British team develops radical stem cell therapy to mend hearts and repair bones

A ground-breaking medical treatment that could dramatically enhance the body's ability to repair itself has been developed by a team of British researchers.The therapy, which makes the body release a flood of stem cells into the bloodstream, is designed to heal serious tissue damage caused by heart attacks and even to repair broken bones. It is expected to enter animal trials this year and if successful will mark a big step towards the goal of using patients' own stem cells to regenerate damaged and diseased organs.When the body is injured, bone marrow releases stem cells that home in on the damaged area. When they arrive, they start to grow into new tissues, such as heart cells, blood vessels, bone and cartilage. Scientists already know how to make bone marrow release a type of stem cell that can only make fresh blood cells. The technique is used to collect cells from...

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