12/ 05 / 12 Tuesday New Approach to Muscle Regeneration Artice # 1-10 questions

1. Potential New Approach to strength and improves the survival rate of
Regenerating Skeletal Muscle the affected animals. This is the first study
to demonstrate the functional and stable
Tissue
integration of AFS cells into skeletal
muscle, highlighting their value as a cell
NAME ________________ DATE_____ per#
source for the treatment of muscular
dystrophies.
ScienceDaily (June 1, 2012) — An
innovative strategy for regenerating skeletal
However, the research is still at a relatively
muscle tissue using cells derived from the
early stage as the work has only been carried
amniotic fluid is outlined in new research
out in animal models.
published by scientists at the UCL Institute
of Child Health.
Dr Coppi said: "Spinal muscular atrophy is a
genetic disease affecting one in 6,000 births.
The paper shows that damaged muscle
It is currently incurable and in its most
tissues can be treated with cells derived
severe form children with the condition may
from the fluids which surround the fetus
not survive long into childhood. Children
during development, leading to satisfactory
with a less severe form face the prospect of
regeneration and muscle activity. The
progressive muscle wasting, loss of mobility
treatment resulted in longer survival in mice
and motor function. There is an urgent need
affected by a muscle variant of spinal
for improved treatments.
muscular atrophy. This is the first time that
regeneration of diseased muscle tissue has
been obtained using cells derived from "We are excited by this potential new
amniotic fluid. approach for regenerating skeletal muscle
tissue, but much more research is needed.
We now need to perform more in-depth
The research appears in the journal Stem
studies with human AFS cells in mouse
Cells, is authored by Dr Paolo de Coppi
models to see if it is viable to use cells
(UCL Institute of Child Health and surgeon
derived from the amniotic fluid to treat
at Great Ormond Street Hospital) and
diseases affecting skeletal muscle tissue."
colleagues in Paris and Padova, and
represents an impressive development in the
Review Questions (Cornell Format)
growing field of regenerative medicine.
1. When was the article published?
Muscle derived stem cells are presently
considered the best source for muscle 2. Where have researchers isolated cells
regeneration. However they cannot be used used to aid in muscle regeneration?
to treat muscular dystrophies because the
stem cells themselves are affected in 3. What disease affected the mice in the
individuals with these conditions. Due to study?
this challenge, other cell sources have been
explored but so far no definitive treatment 4. What was this research exciting and
has been successful. also important in the regeneration of
muscle tissue.
De Coppi's team has demonstrated that
intravenous transplantation of amniotic fluid
stem (AFS) cells enhances the muscle

2. 5. What type of cells are currently
considered to be the best for muscle
regeneration?
6. Why can’t they be used to treat muscular dystrophies?
7. What did De Coppi’s team demonstrate using intravenous transplantation of amniotic fluid
stem cells in regards to muscle function?
8. What type of models has this research only been carried out in?
9. What type of challenges do children with less server forms of spinal muscular atrophy face?
10. What is the nest step in the research presented in the article?