Researchers from the Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research in the US are using human stem cells to create functional pituitary tissue. This is stated in the relevant report on the research.
After the transplant of tissue in rats with hypopituitarism, a disease associated with dwarfism and premature aging, cells grown in vitro showed normal pituitary hormone production.
“Existing treatments for patients suffering from hypopituitarism, pituitary dysfunction are far from optimal. A longer-term solution that provides therapeutic effect is the transplantation of pituitary cells, which are capable of supporting feedback from the body,” the first author of the study Bastian Zimmer said.
The pituitary gland is the main regulator of the production of hormones in the body that play a key role in the growth of tissues and bone metabolism, reproductive function and response to stress. The effects of pituitary dysfunction have a wide range and is particularly dangerous in children, who may suffer from these effects caused by the disease in the form of learning difficulties, growth disorders, problems with the skeleton, as well as violations of puberty and subsequent sexual function.
Currently, patients with hypopituitarism should apply for life path hormone replacement therapy which simulates a complex scheme secretion of hormones depending on circadian rhythms and requires feedback from other agencies.
In contrast to such treatment, cell therapy promises to restore the natural secretion of hormones regulated on a continuous basis without the need for expensive lifelong treatment – note the researchers.
Zimmer and lead author of the study Lorenz Studer developed from stem cells a simple, fast and reliable method to obtain large quantities of various types of functional pituitary cells suitable for therapeutic use.
This study could be important for cancer patients because hypopituitarism is one of the main causes of poor quality of life after radiotherapy of the brain.
Earlier, The People’s Project reported the incredible restoration of the bone in a 19-year-old’s leg. Recently doctors formed new bone in a wounded soldier from the “Donbas” Battalion.
In the project “Bioengineering Rehabilitation for Wounded“, iLaya clinic doctors, using the latest biotechnology, are restoring the damaged limbs of wounded Ukrainian soldiers.
Currently the collection of funds for the treatment of two wounded is underway with five more waiting in line to join the project. For them biotechnology offers the only chance to recover. Since the state, through legislative and other restrictions, can not support biotechnology in the treatment of wounded the soldiers’ only hope is help from people.
We ask you to get involved and help Ukraine’s defenders.
