幹細胞論壇

中央大學材料化學系日籍教授樋口亜紺與國泰臨床醫學研究中心主任凌慶東等人共同合作，利用生物反應器直接從體外培養出造血幹細胞、再透過薄膜過濾法純化。樋口亜紺表示，傳統方法需要花5至8小時將臍帶血純化，新方法只需要半小時，這個研究成果已發表於《化學評論》（Chemical Review）期刊網路版。

他說，目前造血幹細胞來源主要有骨髓移殖、周邊血移殖和臍帶血移殖。以國人較熟悉的臍帶血移殖來說，目前限制20公斤以下的小兒病患使用，但細胞數量較少、需較長時間移殖，失敗率較高。

樋口亜紺帶領的實驗室，利用具有羧酸基奈米片段的薄膜，分離、純化周邊血液和臍帶血中的造血幹細胞，可以得到損壞率更低、數量更多的造血幹細胞。他說，雖然新方法得到的幹細胞純度較低，但效率高、細胞增殖能力佳，未來將朝著如何保存純化出來、但未分化的幹細胞努力。

http://udn.com/NEWS/HEALTH/HEA2/6203440.shtml

Researchers in Taiwan report breakthrough in 'cell rejuvenation'
2011/03/10 21:21:21

In spite of the low success rate, the authoritative Chemical Review published the research report in its current online issue, saying the technique had good prospects.

The research team also reported that it has designed a method to quickly collect stem cells, a technique that it said may some day be used to help treat leukemia.

The method uses a cubic-structured, nano-meter cell membrane that can filter and collect stem cells in 1/10 of the usual time, Higuchi said.

This technique also helps speed the growth of cultured stem cells by at least six times the normal rate, he said.

Stem cells from umbilical cord blood are not in high supply and the faster they are collected the more slowly they age, according to Cathay General Hospital Vice President Hung Kun-lung.

Therefore, Higuchi's quick collection technique means the cells could multiply faster in culture and may one day help develop a cure for people suffering from leukemia and other diseases, he said.

Higuchi said he was working on another project to extract stem cells from fat tissues, a technique that he said would mature in about five years time.

By that time, "we might be able to induce stem cells to grow as myocardium or heart muscle cells, which would be beneficial to people with ischemic heart disease," he said. (By Chen Ching-fang and S.C. Chang) enditem/pc

http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aSOC&ID=201103100027