Korean researchers have succeeded in proliferating stem cells more than double by using minute electric currents instead of expensive culture fluid.

Professor SUH Yoo Hun of SNU’s College of Medicine and Professor KIM Sung June of the College of Engineering announced on May 27 that as a result of stimulation of stem cells by using a special electric current stimulating chip, not only the differentiation of nerve cells was fostered but also the amount of stem cells was doubled.

Professor SUH has also found genes inducing dementia and suggested treatment for the disease. He published a paper indicating that it is the accumulation of C protein that induces dementia, not the beta-amyloid protein which was conventionally thought to be the cause of the disease.

Until now, proliferating stem cells was time-consuming and expensive because researchers had to use diverse culture liquids. Professor SUH said, “We have succeeded in this experiment by applying the principle that stem cells grow when exposed to minute electric currents while they are killed by strong electric currents.” The research team passed electric currents of 4 to 8 micro amperes per 1cm2 to stem cells. They referred to the idea of using electricity when treating cerebral apoplexy and Parkinson’s disease.

Professor SUH said, “In order to transplant stem cells into a brain, the cells have to be matured and differentiated into nerve cells. In the past this process was slow and costly, but nowadays time and cost are significantly saved.” The research team expects that “This research outcome could be applied to the stem cell treatment of cerebral diseases such as dementia or Parkinson’s disease.”

This research and its findings were presented in the April 2011 issue of the internationally known biotechnology journal PLoS ONE.

Written by LEE Tae Joon, SNU English Editor, leetjoon@hanmail.net
Proofread by Brett Johnson, SNU English Editor