Scientists from GIBH have found new use for cells in human urine

The research group led by Prof Duanqing Pei and Dr Guangjin Pan has found a novel and innovative way to use cells found in human urine that could aid in the treatment of a range of neurodegenerative disorders. In their study, Prof Pei and Dr Pan have discovered a new technique which can reprogram cells shed in human urine into neural progenitor cells (NPCs) that can grow into multi-functional neuronal subtypes and glial cells.

The technique is expected to be used in the study and treatment of neural disorders such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Their findings were published online on Dec. 9 in a research report in the journal Nature Methods, a monthly publication covering novel findings in life sciences.

Prof Pei and Dr Pan’s research team has combined an episomal system to deliver reprogramming factors with a chemically defined culture medium to reprogram kidney epithelial cells naturally shed in urine into NPCs. These NPCs, normally only found in the human brain, were later proven to be transgene-free and self-renewing. Prof Pei hopes the discovery will be used to generate NPCs from patients with neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease. "These NPCs from patients may help us discover new drugs for these diseases." said Prof Pei.

"It is a remarkable advance in the stem cell field," said Fred Gage, professor with the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. “They reprogrammed somatic cells with a non-integrating virus and epithelial-like cells from human urine, a novel, safe and abundant source of cells”, he added.

The results and methods derived from this study will be of great value and significance to the field of neural degenerative disease.