US scientists grow brain stem cells

Scientists working with mice said they had found a way to identify master cells in the brain and grow them in large batches8212;a potential way to help patients grow brain tissue transplants.

The scientists said they found a process to make the cells multiply, which would be crucial in fighting degenerative brain diseases like Parkinson8217;s and Huntington8217;s. The study is one of many focusing on stem cells8212;the elusive progenitor cells that are found in all tissue and in blood, but which are difficult to identify.

In theory, once isolated and cultivated with the right compounds and under the right conditions, they should be able to grow out into large lines, or batches, of the desired tissue. These so-called adult stem cells could come from a patient himself so no donor and no immune system suppressing drugs would be needed.