U.S. researchers have announced that they have found a safer method of developing "induced pluripotent stem cells" (iPS cells) from mice skin cells without side effects. Scientists had earlier grown iPS cells that resembled embryonic stem cells, but as this method involved the introduction of specific DNA-binding proteins to cells via potentially harmful viruses, and this often altered the cells' genomes resulting in the growth of tumors in animals.

In the September 26 issue of Science magazine, the scientists said that the new method reprograms skin cells into iPS cells that are similar to embryonic stem cells without integrating themselves into the hosts’ genome thereby successfully bypassing the permanent genetic damage previously associated with their design, a problem that has undermined the success of previous iPS cells.

Stem cell research is controversial, no doubt, but is seen to have the potential to find cures and treatments for diseases such as cancer, diabetes as well as in replacing damaged cells, tissues or organs. As this involves embryos many religious conservatives oppose this form of research and treatment saying it destroys human life. In an answer to this debate scientists are trying to find a non-embryonic stem cell.

In the current research, Matthias Stadtfeld from Massachusetts General Hospital and colleagues used a common cold virus to transfer DNA binding proteins to mouse skin cells and turn them into iPS cells. The researchers said these showed the potential to grow into a variety of other specialized cells which included the lung, brain and heart cells with no observed side effects till now.

In earlier trials, similar reprogrammed cells have been shown to alleviate the symptoms of Parkinson's disease and sickle cell anemia in mouse models, and Stadtfeld said if the new technique could be successfully applied to human cells it could mean a giant step forward in cell therapy as well as in the treatment of presently incurable human diseases.

The important thing, cautioned the researchers, would be to determine if the human iPS cells generated by this new method in the future method are as potent as human embryonic stem cells for potential clinical applications.