New stem cell technique for human foregut developed

A new method for creating stem cells for the human liver and pancreas has been developed by University of Cambridge scientists.

For the first time, researchers have been able to grow a pure and self-renewing population of stem cells specific to the human foregut – the upper section of the digestive system – that could be produced in sufficient quantities for clinical use.

By manipulating the signal pathways of cells and varying the environment in which they were developed and the substrate on which they were grown, they were able to isolate the precise culture needed for the differentiation of foregut-associated cells.

Dr Nicholas Hannan from the University of Cambridge Wellcome Trust MRC Stem Cell Institute, said this discovery has potentially huge implications for regenerative medicine, the repair of damaged organs or tissues and the treatment of conditions such as diabetes or liver disease.

"They are the precursors to the thyroid upper airways, lungs, liver, pancreas, stomach and biliary systems. We now have a system where we may be able to create all these cell types from the same starting population," he said.

Stem cell therapies are an increasingly important area of medical research, with the government having provided new funding to support NHS stem cell services earlier this year.