From: Joao Magalhaes (joao.magalhaes@fundp.ac.be)
Date: Sun Dec 15 2002 - 04:13:51 MST
Hi!
At 20:27 12-12-2002 -0800, you wrote:
>While there is some evidence that some parts of the human body can
>be re-invigorated by stem cells (bone marrow transplants being the
>key example) the evidence for other tissues is much less clear.
>I'd cite any major "mature" organ system (brain, kidney, heart, etc.)
>These systems may not be structured such that stem cells can effectively
>repair them.
True, but as a lot of research has shown recently, neurons can be
replenished under special circumstances--e.g. spinal cord damage. Even
cardiac muscle can be repaired if damage occurs and heart cells can
replicate. Please see:
Eriksson, P. S., Perfilieva, E., Bjork-Eriksson, T., Alborn, A. M.,
Nordborg, C., Peterson, D. A., and Gage, F. H. (1998). "Neurogenesis in the
adult human hippocampus." Nat Med 4(11):1313-7.
Kajstura, J., Leri, A., Finato, N., Di Loreto, C., Beltrami, C. A., and
Anversa, P. (1998). "Myocyte proliferation in end-stage cardiac failure in
humans." Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 95(15):8801-5.
I maintain my statement that all tissues in the body can be repaired and
replenished.
All the best.
Joao
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