us in many different ways when coming to the medical fields. I think this discoveries had lead us to continue looking for an abundance of new unimaginable things life has given us.
Its amazing how science advances more each day and after reading this blog and learning that stem cells can be created from fat cells. These actions would help more in organ transplats because how it states that it is less likely for the organ to be rejected. This is very helpful because I know of someone who has a disease in the liver and like it would be easier for he/she to get some fat from their body and use this method to be able to live a longer life with a healthy liver and like back then there wasn't anyway of saving the stem cells of the human embryos like today before the baby is born they ask you if you want to save the stem cells of the embryo.This blog will really help those in need of an organ transplant as of now and later in the future.
The usage of fat to create stem cells is a milestone of an accomplishment for everyone.Today, stem cell research is an experiment but now with this new component there is an increased chance that many people could overcome many obstacles in life such as spinal cord injuries and leukemia. Because it is still experimental, is it worth the risk? The fact that all people can benefit from this discovery is bigger picture. I believe that this is huge in general. Stem cell research has been frowned upon by many people but now that it can successfully be watched over maybe the critics can give it a chance to save a life.Cancer,muscle damage and many dieases affect thousands of people in America alone,hopefully now the large numbers can decrease.The future generation will have a better understanding of stem cells then we do but when you think about it, something as simple as the removal of excess fat from a body can save hundreds of people is something worth blogging about.People die everyday from many things but now I have complete faith that cancer, diease and diabetes won't be one of them.
This article was absolutely fascinating because stem cell research is a very controversial matter. The fact that scientists are now growing stem cells from fat cells not only gets rid of the ethical problems but it also gives use to one of the most abundant types of cells in the average american body. Not only that the rate at which the cells grow is amazing and may be the answer to some of our medical dilemas now a days. I believe this artical is extremely important because it will help with the futher and more in depth stem cell reseach so that in the near future all the people with medical conditions that require transplants will get the help they need using their own body.
This article is very interesting. It seems that fat is only something disgusting which nobody wants to have yet it is very helpfull if converted into stem cells. Stem cells will help a human by creating an organ or helping with the fixing of an organ with a persons personal fat. Fat is faster at creating stem cells since it has more induced pluripotent stem cells. It has about twice mor ips cells than skin cells. In order to create the stems cells scientist inject Trojan horse-like viruses into the smooth muscle cells found in the fat that surround the blood vessels. So now instead of just thinking of fat as something disgusting and unvaluable you might want to think again when you need a replacement oragan or just a simple tissue.
Using fat cells to create stem cells is a simple stroke of genius! Now scientists are able to create stem cells without the fear of being unethical or being harassed by members of the local church. The previous method on gathering stem cells through unused human embryo, was a bit drastic. However, these are UNUSED embryo, as in nobody wanted them, so putting them to create stem cells in order to help USED embryo (that's us). Stem cells are a big thing in science for the simple fact that you can fix a lot of problems with the human body. Still people saw this as an offense to their religion and their fundamental ideas, so the production of stem cells was slowed down, and those who practiced this were called unethical or were harassed by members of the local church. When people found out that they can use skin cells to create stem cells this was a turning point on making people see that stem cells aren't that bad. Now, with the latest form of turning fat into stem cells it makes things MUCH more easier. Fat is abundant everywhere and our skin can is limited. So using fat to make stem cells seems much more practical and easier seeing how so many Americans are getting some kind of liposuction. Through this discovery alone, I hope it has settled both arguments, it is a win-win situation. We get rid of our fat and we get stem cells in an ethical manner as well.
The growth of stem cells from human fat is an amazing discovery. It is incredible how science advances each day. Due to this discovery knew human tissue will be produced in a laboratory. with a faster, easier and more efficient way of the useless fat we have in excess. Many people who are waiting for transplants are way in hope to the saving of there lives. I'm very suprised and happy in a way for this discovery knowing that years from know the diseases such as cancer, transplants, muscle damage, and many others are going to be treated and cure with all this new discoveries.
