Scientists devise new way to generate canine stem cells
The iPSCs were generated without feeder cells, a process which had not been possible before.
Researchers have discovered a method to generate canine induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from urine samples.
The findings could bring companion animal medicine research a step closer to veterinary regenerative treatment.
The research, conducted by scientists at Osaka Metropolitan University, aimed to discover how iPSCs could be used in the study of veterinary regenerative medicine, as well as contributing to new discoveries in human regenerative medicine.
However, canine somatic cells have a much lower reprogramming efficiency than those of humans. This means that there are fewer types of canine cells which can be used to generate iPSCs.
The induction of iPSCs would often use feeder cells from a different species, although it is considered safer to minimise the use of xenogeneic components. Therefore, scientists were keen to find a method of reprogramming various canine cells in dogs without using feeder cells.
The research team were able to identify six reprogramming genes, which could increase canine iPSC generation by 120 times compared to conventional methods using fibroblasts.
Using these genes, the scientists were able to create iPSCs by reprogramming stem cells from canine urine samples. This was a non-invasive, painless and straight-forward method.
Not only were the scientists able to create the cells with reduced xenogeneic components, the iPSCs were also generated without feeder cells, a process which had not been possible before.
It is believed that this discovery could not only further studies of veterinary regenerative medicines, but also lead to new discoveries in human regenerative medicines.
Prof Shingo Hatoya, from the Graduate School of Veterinary Science at Osaka Metropolitan University, led the research team. They said: "As a veterinarian, I have examined and treated many animals,
"However, there are still many diseases that either cannot be cured or have not been fully understood. In the future, I am committed to continue my research on differentiating canine iPSCs into various types of cells and applying them to treat sick dogs, hopefully bringing joy to many animals and their owners."
The full study can be found in the journal Stem Cell Reports.
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Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
