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| home > epc > spring 2002 > stem cells - the clinician's 'philosopher's stone' |
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European Pharmaceutical Contractor
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2001 saw an explosion of interest in stem cells, both in scientific literature and the popular press. Much of this revolved around emotive issues related to manipulation of the pluripotentiality (ability to produce many cell types) of either embryonic or adult stem cells. However, there is still a poor appreciation among the commercial scientific community of the importance of adult tissue stem cells in normal tissue homeostasis and how drugs affect their behaviour. A thorough preclinical evaluation of the effects of potential new drugs on these adult tissue stem cells can reveal mechanisms of action that can significantly improve the efficacy of clinical trials and reduce late stage drug failure.
The Definition and Importance of Stem Cells in Tissue Homeostasis
The fertilised zygote is the ultimate totipotential (capable of making all cell types) stem cell, capable of forming all the differentiated cells and tissues of the body according to strict temporal and spatial controls. The factors that regulate these processes during development are only beginning to be understood. The early divisions of the zygote during development produce further totipotent stem cells and - at least up to the blastocyst stage - cells of the inner cell mass can be isolated, grown and expanded in culture as embryonic stem (ES) cells.
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