Wow i didn't know that doctors could reuse fat from liposuction and use it to create stem cells. I also learned that this technique is twice as fast and 20 times more efficient. In my opinion this is very good because it is like a mutualism action because the person that is getting its fat out it will make them look skinnier and the fat can be used to create the stem cells. I also think that it is amazing how scientists always find a way to reuse resources that we have as human beings. This article will make people very happy because their fat that they have taken off do to liposuction is being use for good deeds.
Stem cell research has been a great controversy ever since it first started. I think this was due to the fact that many thought by using human embryos, they where killing unborn children, but now that they discovered the use of fat cells many are going to support the use of stem cells. These ips cells have the ability to turn into almost any type of cell in the body. The fat cells have the ability to turn into another cells twice as fat than an embryo cell. I think that this article is very informative. Our parts of the body can have so many functions and it's incredible. This article can help in the future with the more to come research on stem cells. They are extremely helpful with all these diseases we have in the world.
This article caused my mind to fill up with questions, which I must say weren't all answered. One of which was, what if the fat cells turn back into what they were after they had been changed? What if they had been used to replicate heart tissue? How would the heart react? Ok, that was more than one question, but one question alone won't satisfiy my thirst for knowledge.:)It was really interesting to see that science is finding different ways, every time more advanced, to help us. What I thought was really neat was that they claim that they can create an organ out of fat cells and that just leaves me speechless.
Stem cells from eating wrong what? The irony I say! Getting stem cells from such a huge source seems pretty unbelievable, but scientists proved it, so I'll just go with the flow. If this works out people might get paid for getting liposuction! learning this info might make me wanna gain some weight. The future is looking good now. With this discovery we could do 2 things first stop the people complaining about stem cell research from embryos, and open other doors for it. This information could help find some cures for some of those "incurable" deseases.
I'm glad scientist have found an alternative way to obtain stem cells. Its very interesting that scientist are able to turn fat cells into stem cells. With this new technology countless lives could be saved. I was previoulsly unaware that stem cells could be dervided from skin cells and who would have imagined that fat cells are more effect at producing stem cells. With thos new devolment it makes it morally ok to support stem cell research.
Scientists are really amazing people that make this very unbelievable discoveries. Would you ever imagine that human fat will have at some point a benefit for people in the future. I personally hate fat because it is what makes us fell ugly or bad about ourselves. But actually, I would have never imagined that this disgust of fat will turn to be a very efficient way of producing new tissues, inclusive organs. It is a great benefit for those who are waiting for a transplant because maybe, this could be there hope for their life. At last, I just have a curious question, but what if due to time, this discovery will cause damage for the ones that are in use of it.
This kind of discoveries is what makes science so interesting. I certainly agree that using the fat that is left over would be more preferable for me if i were to choose between a dead fetus tissue or a fat tissue. I just wouldn't feel comfortable and it just goes against what my morals are. It's really amazing how thing that at a certain point are called waste, become something so useful and beneficial. To know that science discovers new things like this everyday just sort of gives us humans doubts to what else might they come out with next time. It's quite awkward to think that fat, something that is pretty much hated by many, is now something precious to some.
Ok this is incredible and effective(as well as something i never knew), turning fats left over from liposuction into stem cells. That is genius, i also never knew that human fat was a natural resource. Imagine what we could do with the bodies of the passed on and use the fat and skin for new studies and create new life, wow its like a zombie movie!!
I saw this as an eye popping blog, things in this blog were incredible, i didnt know things about this kind of procedure and it makes you and i think that there are so many liposuctions a year, imagine what can be done with all that fat, imagine the amount of skin cells that can be made, or better yet imagine how many new studies can be made for this excess fat!
I feel that anyone would be interested in this blog, after reading this im pretty sure that people that are excess in fat can make a difference and contribute to the creation of new stem cells. I would contribute if i was completely excess in fat. Id be a hero!
The ability to turn fat into something usuable is quite intereting. The capability of technology and research has improved rapidly. I believe this is a testable and possible research because anything can really be functional is you can just identify how to use it.This also affects the way a utopian society is suppose to be. This is somehow artificial and against the will of nature itself. It all goes back to your moral values.This will improve a better life to those who are in risk but yet very dangerous because research hasn't quite proven its capabilities of being a 100 percent functional. Overall, it will affect everyone and pretty soon everything will be artificial.
