2010 Newsletter: The Testis: a source of stem cells for all men?

Could the newly discovered “testis stem cells” be as versatile as embryonic stem cells? Bedford is launching a major research initiative to find out.

A major barrier to progress in stem cell therapies is that, similar to organ transplantation, the body rejects cells that are not a good match for the patient. Surprisingly, stem cells from testis may offer a solution. In 2008, a German team reported that they successfully derived pluripotent stem cells from adult mouse testis. Because of their unique ability to become any type of cell in the body, pluripotent stem cells hold the promise of cures to many conditions, from diabetes to spinal cord diseases. Then in 2009, two U.S. research teams discovered pluripotent stem cells in human testis.