posted
I placed an order today for some CLBE, it was very thin from .056 to .07, people are holding strong at .07. Once we get volume this stock will take off quick, my order moved the stock price over 20% LOL. I agree with Quest when he says this is one of the most undervalued BB stocks in the market.. very safe place to have your money parked IMO.
From: SessionsIR.com
SessionsIR.com: Genentech Named Best Firm by Fortune: CLBE, STEM, YMI, SNY, DNA
(CLBE) is a great mid-long term investment. They just recently reported a significant increase in revenues for the past 9 months. With another profitable quarter, this one could break out to new trading ranges. This is a not another junky catchpenny. They sell quality products and are engaged in a business that will play a huge roll in stem cell developments these next few years.
Here are some the quotes from their recent 10K:
-Regarding LifeStem's stem cell banking service: "It is not unreasonable to project potential revenues approaching $100 Million within 36 to 48 months with as few as 10,000 clients."
-After the acquisition of KD Medical, the Research Reagents Division has two companies with combined 2004 revenues of approximately $1.2 Million in gross revenues. Within three years, it is anticipated that revenues will grow to $5 Million.
-The Company anticipates the launch of LifeStem's stem cell MicroBank in the first quarter of 2006, which the Company believes will lead to significant additional revenue.
CalbaTech, Inc. ( OTC:CLBE) has made impressive strides in the last year. As well as acquiring KD Medical, the company generated substantially increased revenues of $952,312 in the first three quarters of 2005, up from $128,940 during the same period last year, an increase of over 600%. The company is understandably pleased, particularly since operating expenses remained relatively steady, allowing for acquisition and financing costs, despite the significantly increased activity.
CalbaTech, Inc.. The Group's principal activities are to provide products and platforms to the life sciences research market, both for biotech and pharmaceutical companies. The customers include federally funded research centers, supply stores, university and private research centers, medical distributors and Original Equipment Manufacturers.
posted
CalbaTech contributes to effort supporting stem cell research to cure diabetes July 2nd, 2006
CalbaTech, Inc., (CLBE) an emerging life sciences company concentrating on banking adult stem cells for possible future therapeutic uses and providing products and platforms to the biotech, pharmaceutical research market and to academic institutions, announced its stem cell subsidiary LifeStem, Inc., contributed five Stem Cell Microbank services to the Los Angeles chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation for its third annual gala "Finding A Cure: A Love Story Benefiting Stem Cell Research." This annual event benefits stem cell research with the potential to cure diabetes, plus other life threatening diseases including Alzheimer, Parkinson disease and multiple...
Posts: 165 | From: pennyland | Registered: May 2006
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posted
Clabatech CEO is giving us all some insider information with this statement from the last letter to shareholders.
"We believe this means that CalbaTech has tremendous stock upside potential."
Some will ignore this but to the few that have done hours of DD and really researched this company, we know this company is growing a rapid pace in an industry thats projected to grow from 50 million to 10 billion in the next 4 years. Can it really get any clearer? Most will wait until financials come out but then you are going to be chasing this one up. ANd with the low float this will move like TDCP did. From what I've read the stem cell banking centers are Calbatechs most profitable division and they are just starting out with opening these facilities.
I bought this stock because trading pennies can be very stressful, I've been through it all with pennies and I'm ready to take on a different trading style now that I made back my losses with PAIV a few days ago. My plan is like Quest's, buy into a good fundemental company and sit on it.. I'll hold this at least a year, taxes won't be nearly as bad and I have no doubt it will be trading well over .25 by next year, but I like Quest's $1.00 expectations better LOL.
Next week should be fun, charts are looking better and PR should be out, then we have the 10Q a few weeks later, I expect those numbers to be good as well. Combine all of this with the float #'s and we have a winner here!
