Medistem says it developed new method of immune response through genetic reprogramming

By E. Janene Geiss

Philadelphia, Jan. 27 - Medistem Laboratories, Inc. announced Friday the successful development of a novel method of immune response modification using a genetic reprogramming technology involving RNA interference.

The recently published research may enable the development of new therapies to treat immune system disorders such as diabetes, arthritis and others, according to a company news release.

Medistem scientists have demonstrated the efficacy of clinically available iodinized oil mixtures combined with artificially synthesized double-stranded RNA molecules to selectively target immune responses recognizing specific proteins, according to a company news release.

The findings have potential implications for clinical situations in which suppression of a specific harmful immune response is desired without globally blocking the overall function of the body's immune system, officials said.

The research was published in the January 2006 issue of the "Journal of Translational Medicine," a peer-reviewed online medical journal.

"Antigen-specific immunomodulation offers the ability to selectively stop specific immune responses that harm the body while maintaining normal anti-pathogen immunity, thus offering new hope to victims of autoimmune diseases such as diabetes, arthritis and multiple sclerosis," said Thomas Ichim, a Medistem consultant who is lead author of the publication, in the release.

Medistem is a Scottsdale, Ariz., biotechnology company committed to the creation and commercialization of advanced medical therapies based on non-controversial adult stem cells. The company's mission is to transform these stem cells into valuable medical treatments.

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