Scientists find new method of creating human stem cells
Q. Using which protein derived from human blood cells has a new method of creating human stem cells developed?- Published on 18 Jul 16a. Inter-alpha inhibitor
b. Intra-alpha inhibitor
c. Interactional alpha inhibitor
d. None of the above
ANSWER: Inter-alpha inhibitor
Scientists have found a new way to create human stem cells solving big issues of large scale production needed to realise the potential of the cells for coping with disease.
- Discovery was made by scientists from Britain’s University of Nottingham and Uppsala University and GE Healthcare in Sweden.
- Using a protein derived from human blood cells called Inter-Alpha inhibitor, human pluripotent stem cells in a minimal medium without the need for pricey and time consuming biological substrates were created.
- Inter-alpha inhibitor was found in human blood in high concentrations and is a by-product of standard drug purification schemes.
- Protein can make stem cells attach on unmodified tissue culture plastic and improve survival of stem cells in harsh conditions.
- This is the first stem cell culture method that does not need a pre-treated biological substrate for attachment and is a more easy way to initiate large scale production.
- Human pluripotent stem cells are undifferentiated cells that have a unique potential to develop into different body cells.
- Applications of this innovation include disease modelling, drug screening and tissue reengineering.