Posts: 165 | From: pennyland | Registered: May 2006
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Recently, an industry source published information regarding each of the public companies competing in the stem cell arena. Of the sixteen companies listed, CalbaTech was listed third in EBITDA (Earnings Before Income Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization), and first in average daily trading volume, yet had the second lowest market capitalization. We believe this means that CalbaTech has tremendous stock upside potential. If our revenues and profits begin to reach our pro-forma projections, particularly with LifeStem's Stem Cell MicroBank(TM) Service set to open in June, the price of our stock should respond accordingly. We have put the building blocks in place and have begun building a truly successful company. We are pleased that you have chosen to invest in CalbaTech. Thank you for the trust and continued support. Sincerely,
James DeOlden Chief Executive Officer
CalbaTech Announces Increase in Revenues to $412K, Company Posts a Net Profit in First Quarter, Expects Net Profit in Current Fiscal Year
James DeOlden, CalbaTech CEO, said the Company "anticipates that revenues will continue to increase significantly from operations in the coming year because two subsidiaries, Molecula, Inc. and KD Medical, Inc., have combined their operations to be more efficient and these subsidiaries are moving into a new facility that will increase and improve manufacturing capabilities, and will create new custom product offerings to the National Institutes of Health, as well as major universities and pharmaceutical companies.
Local investor John Garcia, who had his stem cells banked 10 years ago theold-fashioned way—they were painfully extracted from bone marrow—put Solana and CalbaTech together, Buckingham said. Garcia is founding principal of Tustin-based Angel Strategies LLC, which has invested in Solana.
Solana said it expects to have 38 spas open by the end of June and about 50 by the end of 2006.
CalbaTech is a biotech company that’s part owner of Solana
The spa industry is growing at an incredible rate, with experts pegging the average revenue increase at 114%. This astonishing growth is attributed to the demand for the “stress-free” environment, a place where people can escape the frantic, daily grind. The spa industry registers 155.8 million visits every year with a steady triple figure annual growth seen within the next 10 years. In 2004, the spa industry accounted for $11.2 billion in revenues.
12,000 Americans turn 50 every day (1 every 8 seconds!) and this will continue for the next 20 years. Studies show the number of Americans over 55 will grow by 60% in the next 20 years and their buying power will exceed $2 trillion by 2007. In addition, within the next five years, boomers will experience the biggest transference of wealth in U.S. history, making them wealthier.
posted
Also why now... if you read the last letter to shareholders you would have read the CEO talking about pro forma projections point to CLBE stock being heavily undervalued right now, if we get some substance in the next PR this should go like a rocket. We know the press release is coming very soon. I guarantee you CLBE is on everyones microcap watchlist since all of the attention on the forums and the recent 400% run, when the PR and 10Q hit the streets I think we can expect .20 or more, it really wont take much buying pressure to get this up over .20 as this is a very low floater. Email from CLBE, obviously they want the PR to have a good effect so expect the PR early next week!
Am working with them on the language in a release. Won't be today; Friday is for bad news.
Paul
Posts: 165 | From: pennyland | Registered: May 2006
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posted
Isn't CLBE on the SHO list? If this runs on PR the shorts will be forced to cover.
We emailed Paul last Friday, he was finishing up the highly anticipated PR.. It sounded like they were ready to release it Friday but planned onholding off as Friday is for bad news... We should hear from the company this week for sure. This has run on no news, when the news hits I expect the price to move quick.
Here is Pauls response from Friday:
Am working with them on the language in a release. Won't be today; Friday is for bad news.
Paul __________________ "We believe this means that CalbaTech has tremendous stock upside potential. If our revenues and profits begin to reach pro-forma projections, particularly with LifeStem's Stem Cell MicroBank(TM) Service to open this month, the stock price should respond accordingly," wrote James DeOlden, CEO.
Posts: 165 | From: pennyland | Registered: May 2006
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posted
New survey shows Golden State is magnet for stem-cell researchers By Malcolm Maclachlan
E-mail article (published July 21st, 2006) One of the promises made by proponents of Proposition 71 was that it would turn California into a Mecca for stem-cell research. According to a new study from Princeton University, this promise is starting to come true.
A survey of medical researchers published on July 13 in the academic journal Nature Biotechnology shows three trends that are likely music to the ears of Proposition 71 supporters. First, stem-cell researchers are more likely to get job offers than other researchers. Second, those offers are disproportionately likely to come from California. Third, California jobs appear to be a major factor in keeping many stem-cell researchers from leaving the country altogether.
One-third of the domestic job offers are for positions in California. Massachusetts comes in second, representing about 10 percent of job offers.
"We've heard a lot of anecdotes about people leaving the country or going to California," said Aaron Levine, a Ph.D. candidate in public affairs at Princeton who focuses on science and technology issues. "We wanted to provide at least some hard data."
That hard data is based on surveys of 378 stem-cell researchers and 1,029 other medical researchers around the country. The study found that stem-cell researchers were 1.6 times more likely than other medical researchers to have gotten a job offer in the past year. They were 5.3 times more likely to have received an offer from outside the country, and 7.5 times more likely to have offers for jobs both in the United States and abroad.
