Safety test for stem cells is developed in Australia

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CSIRO scientists develop safety test for induced pluripotent stem cells4 N8 O: Q, }( K) p

% [0 ~, J/ o  d$ I8 CAustralian scientists have created a test to work out whether certain types of stem cells are unsafe.
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The CSIRO has spent five years developing a safety test for induced pluripotent (iPS) stem cells.
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; y9 P# }& x) u6 g7 TiPS stem cells do not require a human embryo and are considered an important research advance.5 y$ B" ]' Q) u3 \' F5 Y

( N2 `4 ^! j+ J6 ]" K$ nLast month, scientists were able to use human skin cells to create early-stage embryos.5 m+ E9 L5 N9 E5 h1 X

7 l( ~  r% G( n2 `1 mThere is much debate in the scientific community about the advantages of iPS stem cells over their embryonic counterparts.: W6 v+ b1 F# [4 I6 s& A
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The CSIRO's Andrew Laslett says there is still a number of question marks about the long term stability and safety of iPS cells.  _0 ^+ E* {8 B3 ^
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"At this stage it appears that human embryonic stem cells may be slightly safer, but it's early days," he said.0 Q- d6 |" V* y( u
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Dr Laslett says the new test will provide more information about the quality of iPS and help identify unwanted cells that can mutate.5 Q9 j9 t/ C; Z9 Z' o% |

1 l: O6 o; r' ^$ @$ s* ]' ^"Sometimes the cells that are made from the iPS cells change back into stem cells which are unwanted because these cells can form tumours called teratomas," he said.' |/ A' x0 ?8 r6 ], t

0 s) o8 x% ?4 ~' Q. wDr Laslett is hoping the research will be used to ensure stem cell therapies are safe for humans.
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"Any cell line that's going to be used for cell therapy has to go through a whole barrage of different tests to see whether they're safe," he said.
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* ?3 q2 {" W( r' j"We hope that this one will be added to that number of tests... and it's really the first one that's entirely specific for human induced pluripotent stem cells.": a9 F& m8 o; B1 d' }. ^9 a1 _) U
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By science and technology reporter Jake Sturmer " d6 G+ S+ c8 D/ O2 A
Posted Tue Jun 4, 2013 1:21pm AEST