Stem cells used to create new trachea

In a groundbreaking development, scientists have taken a donated organ, stripped its cells and used it as a scaffold to create a new trachea from the patient's stem cells. Doctors subsequently transplanted the organ in a young woman whose windpipe had been destroyed by tuberculosis. And because the transplant relied on the patient's stem cells, no powerful immune-suppressing drugs were needed to prevent a rejection.

The Lancet described how a team of doctors from three countries collaborated on the breakthrough procedure.

"We think this represents a milestone and hope it will unlock the door for a safe and recipient-tailored transplantation of the airway in adults and children," the authors write. "We hope that these future patients will no longer suffer the trauma of speech loss, severe shortness of breath and limited social activities."

Even more importantly, the procedure helps establish hard proof that new organs can be developed from a patient's stem cells. And that points to a revolutionary new approach to developing replacement body parts.  "In 20 years, this will be the most common form of surgery," says Bristol University's Professor Martin Birchall.

- read the article in The Guardian

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