Embryonic Stem Cell Alternative - Hype or Hope?

Have Harvard researchers developed a source for embryonic stem cells that does not require the destruction of human life. Well, not quite. Amid the hype are more realistic articles reporting that the hybrid cells were derived from embryos that were previously destroyed:

The Harvard researchers used laboratory grown human embryonic stem cells - such as the ones that President Bush has already approved for use by federally funded researchers - to essentially convert a skin cell into an embryonic stem cell itself.

Now researchers must figure out how to remove the genetic information that was contributed by the embryonic cells in order to help the hybrid cells "differentiate," or grow into another type of tissue that can be used to treat disease.

Harvard’s press release tells a much more qualified story (emphasis mine):

A new study by Kevin Eggan, Douglas Melton, and colleagues offers hope that it might be possible in the future to produce embryonic stem cells without using human embryos. The Harvard Stem Cell Institute researchers will report in the Aug. 26 edition of the journal Science that it may be possible by fusing two cells together to some day produce cells with the properties of embryonic stem. The researchers caution, however, that many daunting challenges must still be overcome and the promise of their work should not be seen as a reason to slow present research efforts.

And, while the hybrid cells have many of the characteristics of embryonic stem cells, "The authors conclude that human embryonic cells have the ability to reprogram adult cell chromosomes following cell fusion."

I noticed this as well:

Researchers caution, however, that like many other nascent therapies that initially seemed promising, stem cells may never live up to their promise.

And, there is this issue:

Because it involves the fusion of a stem cell and a person's ordinary skin cell, the process leads to the creation of a hybrid cell. While that cell has all the characteristics of a new embryonic stem cell, it contains the DNA of the person who donated the skin cell and also the DNA that was in the initial embryonic stem cell.

[snip]

"Their data are certainly very good . . . and quite significant," said John Gearhart, a stem cell researcher at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. But the extra DNA "is problematic."

Finally, consider the following quote:

``This technique isn't ready for prime time,'' said Harvard researcher Kevin Eggan, an assistant professor of molecular and cellular biology at Harvard, who labeled the new procedure ``the first steps down an uncertain road.''

Yes, the research is "interesting" but given the problems with existing ESC lines one has to wonder how it will ever lead to a "replacement" for embryonic stem cells without relying on the destruction of human life.

There are true alternatives. Here is one: embryonic-like stem cells have been found in the placenta.

Update:

The Family Research Council newsletter includes the following remarks about this story:

The news is encouraging, an indication that at least some scientists "get it"--human embryo research and egg harvesting are morally troubling to a majority of Americans. However, the new technique still requires use of existing human embryonic stem cell lines, derived from human embryos that were already destroyed, so ethical questions do remain.

In addition, what are produced are still embryonic stem cells, which continue to show tumors and incorrect cell types, and haven't treated a single patient. The real solution, which continues to get little notice, is adult stem cells. At least a dozen studies now show adult stem cells from bone marrow, umbilical cord blood, and placentas have the flexibility of embryonic stem cells, but without the scientific or ethical problems. And adult stem cells have already shown success in treating at least 65 different human diseases. Let's put our resources toward building a culture of life and real hope for patients--adult stem cells.