Patentability of inventions involving human stem cells in Europe

10.5912/jcb6 ◽  
1969 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Bouvet
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Stem Cell ◽  
Regenerative Medicine ◽  
European Patent ◽  
Patent Office ◽  
Human Stem Cell ◽  
Human Stem Cells ◽  
Ethical Aspects ◽  
Private Companies ◽  
European Group

In the last two years, research into stem cells has raised extraordinary therapeutic hopes – such as regenerative medicine – but also strong ethical questions. These questions have been fuelled by announcements, from private companies in particular, of the possibilities for human cloning. One of these questions relates to the patentability of inventions resulting from this area of research. In Europe this question is linked to the general debate surrounding the patentability of biological materials, such as genomic sequences. Although a large number of applications have been filed these last years, a few patents have already been issued. Some of them have been opposed at the European Patent Office. At the request of the European Commission, the European Group on Ethics (EGE) has prepared an opinion on ethical aspects of patenting inventions resulting from human stem cell research.

Plasticity of Human Stem Cells in the Fetal Sheep Model of Human Stem Cell Transplantation

2004 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graça Almeida-Porada ◽  
Christopher Porada ◽  
Esmail D. Zanjani
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Stem Cell ◽  
Stem Cell Transplantation ◽  
Cell Transplantation ◽  
Human Stem Cell ◽  
Human Stem Cells ◽  
Sheep Model ◽  
Fetal Sheep

scholarly journals Single-Use Bioreactors for Human Pluripotent and Adult Stem Cells: Towards Regenerative Medicine Applications

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 68
Author(s):  
Diogo E.S. Nogueira ◽  
Joaquim M.S. Cabral ◽  
Carlos A.V. Rodrigues
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Stem Cell ◽  
Regenerative Medicine ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Adult Stem Cells ◽  
Regulatory Agencies ◽  
Human Stem Cells ◽  
Stem Cell Expansion ◽  
Single Use

Research on human stem cells, such as pluripotent stem cells and mesenchymal stromal cells, has shown much promise in their use for regenerative medicine approaches. However, their use in patients requires large-scale expansion systems while maintaining the quality of the cells. Due to their characteristics, bioreactors have been regarded as ideal platforms to harbour stem cell biomanufacturing at a large scale. Specifically, single-use bioreactors have been recommended by regulatory agencies due to reducing the risk of product contamination, and many different systems have already been developed. This review describes single-use bioreactor platforms which have been used for human stem cell expansion and differentiation, along with their comparison with reusable systems in the development of a stem cell bioprocess for clinical applications.

scholarly journals THE USE OF STEM CELLS IN THERAPEUTIC TREATMENT PROCEDURES: LEGAL AND ETHICAL ASPECTS

Obiter ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hennie Oosthuizen
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Stem Cell ◽  
Healing Process ◽  
Therapeutic Cloning ◽  
Human Stem Cells ◽  
Ethical Aspects ◽  
Therapeutic Treatment ◽  
The Law ◽  
Stem Cell Treatment ◽  
Treatment Procedures

The use of stem cells in therapeutic treatment procedures involves both legal and ethical aspects. The law and medical ethics walk hand-in-hand in this regard. The tremendous progress and advances in biomedical research, as well as developments in new treatment procedures, are contributing to more and more successes in the healing process. A consequence of these new biomedical techniques and treatments is that the law, and especially legislative requirements, cannot keep up with such techniques and treatments. At this stage there is no legislation in force in South Africa to regulate the use of stem cells in the therapeutic treatment of patients. The South African Parliament promulgated the National Health Act 61 of 2003 a few years ago, but, as at the time of writing, the sections dealing with stem cells are still not in force. These sections permit the therapeutic cloning of human stem cells and,if it eventually comes into force, it will allow the therapeutic cloning of human stem cells for use to the benefit of patients, and will also assist practitioners. The legal and ethical aspects regarding the usage of stem cells in the therapeutic treatment of patients and not for research on stem cells, form the basis of this article. The discussion will include aspects such as stem cells and where they are derived from, patients’ rights to choose to make use of stem-cell therapy, informed consent for stem cell treatment, the recognition of novel treatment procedures, the practitioner’s scope of practice as well as legislative control to indicate the need for such control. 

The human stem cell hierarchy is defined by a functional dependence on Mcl-1 for self-renewal capacity

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (9) ◽  
pp. 1433-1442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clinton J. V. Campbell ◽  
Jung Bok Lee ◽  
Marilyne Levadoux-Martin ◽  
Tracy Wynder ◽  
Anargyros Xenocostas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Stem Cell ◽  
Functional Dependence ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Human Stem Cell ◽  
Human Stem Cells ◽  
Renewal Function ◽  
Self Renewal ◽  
Stem Cell Hierarchy

