Embryonic Stem Cell Research - For Or Against?

The Jovial One · #1 (**permalink**) 07-18-2008, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperDinoYoshi

Both sides created their own euphenisms. Its hardly fair to complain about Pro-Life as a name and then call them Anti-Choice. Anti-Abortion is fine, but let's not be hypocritical.

That's really a non-issue. We don't need embryonic stem cells anymore, we can use adult stem cells just as well.

Not true. The adult stem cells are nowhere near as adaptive as the embryonic stem cells. No where near.

Southpaw · #2 (**permalink**) 07-18-2008, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Jovial One

Not true. The adult stem cells are nowhere near as adaptive as the embryonic stem cells. No where near.

That's horse hockey.

PART 1

http://www.stemcellresearch.org/facts/treatments.htm

Quote:

Adult Stem Cells

Cancers:
1. Brain Cancer
2. Retinoblastoma
3. Ovarian Cancer
4. Skin Cancer: Merkel Cell Carcinoma
5. Testicular Cancer
6. Tumors abdominal organs Lymphoma
7. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
8. Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
9. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
10. Acute Myelogenous Leukemia
11. Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
12. Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia
13. Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia
14. Cancer of the lymph nodes: Angioimmunoblastic Lymphadenopathy
15. Multiple Myeloma
16. Myelodysplasia
17. Breast Cancer
18. Neuroblastoma
19. Renal Cell Carcinoma
20. Various Solid Tumors
21. Soft Tissue Sarcoma
22. Ewing’s Sarcoma
23. Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia
24. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis
25. POEMS syndrome
26. Myelofibrosis

Auto-Immune Diseases
27. Diabetes Type I (Juvenile)
28. Systemic Lupus
29. Sjogren’s Syndrome
30. Myasthenia
31. Autoimmune Cytopenia
32. Scleromyxedema
33. Scleroderma
34. Crohn’s Disease
35. Behcet’s Disease
36. Rheumatoid Arthritis
37. Juvenile Arthritis
38. Multiple Sclerosis
39. Polychondritis
40. Systemic Vasculitis
41. Alopecia Universalis
42. Buerger’s Disease

Cardiovascular
43. Acute Heart Damage
44. Chronic Coronary Artery Disease

Ocular
45. Corneal regeneration

Immunodeficiencies
46. Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Syndrome
47. X-linked Lymphoproliferative Syndrome
48. X-linked Hyper immunoglobulin M Syndrome

Neural Degenerative Diseases and Injuries
49. Parkinson’s Disease
50. Spinal Cord Injury
51. Stroke Damage

Anemias and Other Blood Conditions
52. Sickle Cell Anemia
53. Sideroblastic Anemia
54. Aplastic Anemia
55. Red Cell Aplasia
56. Amegakaryocytic Thrombocytopenia
57. Thalassemia
58. Primary Amyloidosis
59. Diamond Blackfan Anemia
60. Fanconi’s Anemia
61. Chronic Epstein-Barr Infection

Wounds and Injuries
62. Limb Gangrene
63. Surface Wound Healing
64. Jawbone Replacement
65. Skull Bone Repair

Other Metabolic Disorders
66. Hurler’s Syndrome
67. Osteogenesis Imperfecta
68. Krabbe Leukodystrophy
69. Osteopetrosis
70. Cerebral X-Linked Adrenoleukodystrophy

Liver Disease
71. Chronic Liver Failure
72. Liver Cirrhosis

Bladder Disease
73. End-Stage Bladder Disease

Embryonic Stem Cells

NONE

http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/basics6.asp

Quote:

To realize the promise of novel cell-based therapies for such pervasive and debilitating diseases, scientists must be able to easily and reproducibly manipulate stem cells so that they possess the necessary characteristics for successful differentiation, transplantation and engraftment. The following is a list of steps in successful cell-based treatments that scientists will have to learn to precisely control to bring such treatments to the clinic. To be useful for transplant purposes, stem cells must be reproducibly made to:

* Proliferate extensively and generate sufficient quantities of tissue.
* Differentiate into the desired cell type(s).
* Survive in the recipient after transplant.
* Integrate into the surrounding tissue after transplant.
* Function appropriately for the duration of the recipient's life.
* Avoid harming the recipient in any way.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stem_cell

Quote:

After nearly ten years of research[12], there are no approved treatments or human trials using embryonic stem cells. ES cells, being totipotent cells, require specific signals for correct differentiation - if injected directly into another body, ES cells will differentiate into many different types of cells, causing a teratoma. Differentiating ES cells into usable cells while avoiding transplant rejection are just a few of the hurdles that embryonic stem cell researchers still face.[13] Many nations currently have moratoria on either ES cell research or the production of new ES cell lines. Because of their combined abilities of unlimited expansion and pluripotency, embryonic stem cells remain a theoretically potential source for regenerative medicine and tissue replacement after injury or disease.

