Human stem cells have a unique characteristic of molding themselves into any cell type, but when it is comes to their final landing place they exactly know where to go. This was revealed in a paper published recently in the scientific journal Cell Stem Cell. Mick Bhatia, who serves as the director of McMaster Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute, was the lead author of the study.

Researchers from the McMaster University have provided new insights into the transforming pattern of these regenerative cells into complex and unique specialized types, such as renal, neural or blood cells. To date, it was believed that stem cells are not cognizant enough to choose what they would like to become while transforming into a specialized version (cell).

In the current study, Dr. Bhatia led his team of scientists to discover the molecular fundamentals of the decision making capacity of pluripotent stem cells. The unique quality that permits human stem cells to transform themselves into any of the 226 types of cells present in a human body is called pluripotency.

The team of researchers discovered that it is the arrangement of DNA that decides the final location (or destination) of the human pluripotent stem cells. This DNA arrangement can be easily identified by specific proteins located on the surface of stem cells.

Dr. Bhatia stated:

“It’s like going on secret trip. When you decide to go to Jamaica, you pack your toothbrush, underwear, and of course shorts, t-shirts and swimsuits. But if, at the last minute, you get rerouted to Alaska, you unpack a few things but the basic elements, like your toothbrush, are going to be the same. You may just trade the shorts and swimsuits for long pants and a sweater.”

To date, the research community has believed that stem cells are not cognizant enough to choose what they would like to transform into until the very end, but Dr. Bhatia and his team state that this is not true. Dr. Bhatia said:

“This study showed that pluripotent cells are not all equal. They are all pluripotent. You can force a cell that normally would love to become a neural cell to turn into blood, just like you can force the vacationer to go Alaska instead of Jamaica. They’ll do it, but not very well and not happily.”

During the research, Bhatia and fellow researchers observed that stem cells purposely packed compass and travelling kit for blood and neural destinations. However, when these stem cells were isolated by new protein markers on cell surface, results were different. Five times the blood cells and twelve times the neural cells were generated when stem cells were forced to become those cell types.

This facilitates us to make tailor made choices to improve the ability of stem cells in regeneration of organs. The researchers are now planning to investigate response in the process of induced pluripotent stem cells – a type created from adult skin.

It took five years in making this research possible. It was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Ministry of Research and Innovation and the Canada Research Chairs program.

Source: McMaster University

Written by Barry Windsor