5 ms·
For some reason I can't reply to carbocation, but in reply to his objection that stem cells wouldn't help due to the autoimmune issue, there's a lab that claims
by rsheridan6 16y ago
For some reason I can't reply to carbocation, but in reply to his objection that stem cells wouldn't help due to the autoimmune issue, there's a lab that claims to have solved that problem in mice. Apparently, when you get rid of the autoimmune cells, the insulin-producing beta cells grow back. The lab claims to have had a successful phase I (human) trial. If they're right, stem cells are irrelevant. I don't know enough to really evaluate this, but these are definitely serious people.
Here's the lab: http://www.faustmanlab.org/index.html http://www.faustmanlab.org/index.html
There's research going on for MS, another autoimmune disease, which also involves getting rid of the autoimmune cells. Here's one approach: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tovaxin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tovaxin
If they can get this kind of thing right, we'll live to see many autoimmune diseases cured.
- carbocation 16y agoExcellent! This is the type of thing that gets me more excited, because it's treatment targeted at the cause of the disorder. (Stem cells will be so for certain diseases, too.) I hope they succeed.
- ahoyhere 16y agoIt seems like we can also forget about MS being an autoimmune disease - but rather a mechanical issue caused by iron deposits in the blood vessels leading to the brain: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/researchers-labour-of-love-leads-to-ms-breakthrough/article1372414/ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/researchers-lab... http://www.webmd.com/multiple-sclerosis/news/20031022/multiple-sclerosis-tied-to-iron-in-brain http://www.webmd.com/multiple-sclerosis/news/20031022/multip...
- rsheridan6 16y agoI wouldn't declare victory against MS just yet. Here's a skeptic: http://medicalmyths.wordpress.com/2010/04/10/kuwait-wastes-money-on-zambonis-ccsvi-and-liberation-procedure-for-ms/ http://medicalmyths.wordpress.com/2010/04/10/kuwait-wastes-m... And some patients report that it didn't help. http://www.thisisms.com/ftopict-12463.html http://www.thisisms.com/ftopict-12463.html The jury is still out, at best.