"The data presented here indicate that many stem cell scientists are considering moves to California, and suggest that resolution of the ongoing litigation blocking distribution of the Proposition 71 funding may trigger significant migration to the state," writes Levine in his conclusion.
Voters passed Proposition 71 in November 2004 to provide $3 billion for stem-cell research. While it appears that Proposition 71 will survive numerous legal challenges, the money still is tied up in the courts. On Thursday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered the state to lend $150 million to the California's stem-cell institute so that it could begin distributing research money. The announcement came one day after President George W. Bush vetoed a bill that would have expanded federal support of stem-cell research.
Levine's findings are backed up by California's stem-cell-research institutions, which, in recent months, have been boasting of the talent they have been able to attract. In February, Institute for Stem Cell and Tissue Biology at the University of California, San Francisco, announced it had recruited three sought-after young researchers from the likes of Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
However, Levine notes that the report doesn't prove that Proposition 71 is causing the migration. However, it "strongly implies that policy played a role," he said, particularly in contrast to states like Michigan. The University of Michigan's Center for Stem Cell Biology has lost several researchers in the wake of bills that limit research, which were passed by religious conservatives.
"It's no surprise that stem-cell researchers are going where the money is," said Jesse Reynolds, program director at the Center for Genetics and Society. Reynolds has been one of the biggest critics of Proposition 71. He said that he supports stem-cell research, but said that the campaign was sold on false promises of huge financial returns directly to the state.
Senator Deborah Ortiz, D-Sacramento, noted that California has been attracting top stem-cell researchers since long before Proposition 71 passed in 2004. Arnold Kriegstein, director of the UCSF Institute, came in 2003 from Columbia University. Larry Goldstein of the University of California, San Diego, arrived from Harvard in 1993.
"I think Prop. 71 has certainly had an impact," said Ortiz. "But remember, Prop. 71 has yet to put out a penny of research money."
Ortiz sponsored a successful bill in 2002, SB 253, which explicitly legalized stem-cell research in California. She said the bill was inspired by two events. The more well known was President George W. Bush's August 2001 decree that limited federally funded stem-cell research to "existing lines." The second was a subsequent attempt by Senator Sam Brownback, R-Kansas, to pass a bill that would criminalize not only stem-cell research, but also U.S. citizens seeking stem-cell therapies in other countries. Ortiz said it was important to take strong action in order to make sure the nation's stem-cell researchers did not all flee to stem-cell hot spots overseas, such as Korea, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.
"California has played an important role in preventing international migration," Levine said. "Given a choice, most scientists would prefer to stay in the country."
More recently, Ortiz has become known for her battles with California's top stem-cell official, Robert Klein, over her efforts to increase government oversight of the state's new stem-cell agency. Klein was the main force behind Proposition 71 and is now chairman of the Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee for the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.
But it's money that counts, said Klein, not just legalizing research. He noted that the two other states with a disproportionate amount of stem-cell jobs were New Jersey and Massachusetts, which have pledged $390 million and $100 million, respectively. He also said that even without the Proposition 71 money, researchers in California have access to $200 million in mostly private funding.
"You see a tremendous disparity between states that have supportive legislation and states that have stable, long-term sources of funding," Klein said.
UCSF's Kriegstein said that Proposition 71 could prove to be a tremendous boon to researchers. But, in the meantime, he said they have been ramping up with private money, much of it from high-tech sources. This includes $5 million from Intel co-founder Andy Grove and $16 million from Ray Dolby, founder of Dolby Labs.
Such aggressive fund raising is necessary, partially because Bush's "existing line" policy is making it more expensive for them to do stem-cell research, even without federal money, Kriegstein said. They generally are barred from using equipment and buildings paid for with National Institutes of Health money for research, forcing them to develop new facilities.
"I can be done--provided you want to scrupulously account for every single expense," Kriegstein said. "We decided that would be a nightmare to do."
Malcolm Maclachlan is a Capitol Weekly staff reporter.
quote:Originally posted by pennyaddict71: Isn't CLBE on the SHO list? If this runs on PR the shorts will be forced to cover.
We emailed Paul last Friday, he was finishing up the highly anticipated PR.. It sounded like they were ready to release it Friday but planned onholding off as Friday is for bad news... We should hear from the company this week for sure. This has run on no news, when the news hits I expect the price to move quick.
