Research Breakthrough Changes Ethics of Stem Cell Debate

Breakthroughs could make the use of stem cell research at Columbia University Medical Center and institutions across the globe less ethically polarizing by eliminating the need to destroy embryos.

Piggybacking on the work of two researchers from Kyoto University who this summer turned mice’s skin cells into stem cells, two groups from Japan and the United States independently confirmed last week that they had successfully done the same with human cells. This breakthrough might eliminate the need for destroying human embryos to obtain embryonic stem cells, garnering hope that the revolutionary method may eventually be available to treat certain medical conditions without touching upon the ethical concerns raised by using human embryonic stem cells.

Stem cells are uncoded to perform any specific function in the human body system. The new process reprograms skin cells, removing the specific coding and reverting them to the pluripotential stem-cell state.

“It is the future of regenerative medicine,” said Donald Landry, Columbia University Medical Center professor of nephrology. “The possibility of taking skin cells and differentiating them into stem cells is spectacular work.”

A major attraction of the procedure is its relative straightforwardness.

“Nothing is as simple as it seems on paper, but this uses techniques found in all labs,” Dr. Christopher Henderson, professor of pathology, said.

In this process, adult skin cells are converted to stem cells through a virus. Only four genes need to be added to make the skin cells analogous to stem cells. In contrast, the amount of eggs needed for the current procedure, therapeutic cloning, can make it an unwieldy proposition.

The Columbia University Medical Center has been involved in a $50 million first-phase initiative for stem cell research launched in June 2005, about $25 million of which was already privately raised upon launch.

The money has been used for a variety of stem-cell related procedures, from fighting diabetes to developing new cancer treatments. In addition, funding from the campaign will go toward the construction of stem-cell laboratories and facilities and to the hiring of scientists in the field.

The initiative is “intelligently planned,” Henderson said. He also praised its importance in providing money for stem cell research where funding from the National Institutes of Health is low.

But there are risks involved in the new procedure, including an increased danger of cancer that may arise from the virus which is used in the process of converting the skin cells to stem cells.

Eric Rose, professor of surgery and health policy who hopes to use stem cells to help failed patient cardiac function, cautioned against undue optimism over the announcement. “It might be a long process before it bears any clinical fruit,” he said, citing the possibility of growth complications.

“There are still several potential safety concerns—such as the risk of tumorigenesis—with all ES [embryonic stem] cell-based techniques that have not been resolved,” Henderson said. “These risks are accentuated in the first generation of skin-derived stem cells, which over-express genes that enhance cell proliferation.”

Despite these risks, most researchers say they are optimistic about the new method. Landry emphasized the importance of “women not being abused by this type of research. True embryonic stem cells need to get hundreds and thousands of women to donate eggs.” He cited one British study that required 200,000 human oocytes, or immature eggs. Hormones are given to stimulate egg production, another potential risk.

“It is not a trivial matter to get eggs for medical research,” Landry said. “This is the future of stem cell work, with the access to large numbers of stem cells.” He also said the procedure would effectively “solve the cloning issue—they [stem cells] are from the person using them.”

Some opposition to the procedure may be expected. “It won’t completely quell the debate until every disease is cured,” Landry said. “Some would see this as an argument for stem cell research just for the sake of scientific inquiry.”

Embryonic stem cells possess the ability to differentiate into various organs and cell types, potentially offering treatments for disorders from Alzheimer’s to Parkinson’s disease and leukemia. For instance, scientists can evolve stem cells into eye cells.

The ethics of destroying a human embryo make stem cell research a polarizing field. Landry called the new process “pristine,” adding, “It is not destroying human life at any stage.”

The procedure could have tremendous benefits for researchers such as Henderson, who studies amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Through this technique, it is possible to derive stem cells from patients for studying ALS, which is usually not genetic and therefore can be difficult to recognize.

Many research institutions have had to rely on privately-raised money for stem cell-related research because of limited federal funding.

U.S. President George Bush has opposed new research throughout his tenure. In 2006, he vetoed a bill that would have overturned a previous law restricting federal money for research. New York Governor Eliot Spitzer proposed $2 billion in state-sponsored stem cell funding this January.

The new process of harnessing the pluripotentiality of skin cells could go a long way toward changing public perception on the issue.

“Half of the population doesn’t approve of egg destroying [for stem cell research]. But 70 percent favor the issue in general,” Landry said. The new process may have the potential to gain support for research if people are aware that embryos are not being harmed.

This announcement seems to be one of many to come. “The field is reaching a critical mass on the issue, with multiple groups doing work on it,” Landry said, adding, “It’s a more exciting time than ever.”

Sandeep Soman can be reached at sandeep.soman@columbiaspectator.com.