Date Published: 17 June 2007
Milestone reached in sharing international stem cell knowledge (GMC)
More than 80 leading scientists from around the world have shared their knowledge about human embryonic stem cell lines to accelerate the discovery of potential therapies.
The scientists, part of the International Stem Cell Initiative, have characterised 59 human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines. As part of this, they have determined a set of markers within the cells to help scientists around the world reproduce their work and move it forward. The results of the study, which involved 17 laboratories from 11 different countries, are published in the July issue of Nature Biotechnology.
Professor Peter Andrews, who is leading the International Stem Cell Initiative, explained:
“ Scientists will use the markers to understand the differences and similarities between the different human embryonic cell lines that are available through the International Stem Cell Initiative. The effect will be to move research forward in a way that may not have been possible by individual labs or countries.”
The International Stem Cell Initiative is a project commissioned by the International Stem Cell Forum (ISCF) - an organisation that brings together the world’s leading agencies involved in funding stem cell research. The Forum’s primary mission is to promote best practice in the area of stem cell research.
Phase one of the initiative, which had been allocated £426,000 as well as resources from laboratories in the member countries, is now complete.
Professor Andrews added:
“ The work provides key criteria for identifying human embryonic stem cell lines and gives a basis for further research into the mechanisms by which a stem cell maintains a state from which it is able to be directed to turn into a number of different cell types.”
" One major finding from this first phase of the ISCI project was that the 59 cell lines under review shared a number of key molecular signatures, despite their different genetic constitutions and the various culture techniques to which they have been subjected,” said Dr Paul Gokhale, of the Centre for Stem Cell Research at the University of Sheffield, one of the central resources laboratories in the ICSI project.
Professor Andrews, who leads the Centre for Stem Cell Research at Sheffield, added:
“ By making the registry of the 59 cell lines and their molecular characteristics freely available to the wider scientific community, ISCI is providing the openness, reliability and ability for scientists to reproduce and extend each others’ work. This type of initiative is only possible through an organisation like the International Stem Cell Forum which was able to bring together researchers from around the world to develop the basis for the eventual use of these exciting cells. Perhaps the most heartening aspect of the project was the degree of openness and collaboration between the different participating groups.”
The study used several approaches to identify a reliable set of markers to establish human embryonic stem cell identity, including profiling 93 different genes in the cell lines. These validated markers will serve as vital identifiers of hESCs used in biomedical research and drug discovery studies. They will help researchers to ensure that common standards and procedures are in place and allow cross-checking of data between laboratories.
The findings are a crucial first step for ensuring that future advances in the field of stem cell research involve internationally co-ordinated quality standards.
The Forum has recently agreed further funding of US$2 million for the next phase of the ISCI’s work which will focus on the culture media used to grow cell lines and the genetic variations that can occur over prolonged periods of growth in vitro. The funding will also help to expand the embryonic stem cell registry to include new lines.
The Chief Executive of the UK Medical Research Council, Professor Colin Blakemore, who chairs the ISCF, said:
“ The Forum is committed to stimulating collaborations and providing backbone funding to allow these to flourish. The potential of stem cell research is great. We hope stem cell science will lead to the treatment of all manner of illnesses, from diabetes to multiple sclerosis. By creating this registry and making it freely available, the ISCI will not only be a great resource for scientists across the world, but will set the tone for the collaborative spirit in which we hope research will continue to be carried out, for the benefit of the many, not the few.”
Source: Medical Research Council (MRC), UK.
