Induced pluripotent stem cells for the first time in therapy - Japan begins testing: stem cells, iPSC.

Induced pluripotent stem cells for the first time in therapy - Japan starts testing:
stem cells, iPSC.
clinical tests . 2013AD.

Japanese scientists obtained permission to start clinical tests of pioneering stem cell therapy obtained from skin cells taken from the patient. They will be the first of this type of research conducted on humans.
Last year, Japanese scientist Shinya Yamanaka from the University of Kyoto received the Nobel Prize for work on converting mature cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). A solid scientific, substantive and financial base in Japan resulted in intensive development of methods of using this achievement in treatment, which resulted in the upcoming start of clinical tests of therapy using iPS cells.

In recent days, the Japanese Ministry of Health has officially approved pioneering studies on the effectiveness of treating macular degeneration, which is a major cause of blindness in older people. The method consists in collecting mature skin cells from the patient, inducing their pluripotent properties and re-entering the body, where they are designed to rebuild damaged areas. The tests will probably start in the middle of next year and will involve six patients suffering from senile macular degeneration. It will be the first of its kind in the world.

In Japan alone, 700,000 people suffer from age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

The potential success of iPS cell therapy may enable the future treatment of many different diseases using stem cells, without any ethical doubt having to use human embryos.

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