MAY 5, 2010
www.gfb.org
Vol. 28 No. 19
UGA RESEARCHERS CREATE DISEASE-FIGHTING GENETIC PROCESS Scientists with the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences have created a process that could be used to fight a variety of debilitating human diseases and lead to the development of healthier, more environmentally friendly livestock. Steven Stice, director of the UGA Regenerative Bioscience Center and Research Assistant Franklin West introduced pluripotent stem cells - which can develop into any type of cell in the body - into developing pig fetuses to contribute to the development of cells for a variety of tissue types, including lungs, kidney, heart, skin and muscle. The study produced 13 healthy piglets and revealed a method for making pigs that can be used as a source of cells and organs for regenerative medicine. This is the first time pigs have been produced from pluripotent stem cells. In an announcement May 4, the university said the pluripotent stemcell research could hold the key to new therapies for human diseases, including diabetes. Similar processes have been done in mice, which are poor physiological models for human medical studies and are not a source of tissue and organs for human therapy. Pigs are closer to humans physiologically and thus better for medical study. The project could be a boon to transplant research. Pig organs are used as transplants, but the rejection rate is high because the human body recognizes pig tissue as a foreign substance. The UGA discovery will allow researchers to make genetic modifications that will improve transplant success rates. Stice and West’s discovery is a new tool that can be used to determine which sources of cells work best in treating particular diseases. In addition to the human medical applications, the study sought ways to produce disease-resistant livestock. The growth of more healthy, productive livestock in developing countries could help alleviate poverty and starvation. These animals can be effectively raised on lower-quality feed and do not require high-nutrient additives. Producing pigs through use of pluripotent stem cells is less problematic and less controversial than cloning. Once the pigs from the study reach sexual maturity and it is determined that they produce viable sperm and egg cells, they can begin naturally mating, and their offspring will produce the cells needed to move move into the therapy stage and clinical trials.