Scientist outlines progress in stem cell research

Dr. Su-Chun Zhang was in Chetek Friday to speak with community members and area students about the progress his laboratory is making in stem cell research, due in part to proceeds from the annual David Busta Basketball Tournament and Silent Auction.

Born and raised on the east coast of China, Zhang eventually settled in North America, receiving his doctorate in Canada.

In 1996, Zhang moved to the United States and began working at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Since then, he has studied the potential of human embryonic stem cells. He is now a professor of anatomy and neurology and a scientist at the Waisman Center in Madison, which works to discover the causes, consequences and cures for developmental disabilities and neurodegenerative diseases.

A stem cell is a cell from an organism that can give rise to an indefinite number of other cells of the same type. Stem cells can also develop into other types of cells. Zhang differentiated between two types of stem cells: adult and embryonic. Adult stem cells-developed cells from a developed human-regenerate into cells of a specific tissue or organ. Embryonic stem cells-generally taken from an embryo less than a week old-are able to produce cells of nearly any type throughout the entire body, which often makes them the focus of research.

While stem cell research can aid in fighting Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, ALS and even cancer, Zhang's interest lies in brain and spinal cord regeneration using embryonic stem cells. His team has successfully guided human stem cells to become specialized myelin-producing oligodendrocytes, cells that wrap around nerves and allow for nerve conduction. Oligodendrocytes are usually lost in spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis. Zhang's team has also been able to show that the oligodendrocytes generated from stem cells can produce myelin sheaths around nerves in the young mouse brain.

In his latest research, with new technology at UW-Madison, he and his team have induced skin cells to become stem cells and are looking at the possibility of directing skin-derived stem cells into myelin-producing cells.

"Two groups, one in Japan and one in Wisconsin, demonstrated that skin cells from human beings can regenerate and act like stem cells," said Zhang. "We are now trying to look at if those cells can be taught to become nerve cells like motor neurons."

What made this research particularly exciting for Zhang is that there could be an endless supply of skin cells that could be turned into stem cells. For instance, if one's own skin cells could be regenerated into insulin-producing cells in the pancreas for diabetes patients, they could help cure the disease and lessen the chance those cells are rejected, as they come from the person's body.

While Zhang was encouraged by their research, he urged young students to get involved in developing the science to use these stem cells clinically. Although research has proven it could work, there isn't a safe way to implant these stem cells in a body because they must be infused using a virus.

"We need folks to develop better technology without involving a virus so it is safe to use in patients," said Zhang. "The base and the research is there, we just need to develop the technology."

Zhang's visit was sponsored by the David Busta Basketball Tournament and Silent Auction. Proceeds from the annual event benefit Zhang's work. Because of the opposition some people have to using embryonic stem cells in research, in 2001, President George W. Bush essentially established a moratorium on federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research. The moratorium makes private funding from events like the Busta benefit one of the few ways to fund advancements in stem cell research.

Since the event's inception in 2003, nearly $155,000 has been raised for stem cell research. The tournament and silent auction is set for Nov. 29 and will begin at 9 a.m. at the Chetek High School. For information on the event, or to bid on auction items, visit www.bustabenefit.org.