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Adult stem cell treatments have been successfully used for many years to treat leukemia and related bone/blood cancers through bone marrow transplants.[20] Adult stem cells are also used in veterinary medicine to treat tendon and ligament injuries in horses.[21] The use of adult stem cells in research and therapy is not as controversial as embryonic stem cells, because the production of adult stem cells does not require the destruction of an embryo. Additionally, because in some instances adult stem cells can be obtained from the intended recipient, (an autograft) the risk of rejection is essentially non-existent in these situations. Consequently, more US government funding is being provided for adult stem cell research.[22]

http://www.stemcellresearchfacts.com/media_myths.html

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As widespread interest in stem cell research increases, so do the number of news articles and reports. It is an unfortunate fact that several misconceptions and distortions have taken hold within the secular media. Ten such “Media Myths” are addressed below.

Myth 1. Stem cells can only come from embryos.
In fact stem cells can be taken from umbilical cords, the placenta, amniotic fluid, adult tissues and organs such as bone marrow, fat from liposuction, regions of the nose, and even from cadavers up to 20 hours after death.

Myth 2. Christians are against stem cell research.
There are four categories of stem cells: embryonic stem cells, embryonic germ cells, umbilical cord stem cells, and adult stem cells. Given that germ cells can come from miscarriages that involve no deliberate interruption of pregnancy, Christians in general oppose the use of only one of these four categories, i.e., embryonic stem cells. In other words, most Christians approve of three of the four possible types of stem cell research.

Myth 3. Embryonic stem cell research has the greatest promise.
Up to now, no human being has ever been cured of a disease using embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cells, on the other hand, have already cured thousands. For example, bone marrow cells from the hipbone have repaired scar tissue on the heart after heart attacks. Research using adult cells is 20-30 years ahead of embryonic stem cells and holds greater promise. This is in part because stem cells are part of the natural repair mechanisms of an adult body, while embryonic stem cells do not belong in an adult body (where they are likely to form tumors, and to be rejected as foreign tissue by the recipient). Rather, embryonic stem cells really belong only within in the specialized microenvironment of a rapidly growing embryo, which is a radically different setting from an adult body.

Myth 4. Embryonic stem cell research is against the law.
In reality, there is no law or regulation against destroying human embryos for research purposes. While President Bush has banned the use of federal funding to support research on embryonic stem cell lines created after August 2001, it is not illegal. Anyone using private funds is free to pursue it.

Myth 5. President Bush created new restrictions to federal funding of embryonic stem cell research.
The 1996 Dickey Amendment prohibited the use of federal funds for research that would involve the destruction of human embryos. Bush’s decision to permit research on embryonic stem cell lines created before a certain date thus relaxes this restriction from the Clinton era.

Myth 10. Because frozen embryos may one day end up being discarded by somebody, that makes it allowable, even laudable, to violate and destroy those embryos.
The moral analysis of what we may permissibly do with an embryo doesn’t depend on its otherwise “going to waste,” nor on the incidental fact that those embryos are “trapped” in liquid nitrogen. Consider a radical case in which a group of children are permanently trapped in a schoolhouse through no fault of their own; that would not make it morally acceptable to send in a remote control robotic device which would harvest organs from those children and cause their demise.

Southpaw · #3 (**permalink**) 07-18-2008, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Jovial One

Not true. The adult stem cells are nowhere near as adaptive as the embryonic stem cells. No where near.

PART 2

http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2003/nov/03112001.html

Quote:

Canadian Stem Cell Expert Speaks Out on Adult vs. Embryo Stem Cell Research
Says "embryonic stem cells have yet to be used to treat any form of disease"

TORONTO, November 20, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Dr. Peter Hollands, who holds a PhD in Stem Cell Biology from Cambridge University in the UK has spoken out on the controversy over adult and embryonic stem cells. In comments to LifeSiteNews.com, Dr. Hollands, who has worked with embryonic stem cells, noted the often overlooked fact that while adult and cord blood stem cells have been widely used for treatments, "embryonic stem cells have yet to be used to treat any form of disease."