Here is Pauls response from Friday:
Am working with them on the language in a release. Won't be today; Friday is for bad news.
Paul __________________ "We believe this means that CalbaTech has tremendous stock upside potential. If our revenues and profits begin to reach pro-forma projections, particularly with LifeStem's Stem Cell MicroBank(TM) Service to open this month, the stock price should respond accordingly," wrote James DeOlden, CEO.
they are currently not listed on SHO but that does not mean the MM's are not short.
shares are only going to get tighter and with already over 24,000,000 insider restricted and per the last 10-Q only 95 mill total OS this could easily break out big time into the high .20's or more but IMO this is going to be a major investment for the long haul.
posted
Quest...thanks for all the DD, we really appreciate, or I know I do, I am long and strong on CLBE since .03 so hopefully it can do some magic.
Posts: 664 | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
IRVINE, Calif., July 24, 2006 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ --
CalbaTech, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: CLBE), an emerging life sciences company (http://www.CalbaTech.com) concentrating on banking adult stem cells for possible future therapeutic uses and providing products and platforms to the biotech, pharmaceutical research market and to academic institutions, announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, LifeStem, Inc. will begin operations of its Adult Stem Cell Microbank(TM) collection service on August 15th 2006.
LifeStem's Stem Cell Microbank(TM) Service is the nation's first service to collect micro quantities of adult stem cells from multiple tissue sources. "We have completed the validation of our protocols to guarantee that our service will run smoothly at the time of launch," said James DeOlden, CEO. "LifeStem and its partners are now satisfied with the vitality and viability of the cells that have been collected."
A number of individuals have already expressed interest in being the first to store their stem cells with LifeStem once the Service has begun. The company will begin enrolling clients immediately. LifeStem will also begin its marketing efforts immediately to take advantage of the time between today's date and the 15th of August to schedule other individual's stem cell harvests.
Additionally, CalbaTech, in coordination with LifeStem, announced that it will be offering a ten percent discount coupon for LifeStem's Stem Cell Microbank(TM) collection service, to shareholders of record as of August 10, 2006. The discount is available to the individual shareholder, or any member of the shareholder's immediate family at the shareholder's listed address.
CalbaTech's wholly owned subsidiary LifeStem has developed a unique process to harvest stem cells from two tissue sources, in micro quantities, to be cryopreserved for possible future therapeutic use. The collection of stem cells from two different tissue sources increases the potential for possible treatment options of more diseases.
About CalbaTech
CalbaTech, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: CLBE) is an emerging life sciences company (http://www.CalbaTech.com) concentrating on providing products and platforms to the research market for biotech and pharmaceutical companies and to academic institutions.
Contact: Paul Knopick E&E Communications (949) 707-5365 pknopick*eandecommunications.com
Note: Certain statements in this news release may contain "forward- looking" information within the meaning of rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Act of 1934 and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. We use words such as "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "future," "intend," "plan," and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. These statements including those related to being in a large and growing market, exhibiting rapid growth characteristics, and having a growth strategy, are forward looking statements. These forward looking statements are only predictions and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Some of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from estimates or assumptions in this press release include the risk that we will not be able to grow our revenues and market share, the risk that our prices do not remain competitive and the risk that we will not achieve profitability. Additional risks are identified and described in the Company's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Report on Form 10-KSB, and Reports on Form 10-QSB and Form 8-K. Statements made herein are as of the date of this press release and should not be relied upon as of any subsequent date. The Company's past performance is not necessarily indicative of its future performance. The Company does not undertake, and the Company specifically disclaims, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences, developments, events, or circumstances after the date of such statement.
Contact: Paul Knopick E&E Communications (949) 707-5365 pknopick*eandecommunications.com
SOURCE CalbaTech, Inc.
Paul Knopick of E&E Communications for CalbaTech, +1-949-707-5365, pknopick*eandecommunications.com http://www.prnewswire.comPosts: 199 | From: Tennessee | Registered: Apr 2006
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posted
The money this is going to bring in for CLBE is going to be phenominal! think about it,they will be profitable in 2006 and have at least 50 microbanks via MedSpa!
Excellent!!
