Frozen Blood May Be Key to Stem Cell Research

Researchers have discovered a way to transform blood cells into stem cells. They found that stored blood that has been frozen can be used to create these valuable cells without the controversy. Typically, induced pluripotent stem cells are derived from human skin. However, with this latest discovery, researchers can use stem cells taken from stored blood to research numerous diseases. Drawing and storing blood is much easier than taking a skin tissue sample according to researchers in the study.

This exciting discovery will hopefully pave the way for more research into some diseases that currently have no cures or treatments. Scientists have known for years that they could potentially learn more about certain diseases if they were allowed to study human stem cells. There are laws that prevent stem cell research because of the ethical concerns many people have with the science.

The study was led by Rudolph Jaenisch and Judith Staerek of MIT. Staerek explains that stored blood cells can be injected with four programmable genes and urged to create any cell a researcher may need. In the past, blood cells have been impossible or extremely difficult to use to create IPS cells. However, the researchers discovered that frozen blood cells were much easier to work with. Staerek hopes to study various blood diseases with this new method. Jaenisch points out the vast amount of stored blood sitting in blood banks that may prove invaluable to the study of certain diseases. The study has been published in the journal Cell Stem Cell.