Features
UCLA's Breakthrough In Stem Cell Research
By Susie Kopecky
Jan 31, 2009 - 1:12:06 AM

They're at it again: UCLA scientists have once more broken down the walls of "It can't be done." This time around, researchers at the UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center, under the lead guidance of Dr. Amander Clark, have found a way to induce adult stem cells to become other types of cells, namely the reproductive precursors to the sperm and egg cells.


According to UCLA, in this study, an adult variety of cells, known as iPS cells, or human inducted pluripotent stem cells, was "were coaxed into forming germ-line precursor cells that include genetic material that may be passed on to a child." This is a big step in one day helping to treat those who may not be able to have children of their own and suffer from infertility.


Nature magazine defines iPS cells as "adult human cells [in a]... pluripotent state" that "are genetically modified" to become a pluripotent variety of cell (a cell of which the genetic fate has not yet been determined). As of now, there are two sources of stem cells: embryonic, and human induced pluripotent stem cells. There has been controversy over the use of the former (embryonic), as some feel that the use of such stem cell lines may be against religious beliefs and views on human life. The use of the latter (human induced pluripotent stem cells) has been less criticized, but many scientists have predicted that it would take longer to coax non-pluripotent adult stem cells to become more flexible, pluripotent cells. Carter's research is catching attention, as Carter's lab worked with the latter, and succeeded.

Dr. Amander Clark. Photo courtesy of UC Regents/UCLA.

The key to this study was determining if the adult stem cells could be successfully made to become the more flexible germ cells, to later become egg and sperm cells. However, Clark and the other biologists behind this study have noted that it is far from over, as there were still cogs in the proverbial machine, and problems to work out in the cellular translation, as there were noted differences in the results with research on embryonic cells and iPS cells. The successful translation of this study's findings, into real-life fertility treatments, are still years away.


Clark spoke with Canyon News on her latest success. She praised the efforts of her laboratory group, who she described as “young, enthusiastic” and great to work with. She is interested in “understanding germ cell lineage biology,” which is the focus of her lab. She is also interested in “what can cause a germ cell to form abnormally,” the research of which is funded by the NIH. Her lab’s research on germ cell cancers was generously funded by the Lance Armonstrong Foundation.


This research spanned two and one-half years, though interestingly, it only took one week for the human induced cells to produce the "germ-line precursor cells... once Clark and her team landed on the appropriate culture environment."


Clark herself is a professor in UCLA's Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, with special research interests in stem cells. She is also a researcher at the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at UCLA. In her latest study, Clark worked with the induced pluripotent stem cells, though in her other recent research, she has worked with embryonic stem cells as well. According to Clark, in her laboratory research, her team "uses embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to understand the molecular events required for cell lineage differentiation and cancer progression... Our lab is specifically interested in analysis of the germ cell lineage. Germ cells have the critical role of ensuring that our genes are passed correctly from one generation to the next. Abnormal development of the germ cell lineage can result in infertility, germ cell tumor formation, diseases such as premature ovarian failure, or congenital abnormalities and birth defects. We use human ESCs together with systemic mouse modeling to understand the molecular events critical for normal human germ cell differentiation and function, and to explore key genetic pathways associated with germ cell tumor development."


Clark herself may be especially interested in combining her interests in stem cell research and fertility, for personal reasons. Clark is herself a twin, born in a small town in Australia. Her own experiences as a mother and a lifelong interest helped to grant her a burning desire to study biology. Clark told Canyon News that although she was “fortunate enough to not have had problems with fertility myself... I think having this desire [in infertile couples] to have a child can be consuming,” which is why she is optimistic about her new research, which “suggests... a possible avenue” by which infertile couples can one day have their own children.


Clark attended college at the age of 18, though she was in complete shock when faced with the larger, urban environment. In a biography of the scientist, it is noted that her UCLA lab has two main focuses: "understanding the molecular events that transform a normal cell into a cancer cell. Then, once formed, what are the mechanisms of cancer stem cells within that tumor, particularly in germ cell cancers such as testicular cancer, which tend to metastasize if not treated. Her lab also seeks to understand how to harness the power of embryonic stem cells to generate germ cells."


Clark's resesarch in fertility and cell reprogramming has overlapped in her scientific adventures, which continue. The findings from the iPS cell research were published on January 26.

Dr. Clark hard at work! Photo courtesy of UCLA.

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