X-Message-Number: 13950 From: "Terry Grossman" <> References: <> Subject: Re: human replacement parts vs. telomerase Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 08:11:58 -0600 re: #13898: human replacement parts [Terry Grossman] #13927: re: replacement parts from cryopreserved tissue [Terry Grossman] #13928: Storing FrozenTissue [Scott Badger] I originally posted a note that there is now simple, inexpensive technology to cryopreserve one's present age tissues for future use so that new organs could be one day regenerated from today's younger cells. Several coreespondents questioned whether this was even necessary, particularly since work reported by Dr West suggests that cloning activates telomerase, which then seems to reset the clocks on the cells to more youthful levels anyway. As much as we hope telomerase research will prove to be the holy grail of rejuvenation, or what I call, "immortality medicine," this may not be the case - or, at least, not as simple as we have hoped. The following article appeared today: Transplant Treatment, Cancer Linked By MALCOLM RITTER= AP Science Writer= An experimental lab technique for growing cells to transplant into people may activate a gene that promotes cancer, a new study says. The technique uses an enzyme, called telomerase, which has been called a potential fountain of youth for cells. Telomerase made headlines in 1998, when researchers reported that it let human cells remain young and continue to divide indefinitely. ... They envision taking tissue from a patient and using the enzyme to build up a population of rejuvenated cells that could be implanted in the patient. That idea has been shadowed by concerns that telomerase treatment might promote cancer, even after other research in 1998 found no sign of that connection. The new result doesn't mean scientists should abandon hopes for telomerase, said study author David Beach of University College London in England. Instead, he said, it suggests the enzyme isn't the whole answer. Beach and two colleagues in the United States present their work in Thursday's issue of the journal Nature. The researchers worked with human breast cells. After they inserted a gene to make the cells produce telomerase, and the cells were grown in a lab, scientists found the cells had activated a gene called ``c-myc.'' That gene is active in a wide variety of cancers. The cells in the experiment were not cancerous, but they had ``moved one step closer to becoming tumor cells,'' Beach said. That suggests a risk of cancer if telomerase-treated cells were used in therapy, he said. So ``we have got to do a bit more biology'' to overcome that problem, he said. Cloning and telomerase may be a huge part of the answer, but... then again they may not. The article above suggests that turning on telomerase may also stimulate cancer cell growth. Freezing a sample of one's present day cells offers us an inexpensive insurance policy. See again #13898: human replacement parts [Terry Grossman]. Long life and best wishes, Terry Grossman, M.D. Medical Director, Frontier Medical Institute 2801 Youngfield St., Suite 117 Denver CO 80401 (303) 233-4247 Toll-free (877) LIV4EVR Subscribe to our free e-newsletter at www.liv4evr.com Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=13950