TORONTO, March 23 (UPI) -- Canadian scientists said they have found a way to grow disease-fighting cells that might one day boost therapy for cancer and infectious diseases.
The cells, called T-cells, normally patrol the body and swallow up infected or cancerous cells. But chemo- or radiotherapy, and the HIV virus, destroy them.
Scientists from the University of Toronto have grown a potentially limitless supply of T-cells in the laboratory, the British journal Nature's online Science Update reported Tuesday. The cells were made from mouse embryonic stem cells, which normally form all the tissues in a mouse embryo.
Although the scientists had converted mouse and human embryonic stem cells into blood, nerves and muscle, they did not know how to coax them into making T-cells.
The team succeeded by identifying a molecule, called DL1, that is essential in T-cell production. They genetically engineered cells to make DL1, then grew embryonic stem cells on top of the DL1 molecules. The substance stimulated the stem cells to make immature immune cells. When implanted into mice lacking an immune system, these in turn made mature T-cells, helping the animals fight off a mild viral infection.
