ITALIAN researchers have managed to isolate stem cells from human blood and
grow them. They believe that their breakthrough could eventually lead to a
supply of infection-free human blood for transfusions.
The researchers, led by Cesare Peschle at the higher institute of health in
Rome, first isolated the stem cells in human blood, then grew them. 鈥淲e have
cultivated them in vitro,鈥� says Peschle, 鈥渁nd we think they duplicated.鈥� He is
due to publish the details of his research findings next month.
Pesche says he has cultured cells called the haematopoietic stem cells that
mature into red blood cells. Angelo Vescovi, of the National Neurological
Institute in Milan says: 鈥淚t really is a very important finding.鈥�
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鈥淭here is an awful lot of debate about the definitive stem cell in blood,鈥�
says Derwood Pamphilon, a consultant haematologist with Britain鈥檚 National Blood
Service based at the Children鈥檚 Hospital in Bristol. If he really has found the
right stem cell, says Pamphilon, 鈥渋t鈥檚 a fascinating finding鈥�.