UK scientists grow miniature liver in lab.

Introduction-
British Scientists have grown a miniature human liver from stem cells in a world first breakthrough. Within 15 years the experts hope to provide whole sections which can be used to repair damaged liver. And some years later they expect to produce entire organs for life saving transplants.

How was it created?
The technique which created the mini-liver will be developed to create a full size functioning version. The tissue was created from blood taken from umbilical cords just a few minutes after birth. To be more clear, it was created from stem cells found in blood from umbilical cord.

They are then placed in a 'bioreactor'-a piece of electrical equipment developed by NASA to mimic the effects of weightlessness. Inside this, the freedom from the force of gravity allows them to multiply more quickly than usual.

Various hormones and chemicals are then added to coax the stem cells into turning into liver tissue. Other researchers have grown heart cells from stem cells and injections of stem cells have successfully been used to strengthen damaged heart muscle.

Necessity-
In its current form, use of mini organ in drug trials could avert disasters such as the recent 'Elephant Man' case in which human volunteers suffered appalling damage. The organ can immediately be used to test drugs, reducing the need of experimental animals.

Within five years, pieces of artificial tissue could be used to repair livers damaged by injury, disease,alcohol abuse and paracetamol overdose. Working in collaboration with experts from the US, the Newcastle scientists have succeeded in separating the stem cells from blood removed from umbilical cords minutes after birth.

Significance-
At present, experiments on new drugs are carried out in-vitro, before proceeding for in-vivo studies. But the lab grown human tissue would rule out any difficulties before drugs are given to humans.

The researchers envisage sections of artificial liver being used to keep patients needing transplants alive-in much the same way as a dialysis machine is used to treat kidney failure. This technique would exploit Liver's remarkable ability to regenerate on itself.

With enough dialysis sessions a day over a period of several months, the patient's own liver would be given enough time to regenerate and repair any damage. Alternatively, vital months could be bought in search of a suitable donor for transplant. While other researchers have created liver cells using stem cells from embryos, these are the first to create sizeable sections of tissues from stem cells from the umbilical cord.

Referance-

Times of India, November 1, 2006

Comments,suggestions and discussions are welcome!