Hierarchy of Stem Cells
The Promise of Stem Cell Research
This is a Animal Health Trust (UK) study funded by the Morris Animal FoundationThis is NOT A FINAL REPORT. Updated February 2013. Prior update: June 2012.


Grant D12CA-803: Deriving Canine Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Future Therapeutic Use and Disease Modeling, Deborah J Guest, BSc, PhD


UPDATEStem cells offer promise for treating many orthopedic, neurologic and cardiovascular injuries and diseases in dogs. To date, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have been derived from humans, mice, monkeys, pigs and horses by reprogramming adult cells back to an embryonic state, thereby giving them the potential to develop into any cell type. One advantage of iPSCs is that because they are genetically identical to the patient’s cells, there is no risk that they will be rejected by the patient’s immune system.


With Morris Animal Foundation funding, researchers from Animal Health Trust are determining the factors and culture conditions required to generate canine iPSCs in the lab. So far, they have reprogrammed adult dog cells into cells that have the appearance of iPSCs, and they are now beginning to analyze and characterize them. The next step is to confirm that these cells express markers of stem cells and have the potential to turn into multiple cell types. Final results are expected by the end of 2013.


If the results are positive, canine iPSCs will prove to be a valuable tool for treating dogs with inherited and acquired diseases. Information gained from this study will form the basis of future work to determine the therapeutic potential of iPSCs to help improve the health and welfare of dogs suffering from a wide range of conditions and injuries.

Share this Page
Website http://www.aht.org.uk/cms-display/profiledg.html
​
BACK TO GUIDE  < PREVIOUS PAGE  > NEXT PAGE >
PictureDr. Deborah J. Guest, BSc, PhD
Contact Dr. Deborah J. Guest, BSc, PhD

Dr. Deborah J. Guest, BSc, PhD
Head of Stem Cell Research
Inherited Diseases
Animal Health Trust (UK)
Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7UU
Office: 01638 751000 ext 1283
debbie.guest@aht.org.uk