researchers have shown for the first time in an animal that is more closely related to humans that it is possible to make new bone from stem-cell-like induced
pluripotent（多能的） stem cells (ipscs) made from an individual animal's own skin cells. the study in monkeys reported in the cell press journal cell reports on may 15th also shows that there is some risk that those ipscs could seed tumors, but that unfortunate outcome appears to be less likely than studies in immune-compromised mice would suggest. "we have been able to design an animal model for testing of pluripotent stem cell therapies using the rhesus
macaque（恒河猴）, a small monkey that is readily available and has been
2 as being closely related
3 to humans," said cynthia dunbar of the national heart, lung, and blood institute. "we have used this model to demonstrate that
1 formation of a type called a 'teratoma' from undifferentiated
autologous（自体同源的） ipscs does occur; however, tumor formation is very slow and requires large numbers of ipscs given under very
4 conditions. we have also shown that new bone can be produced from autologous ipscs, as a model for their possible clinical application."
autologous refers to the fact that the ipscs capable of producing any tissue type -- in this case bone -- were
5 from the very individual that later received them. that means that use of these cells in tissue repair would not require long-term or possibly
6 immune suppression drugs to prevent
7.
the researchers first used a standard recipe to reprogram skin cells taken from rhesus macaques. they then
8 those cells to form first pluripotent stem cells and then cells that have the potential to act more specifically as bone
9. those
10 cells were then seeded onto
11（陶瓷的） scaffolds that are already in use by reconstructive surgeons attempting to fill in or rebuild bone. and, it worked; the monkeys grew new bone.
importantly, the researchers report that no teratoma structures developed in monkeys that had received the bone "stem cells." in other experiments, undifferentiated ipscs did form teratomas（畸胎瘤） in a dose-dependent manner.
the researchers say that therapies based on this approach could be particularly beneficial for people with large congenital bone defects or other traumatic injuries. although bone
12 is an unlikely "first in human" use for stem cell therapies given that the condition it treats is not life threatening, the findings in a
13 are an essential step on the path toward regenerative clinical medicine.
"a large animal preclinical model for the development of pluripotent or other high-risk/high-reward generative cell therapies is absolutely required to address issues of tissue
14 or homing, risk of tumor formation, and immunogenicity," dunbar said. "the testing of human-derived cells in vitro or in profoundly
immunodeficient（免疫缺陷的） mice simply cannot model these crucial preclinical safety and efficiency issues."
the nih team is now working with collaborators on
15 of the macaque ipscs into liver, heart, and white blood cells for
16 clinical trials in hepatitis c, heart failure, and
17 granulomatous（肉芽肿的） disease, respectively.
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