Dr. Hollands, who worked as a clinical embryologist at Bourn Hall Clinic - the world's first IVF unit, says that "common sense" dictates that resources be directed toward adult over embryonic stem cell research. "Embryonic stem cells have many legal, moral, ethical and religious objections before even the practicalities of obtaining the cells, growing them, storing them and not least transplanting them are addressed," Dr. Hollands told LifeSiteNews.com. "Adult and umbilical cord blood stem cells are readily available, have no objections associated with them and are tried and tested in clinical use. Umbilical cord blood stem cells, for example, have been used over 3000 times for 45 different diseases!"

http://www.stemcellresearch.org/fact...Plasticity.pdf

Quote:

ADULT STEM CELL PLURIPOTENCY
MYTH: Adult stem cells are not as versatile as embryonic stem cells.
FACT: Numerous studies demonstrate that some adult stem
cells are as flexible as embryonic stem cells.

1. German scientists have shown that stem cells from adult mouse testis show embryonic stem cell-like properties, expressing genes for pluripotency (Oct-4, nanog) and forming tissues from the 3 representative tissue types of the body. An American company has announced that they can isolate such cells from mouse and adult humans. Guan K et al., Pluripotency of spermatogonial stem cells from adult mouse testis, Nature 440, 1199-1203, 27 April 2006; Kanatsu-Shinohara M & Shinohara T, The germ of pluripotency, Nature Biotechnology 24, 663-664, June 2006; Cyranoski D, Stem cells from testes: could it work?, Nature 440, 586-587, March 30, 2006.

2. Researchers in Kansas demonstrated that stem cells from the umbilical cord express pluripotency genes Oct-4, Sox-2, and nanog and show properties of “primitive pluripotent stem cells.” Carlin R et al., Expression of early transcription factors Oct-4, Sox-2 and Nanog by procine umbilical cord (PUC) matrix cells, Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 4:8, doi:10.1186/1477-7827-4-8, 6 February 2006.

3. Scientists at the University of Minnesota Medical School have verified that umbilical cord blood stem cells express pluripotency genes Oct-4, Sox-2, and can repair neurological damage. Xiao J et al., Transplantation of a novel cell line population of umbilical cord blood stem cells ameliorates neurological deficits associated with ischemic brain injury, Stem Cells and Development 14, 722-733, December 2005.

4. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh demonstrated that placental stem cells express pluripotency genes Oct-4, nanog; and can potentially can form any tissue, with no signs of tumor formation. Miki T et al., “Stem cell characteristics of amniotic epithelial cells,” Stem Cells 23, 1549-1559, November 2005 (online 4 August 2005).

5. Researchers from U.K. and Texas reported another example of cord blood stem cell plasticity. According to the abstract, “we report the world's first reproducible production of cells expressing embryonic stem cell markers,--cord-blood-derived embryonic-like stem cells (CBEs).” McGuckin CP et al., “Production of stem cells with embryonic characteristics from human umbilical cord blood,” Cell Proliferation 38, 245-255, August 2005.

6. Professor Mackay-Sim of Griffith University, Australia demonstrated that nasal stem cells from patients age 2-80 could develop into cells of heart, liver, kidney, muscle, brain and nerve. The team has now produced “patient-specific stem cells” from over 40 human patients for study. Murrell W et al., “Multipotent stem cells from adult olfactory mucosa,” Developmental Dynamics 233, 496-515 June 2005.

7. Researchers replicated an earlier study by showing that bone marrow stem cells could be turned into nerve cells, without cell fusion. “Transplanted human bone marrow cells generate new brain cells,” Crain BJ, Tran SD, Mezey E, J Neurol Sci. 2005 Jun 15;233(1-2):121-3.

8. Cardiologist Douglas Losordo at Tufts University showed that a type of bone marrow stem cell can turn into most tissue types, and can regenerate damaged heart. According to Losordo, bone marrow “is like a repair kit. Nature provided us with these tools to repair organ damage.” “Based on our findings we believe these newly discovered stem-cells may have the capacity to generate into most tissue types in the human body. This is a very unique property that until this time has only been found in embryonic stem cells.” Yoon Y-s et al., “Clonally expanded novel multipotent stem cells from human bone marrow regenerate myocardium after myocardial infarction,” Journal of Clinical Investigation 115, 326-338, February 2005.

9. In 2005, researchers in France and Switzerland changed pluripotent bone marrow stem cells into insulin-secreting cells. The ability to change these cells into insulin-secreting cells is an important step towards curing diabetes. Moriscot C et al., “Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells can express insulin and key transcription factors of the endocrine pancreas developmental pathway upon genetic and/or microenvironmental manipulation in vitro,” Stem Cells 23, 594-604, 2005.