The molecular basis for the unique proliferative and self-renewal properties that hierarchically distinguish human stem cells from progenitors and terminally differentiated cells remains largely unknown. We report a role for the Bcl-2 family member myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1) as an indispensable regulator of self-renewal in human stem cells and show that a functional dependence on Mcl-1 defines the human stem cell hierarchy. In vivo pharmacologic targeting of the Bcl-2 family members in human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and human leukemic stem cells reduced stem cell regenerative and self-renewal function. Subsequent protein expression studies showed that, among the Bcl-2 family members, only Mcl-1 was up-regulated exclusively in the human HSC fraction on in vivo regeneration of hematopoiesis. Short hairpin RNA–knockdown of Mcl-1 in human cord blood cells did not affect survival in the HSC or hematopoietic progenitor cell fractions in vitro but specifically reduced the in vivo self-renewal function of human HSCs. Moreover, knockdown of Mcl-1 in ontogenetically primitive human pluripotent stem cells resulted in almost complete ablation of stem cell self-renewal function. Our findings show that Mcl-1 is an essential regulator of stem cell self-renewal in humans and therefore represents an axis for therapeutic interventions.

scholarly journals Functional Properties of Human Stem Cell-Derived Neurons in Health and Disease

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason P. Weick
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Stem Cell ◽  
Functional Properties ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Synaptic Activity ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Phenotypic Characterization ◽  
Human Stem Cell ◽  
Human Stem Cells

Stem cell-derived neurons from various source materials present unique model systems to examine the fundamental properties of central nervous system (CNS) development as well as the molecular underpinnings of disease phenotypes. In order to more accurately assess potential therapies for neurological disorders, multiple strategies have been employed in recent years to produce neuronal populations that accurately representin vivoregional and transmitter phenotypes. These include new technologies such as direct conversion of somatic cell types into neurons and glia which may accelerate maturation and retain genetic hallmarks of aging. In addition, novel forms of genetic manipulations have brought human stem cells nearly on par with those of rodent with respect to gene targeting. For neurons of the CNS, the ultimate phenotypic characterization lies with their ability to recapitulate functional properties such as passive and active membrane characteristics, synaptic activity, and plasticity. These features critically depend on the coordinated expression and localization of hundreds of ion channels and receptors, as well as scaffolding and signaling molecules. In this review I will highlight the current state of knowledge regarding functional properties of human stem cell-derived neurons, with a primary focus on pluripotent stem cells. While significant advances have been made, critical hurdles must be overcome in order for this technology to support progression toward clinical applications.

scholarly journals Stem cell therapies and benefaction of somatic cell nuclear transfer cloning in COVID-19 era

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Birbal Singh ◽  
Gorakh Mal ◽  
Vinod Verma ◽  
Ruchi Tiwari ◽  
Muhammad Imran Khan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Stem Cell ◽  
Regenerative Medicine ◽  
Somatic Cell ◽  
Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer ◽  
Nuclear Transfer ◽  
Drug Testing ◽  
Human Interaction ◽  
Patient Specific ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract Background The global health emergency of COVID-19 has necessitated the development of multiple therapeutic modalities including vaccinations, antivirals, anti-inflammatory, and cytoimmunotherapies, etc. COVID-19 patients suffer from damage to various organs and vascular structures, so they present multiple health crises. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are of interest to treat acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection. Main body Stem cell-based therapies have been verified for prospective benefits in copious preclinical and clinical studies. MSCs confer potential benefits to develop various cell types and organoids for studying virus-human interaction, drug testing, regenerative medicine, and immunomodulatory effects in COVID-19 patients. Apart from paving the ways to augment stem cell research and therapies, somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) holds unique ability for a wide range of health applications such as patient-specific or isogenic cells for regenerative medicine and breeding transgenic animals for biomedical applications. Being a potent cell genome-reprogramming tool, the SCNT has increased prominence of recombinant therapeutics and cellular medicine in the current era of COVID-19. As SCNT is used to generate patient-specific stem cells, it avoids dependence on embryos to obtain stem cells. Conclusions The nuclear transfer cloning, being an ideal tool to generate cloned embryos, and the embryonic stem cells will boost drug testing and cellular medicine in COVID-19.

scholarly journals Telomere length set point regulation in human pluripotent stem cells critically depends on the shelterin protein TPP1

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (23) ◽  
pp. 2583-2596
Author(s):  
John M. Boyle ◽  
Kelsey M. Hennick ◽  
Samuel G. Regalado ◽  
Jacob M. Vogan ◽  
Xiaozhu Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Stem Cell ◽  
Telomere Length ◽  
Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽  
Human Stem Cells ◽  
Set Point ◽  
Hypomorphic Allele ◽  
Point Control ◽  
Set Point Control ◽  
Stem Cell Lines

To better understand telomere length set point control in human stem cells, we generated knockout stem cell lines for TPP1 and contrasted their phenotypes with those of homozygous TPP1 L104A mutant stem cells. This comparison reveals that TPP1 L104A is not a hypomorphic allele but formally establishes TPP1 L104 as a dissociation of function mutant.

Research and Findings

2009 ◽  
Vol 13 (04) ◽  
pp. 76-79
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Stem Cell ◽  
Disease Management ◽  
Cancer Risk ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Drug Dosage ◽  
Human Stem Cells ◽  
New Materials ◽  
East Asians ◽  
Lower Drug

Australian Scientists Reach Breakthrough in Stem Cell Research. Breakthrough in Disease Management of Chikungunya Fever by Singapore Researchers. MicroRNAs Lead to Formation or Suppression of Tumors? Singapore and US Scientists Share Results. Singapore and South Korea to Invent More New Materials. Asian Blood Cancer Patients Respond Better with a Lower Drug Dosage. Safer Ethical Way to Make Human Stem Cells. "Blushing" Response from Alcohol Drinking Signals Increased Cancer Risk Among East Asians.

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