New means of increasing stem cell productivity found

Researchers have discovered a new means of increasing stem cell production, which has been tipped to potentially revolutionise certain transplant treatments.

Scientists from the Centenary Institute, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and the University of Sydney have found that growing cells on a stretchy, elastic-like substance called tropoelastin can help to augment current hormone-based methods of stem cell generation.

According to the research in the journal Nature Biotechnology, stem cells inside the body tend to "pull" on the environment, meaning that use of tropoelastin can help to recreate these qualities better in a laboratory setting.

By combining tropoelastin and hormone-based methods, scientists were able to double or treble stem cell production, which could make it easier for leukaemia or chemotherapy patients to receive transplants.

Professor Tony Weiss, a co-author of the paper, said: "We have developed a truly impressive technology that we hope will eventually be used to improve the way bone marrow is managed for better medical outcomes."

This comes after research from Japan last month suggested that wisdom teeth may be a promising source of tissue for stem cells.