Welcome to vnonline.co.uk

vnonline.co.uk provides the veterinary nursing profession with the latest news and industry developments, as well as events, resources, learning materials and careers.

Our website is dedicated to veterinary nurses and we strive to provide a platform where you can voice and explore your interests.

Not a member yet? Sign up for free!

Register for free with vnonline.co.uk to gain unlimited access to news, resources, jobs and much more!



Click here to become a member






Log in to vnonline

Forgot your password?

Posted: 5th February 2021

Breakthough stem cell therapy could reverse chronic canine illness
Doctors already use stem cells to fight some forms of cancer and blood-related conditions in humans.
Study paves the way to new therapies and potenatial cures.

Researchers in Japan have devised a novel method to induce stem cell generation from dog blood samples.

Scientists at Osaka Prefecture University hope to use the technique to advance regenerative therapies in veterinary medicine. This could mean that vets may one day be able to reverse conditions in dogs previously thought to be incurable.

Doctors already use stem cells to fight some forms of cancer and blood-related conditions in humans, such as leukaemia and lymphoma. Stem cells can differentiate and mature into many specialised cell types, known as 'pluripotency'.

By transplanting stem cells and guiding their differentiation into desired cell types, doctors can repair damaged tissue and reverse the course of complex conditions. But while this technique has been widely studied in humans, it has not been thoroughly explored in dogs.

In this study, the scientists worked on isolating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from canine blood samples. iPSCs are a type of stem cell that can be “programmed” from a developed (or “differentiated”) cell by introducing a specific set of genes into them. 

These genes code for proteins called 'transcription factors' that induce the change from a 'differentiated' to a 'pluripotent' stem cell, which then can mature into various cell types. The scientists found that iPSCs can proliferate very rapidly, thereby providing a reliable supply of suitable stem cells for regenerative therapies.

Study leader Shingo Hatoya, an Associate Professor from Osaka Prefecture University, said: “We successfully established an efficient and easy generation method of canine iPSCs from peripheral blood mononuclear cells”. He added that the findings have great significance for veterinary medicine and that, one day, “it may be possible to perform regenerative medicinal treatments in dogs.” 

Interestingly, the study authors believe that further research into regenerative therapies for canines might have some ripple effects for human medicine. Professor Hatoya added: "Dogs share the same environment as humans and spontaneously develop the same diseases, particularly genetic diseases." 

Translating findings from one field to another could pave the way to new treatments or even cures for some infections that continue to plague humanity. The findings are published in the journal Stem Cells and Development. 




Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history



Latest news | Careers | Events | Resources | Contact us | Terms and conditions | Data Protection and Privacy |Cookie policy | About us | Copyright
© 2024 Vision Media, all rights reserved. vnonline.co.uk is not responsible for the content of external websites.