Using fat to create stem cells is an amazing discovery. Not only is this much more easier it's also a lot more beneficial to everyone else. Ethics wont have to interfere with the gathering of stem cells. Plus, we get to shed off some pounds and do good at the same time. This way everyone is happy. Compared to the previous methods of gathering stem cells from unused embryos and using skin cells to convert them into stem cells. This method seems much more faster and much more easier. Since fat is renewable and we can produce a lot of it, and we are only limited to a certain amount of skin, this makes things a lot more easier and practical. Using unborn embryos was over the top, but at the time it was the only way, now we can do harvest stem cells without feeling guilty or angering the church.
Stem cell research IS a big controversy. The fact that they have discovered this new technique in stem cell research is very extraordinary. By using a person's own fat tissue to turn them into different cells for research is a great route to go. No one wants fat on their body and everyone is arguing about the ethical issues of this type of research on human embryo cells so it is a win-win situation. I hope scientists and researchers do find a way to grow new human organ. This would be a huge step for scientist and would benefit many.
Wow, that is very very interesting, i wouldve never imagined that people were capable to do that, but now thanks to this article it has made me gain some knowledge of stem cell .
This will hopefully extend more experiments and maybe even lead people to perform those certain experiments. After all one person isn't good enough to do such a complicated task.
If obama were to never have passed the stem-cell research this prolly would've never have existed, or would it?
Freakin' amazing!! It makes me want to scream and dance and practically throw my hands way up in the air!! To think that FAT, a substance that more than likely, every single person on this planet hates, has turned out to be a life saving altenative. Wow! We are all saved!! There is no need to worry Lindsay, fat is good for you. Fat turned into stem cells which can turn in to any cell in your body can help save your life. Science has come a long way and i feel safe that we have more alternatives to choose from, in the case that it is necessary. Advancements in science such as these are making lives around the world easier, and i am forever grateful.(: Super cool.
According to this article stem cells can be created by using human fat...is this crazy or what? They are also saying that not only will the stem cells be successfully created but they will also be able to grow new issues and organs.I actually find this discovery very amazing because I would have never imagined how something that everyone finds quite disgusting is actually the best key to open the opportunity of new organs to be produced.Isnt it funny something we just want to get rid of suddenly becomes necessary for us.I'm totally for this cause if fat is abundant and a renewable resource then why not?I see this as a positive turn out to many but it just sounds too good to be true..hmmm... I wonder....it's awsome but we still have to keep researching until we're completely sure of this. I know I'm very confusing but quick assumtions or decions towards something without completly knowing it all can cause an impact in your life. This research is and will hopefully be very useful in the future.I'm pretty sure scientist will come up with another way more convincing article just like this one or better. :)
How amazing is that our fat could save us but that is weird like I wonder if there is people that want to be fat just for that like I think that been fat have lots of disadvantages in their lives, and I think they should just try to be healthier since in our nation the obesity is huge problem. I also wonder if the fast food restaurants will be promoting that they are supporting the cure. lol Well I just think that there is many amazing discoveries that benefit us and will be an impact to many people.
And we always thought that fat was something that us humans couldn't stand living with (In excess). Now it ironically turns out to be that there's a process that uses fat to possibly save lives. That is something that I can't even imagine. Research really does uncover alot of unbelievable facts.
Ha well this is a plus side to the chunky people lol jk...Its impressive to see how out of our own fat we can create stem cells that can be used to replicate the cells of certain organs in our body. This is an amazing study knowing we can harvest the solution to our problem stored as fat. With further study this can really change the opportunites of those in need of organs knowing that we in time may be able to replicate their organs from their own body lessening the chance of rejection from the body.
First of all I did not know fat could ever be useful ones taken off from your body, that's weird. Turning it into a stem cell is astounding. I think things like these is why technology is good. I still think it has more cons but who knows this could help a lot. If they continue using technology like this we may find other ways to stop other problems in the human body. Sweet!
Ana Armendariz 3rd
Unbelieavable how fat can be reused to make stem cells. Man these doctors are such nerds(geniuses). Its amazing how we are coming up with new discoveries and still many to be made. A wonderfull benefit from this research is that we dont have to use fetuses we can use fat its much less expesive.
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