10. In November 2004, a study found that stem cells taken from the pancreas can differentiate into other cells such as: muscle cells, neurons, insulin producing cells. These cells are self-renewing, meaning that they can divide continuously while still producing other cell types. Kruse C et al., “Pluripotency of adult stem cells derived from human and rat pancreas,” Applied Physics A 79, 1617-1624, November 2004.

11. In July 2004, German researchers led by Dr. Peter Wernet, discovered a type of umbilical cord blood stem cell, termed unrestricted somatic stem cells (USSC’s), that are pluripotent. They showed these stem cells could form various cell types, including brain, bone, cartilage, liver, heart, and blood cells. This means that the cells can turn into all three germ layers (all major body tissue types). Kogler G et al., “A new human somatic stem cell from placental cord blood with intrinsic pluripotent differentiation potential,” J. Experimental Medicine 200, 123-135, 19 July 2004.

12. In June 2004 researchers in Miami demonstrated once again that human bone marrow stem cells have pluripotent potential, meaning that these adult stem cells can form most or all cell types of the body . D’Ippolito G et al., “Marrow-isolated adult multilineage inducible (MIAMI) cells, a unique population of postnatal young and old human cells with extensive expansion and differentiation potential,” J. Cell Science 117, 2971-2981, 15 July 2004.

13. Scientists at Argonne National Labratory showed in 2003 that blood stem cells can form cells from all 3 major tissue branches of the body, including blood vessel cells, neuronal cells, and liver cells. Zhao Y et al.; “A human peripheral blood monocyte-derived subset acts as pluripotent stem cells,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 100, 2426-2431; 4 March 2003.

14. In 2003, led by Andrea-Romana Prusa of the University of Vienna, researchers found that human amniotic fluid contains stem cells that express Oct-4, a protein that is a marker for pluripotent cells. Researchers hope these adult Oct-4-postive cells will eliminate the need for embryonic stem cell research. Prusa A-R et al., “Oct-4-expressing cells in human amniotic fluid: a new source for stem cell research?,” Human Reproduction 18, 1489-1493, 2003.

15. Researchers at the National Institutes of Health found that women who received bone marrow stem cell transplants from male donors had brain cells with the Y chromosome, showing that bone marrow stem cells generated neurons. Mezey E et al.; “Transplanted bone marrow generates new neurons in human brains,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 100, 1364-1369; 4 Feb. 2003.

16. In 2002, a Minnesota team led by Catherine Verfaille showed that bone marrow stem cells, that they called multipotent adult progenitor cells (MAPCs), can form all of the different body tissues. They turned these bone marrow stem cells into skin, brain, lungs, heart, retina, muscle, intestines, kidney and spleen. Jiang Y et al.; “Pluripotency of mesenchymal stem cells derived from adult marrow,” Nature 418, 41-49; 4 July 2002.

Makedde · #4 (**permalink**) 07-18-2008, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Up to now, no human being has ever been cured of a disease using embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cells, on the other hand, have already cured thousands.

Yet those scientists insist on using embryonic stem cells when they have perfectly good adult stem cells they could be using.

I really don't get it.

Southpaw · #5 (**permalink**) 07-18-2008, 08:31 PM

I admit my formatting sucks. I got tired of pointing out all the interesting pieces of the massive amounts of evidence that is out there, if you are willing to just google 'adult stem cells v embryonic stem cells' which is how I got all of this information.

Makedde · #6 (**permalink**) 07-18-2008, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Southpaw

I admit my formatting sucks. I got tired of pointing out all the interesting pieces of the massive amounts of evidence that is out there, if you are willing to just google 'adult stem cells v embryonic stem cells' which is how I got all of this information.

I've never actually googled anything about it. I'm just going by what I have heard. If adult stem cells work better, we should be using them, IMO.

Makedde · #7 (**permalink**) 07-18-2008, 08:40 PM

This discussion has gotten started in the Abortion forum so I'm moving it here. Too bad if there is already another thread on the subject, here is another.

Debate.

Makedde · #8 (**permalink**) 07-18-2008, 08:42 PM

I am 100% opposed.

Makedde · #9 (**permalink**) 07-18-2008, 08:55 PM

Thanks for bringing that over here.

Southpaw · #10 (**permalink**) 07-18-2008, 08:55 PM

Oh, and my views should be obvious from the information posted above.

View Poll Results: Embryonic Stem Cell Research - For Or Against?
I Am In Favour Of Embryonic Stem Cell Research	12	54.55%
I Am Against Embryonic Stem Cell Research	6	27.27%
I Am Not Sure Where I Stand On This Issue	4	18.18%
Voters: 22. You may not vote on this poll