Story Summary: Atalas team is currently evaluating the cells for their potential to treat diabetes and kidney disease. For the study, scientists generated two additional lines of stem cells from amniotic fluid using the same protocol developed by Atalas lab. They then investigated the incidence of EB formation in all three lines. Performing many independent experiments using different approaches, we demonstrate in the report that human amnion stem cells can indeed form embryoid bodies, write the researchers in Oncogene. Hengstshlger, whose team was the first to provide evidence for the existence of stem cells in amniotic fluid, said that this finding may allow for new insights into the molecular mechanism of EB formation. He said the cells may be a useful source for generating disease-specific stem cell lines for studying the differentiation process to determine what goes wrong in genetic diseases. Other potential advantages of the cells are that they can be grown in large quantities and are readily available during gestation and at the time of birth. Atala stopped short of calling the cells pluripotent, which means the ability to form many cell types. He said while the cells meet some of the characteristics of pluripotency, such as versatility, they do not form tumors when implanted in animals, which is also considered a characteristic. org) is an established center dedicated to the discovery, development and clinical translation of regenerative medicine technologies by leading faculty. The institute has used biomaterials alone, cell therapies, and engineered tissues and organs for the treatment of patients with injury or disease. The Institute is based at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center (www. The Institute is based at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center (www. edu), an academic health system comprised of North Carolina Baptist Hospital, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, which operates the universitys School of Medicine, and Wake Forest University Physicians. edu), an academic health system comprised of North Carolina Baptist Hospital, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, which operates the universitys School of Medicine, and Wake Forest University Physicians. edu), an academic health system comprised of North Carolina Baptist Hospital, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, which operates the universitys School of Medicine, and Wake Forest University Physicians….Read the Full Story

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