CalbaTech Announces Launch Date for Stem Cell Microbank(TM) and Date for Dividend 'Coupon' to Shareholders of Record as of August 10, 2006 Monday July 24, 5:00 am ET
IRVINE, Calif., July 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CalbaTech, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: CLBE - News), an emerging life sciences company (http://www.CalbaTech.com) concentrating on banking adult stem cells for possible future therapeutic uses and providing products and platforms to the biotech, pharmaceutical research market and to academic institutions, announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, LifeStem, Inc. will begin operations of its Adult Stem Cell Microbank(TM) collection service on August 15th 2006.
LifeStem's Stem Cell Microbank(TM) Service is the nation's first service to collect micro quantities of adult stem cells from multiple tissue sources. "We have completed the validation of our protocols to guarantee that our service will run smoothly at the time of launch," said James DeOlden, CEO. "LifeStem and its partners are now satisfied with the vitality and viability of the cells that have been collected."
A number of individuals have already expressed interest in being the first to store their stem cells with LifeStem once the Service has begun. The company will begin enrolling clients immediately. LifeStem will also begin its marketing efforts immediately to take advantage of the time between today's date and the 15th of August to schedule other individual's stem cell harvests.
Additionally, CalbaTech, in coordination with LifeStem, announced that it will be offering a ten percent discount coupon for LifeStem's Stem Cell Microbank(TM) collection service, to shareholders of record as of August 10, 2006. The discount is available to the individual shareholder, or any member of the shareholder's immediate family at the shareholder's listed address.
CalbaTech's wholly owned subsidiary LifeStem has developed a unique process to harvest stem cells from two tissue sources, in micro quantities, to be cryopreserved for possible future therapeutic use. The collection of stem cells from two different tissue sources increases the potential for possible treatment options of more diseases.
About CalbaTech
CalbaTech, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: CLBE - News) is an emerging life sciences company (http://www.CalbaTech.com) concentrating on providing products and platforms to the research market for biotech and pharmaceutical companies and to academic institutions.
Contact: Paul Knopick E&E Communications (949) 707-5365 pknopick*eandecommunications.com
posted
being the nations first to do this this way is going to draw some institutional attention for sure....many don't even realize how big of a deal this is.
posted
CLBE-looks like they are going to entice for sellers...its obvious they need shares and the more we hold along with insiders the tighter it will get......this looks to be moving in the direction of the .20's and looks to be set up like PAIV was last week! The news today is just the beginning of many upcoming financial benefits for the company!
posted
telling for those of you that missed the PAIV run from the .04's to the high .20's you may want to try and get all the CLBE you can and don't even thing of an AON order...it won't fill.
posted
looks like the "buy rumor sell news" dip is almost done....take advantage if you can imo,this could easily close in the double digits with even low volume.
I would like to make a point that I think a lot of mildly dissapointed people are missing. This stock has a very small float. On friday we were in the .05's most of the afternoon and closed in the green. Most, if not all of those shares are no longer available. Now we are seeing more consolodation in the .06's today. This is a good thing. It is raising our support levels. Now IMO is a great time to buy becasue of these support levels. When we all invest our money, we want to do so in a stock that has limited risks. This is a perfect example of a stock with limited risks and great potential. This stock will easily see the .09's this week very soon. That is almost a 50% gain from our current levels. If you were to invest 4k and make a 50% gain, that is $2,000. IF you could do that every week you'd be making a $100,000 a year. Why shoot for the moon every week and strike out, when consitant base hits win the ball game. I personaly think we will hit the .14's on a major run this week. That is just my opinion, but I tend to be right 90% of the time , so take that as you will. The market is volatile. Take advantage of that. Also remeber, the grass always seems greener on the other side of the fence until you take the time to look down at your feet and notice your own amazing lawn. As always, patiene is a virtue. Keep the happy thoughts going. Positive thinking. And throw on some green socks like me for a bit of good luck! Good Luck Everyone.
posted
even looking at the previous Mondays news or not CLBE seems to stay stable or down a bit until EOD which it usually rallies a bit. The best times for CLBE seems to be Tuesdays and Wednesdays if I remember correctly and its 50/50 on Fridays.
posted
Why CalbaTech (OTC BB: CLBE) Wants To Store Your Stem Cells
Fat stem cells turned into muscle in experiment Research could repair hearts, other organs July 24, 2006 WASHINGTON - Stem cells taken from human fat can be transformed into smooth muscle cells, offering a way to treat many kinds of heart disease, gastrointestinal and bladder ills, U.S. researchers are reporting.
Their study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is the latest to show that fat can be a rich source of the body's master cells.
"Fat tissue may prove a reliable source of smooth muscle cells that we can use to regenerate and repair damaged organs," said Dr. Larissa Rodriguez, an assistant professor in the Department of Urology at the University of California Los Angeles medical school.
And almost any American has plenty of spare fat cells.
Rodriguez and colleagues incubated adipose-derived stem cells in a nourishing mixture of growth factors, human proteins that encouraged the cells to become smooth muscle cells.
The researchers said scientists have been looking for sources of smooth muscle for organ repair and treating heart disease, gastrointestinal diseases and bladder dysfunction.
"A major obstacle for such an approach has been finding a reliable source of healthy smooth muscle cells that can be safely harvested and that requires minimal manipulation," they wrote.
One approach has been to take a patient's own cells from an organ. But studies have shown that stem cells taken from a diseased organ are also damaged and do not work well when scientists try to grow them in the lab for a transplant.
Transplants grown from a patient's own fat could be used with no need for anti-rejection drugs, Rodriguez said. Smooth muscle cells have been produced from stem cells found in the brain and bone marrow, but acquiring stem cells from fat is much easier, she added.
posted
Originally Posted by fireopal this is s short article but this jumped out at me and has already been said but it's good that more news is surfacing in the mainstream imo:
Why put all efforts into embryonic research when you can get virtually everyone who currently objects on board by promoting adult stem-cell research instead? We seldom hear the truth, that any advances realized from embryonic stem-cells for curing diseases would be achieved well into the future.
It may well be that the embryonic variety of stem cells has greater long-tern potential, but the adult cells have already shown positive results.
posted
one of our members contacted Paul concerning a question about CLBE's convertable debt (CD) and heres the reply and it does make sense as to yesterdays action.And at least CLBE is down to only 1 mill shares at the most and thats if yesterday wasn't the shares.
I just got an email from Paul.....asked him the same question yesterday and he got back to me finally: << As of the last filing, there was approx 1M left on the debentures, as reported. We'll have to wait for the next 10Q for an update.
Paul >>
And there was 1M shares dumped yesterday! Do you think that was it?
By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Correspondent Tue Jul 25, 8:07 AM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Stem cells taken from human fat can be transformed into smooth muscle cells, offering a way to treat many kinds of heart disease, gastrointestinal and bladder ills, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.
While the experiment does not quite offer a way to turn a pot belly into a flat stomach, the researchers said the transformed cells contracted and relaxed just like smooth muscle cells.
These cells help the heart beat and blood flow, push food through the digestive system and make bladders fill and empty, the researchers reported.
Their study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is the latest to show that fat can be a rich source of the body's master cells.
"Fat tissue may prove a reliable source of smooth muscle cells that we can use to regenerate and repair damaged organs," said Dr. Larissa Rodriguez, an assistant professor in the Department of Urology at the University of California Los Angeles medical school.
And almost any American has plenty of spare fat cells.
Rodriguez and colleagues incubated adipose-derived stem cells in a nourishing mixture of growth factors, human proteins that encouraged the cells to become smooth muscle cells.
The researchers said scientists have been looking for sources of smooth muscle for organ repair and treating heart disease, gastrointestinal diseases and bladder dysfunction.
"A major obstacle for such an approach has been finding a reliable source of healthy smooth muscle cells that can be safely harvested and that requires minimal manipulation," they wrote.
CLEAN, HEALTHY FAT
One approach has been to take a patient's own cells from an organ. But studies have shown that stem cells taken from a diseased organ are also damaged and do not work well when scientists try to grow them in the lab for a transplant.
Transplants grown from a patient's own fat could be used with no need for anti-rejection drugs, Rodriguez said. Smooth muscle cells have been produced from stem cells found in the brain and bone marrow, but acquiring stem cells from fat is much easier, she added.
The stem cells found in fat are known as multipotent stem cells. They can produce a variety of cell and tissue types, but are not as flexible as embryonic stem cells.
Last week, President George W. Bush vetoed a bill that would have broadened federal funding of human embryonic stem cell research, saying he preferred that researchers pursue so-called adult stem cells, such as those used at UCLA.
Many groups have been looking to fat as a source of stem cells. In April, Cytori Therapeutics Inc. said it was starting a clinical trial to test whether stem cells derived from fat can be used to regenerate breast tissue.
Other researchers have been trying to get stem cells from liposuction specimens.
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