Gene and cell therapy at the meeting of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Science is close to providing a person, if not immortality, then a very long life. This can be achieved by restoring lost cells and tissues and genetically engineering organs. Such prospects were shown on March 9 by Academician Vsevolod Tkachuk in his scientific report "Gene and cell therapy in modern biology and medicine", which he delivered at a meeting of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Actually, the word "immortality" itself was not mentioned in the report of the Dean of the Faculty of Fundamental Medicine of Lomonosov Moscow State University, head of the Department of Biological and Medical Chemistry – scientific conscientiousness does not allow this yet. But on the other hand, the latest methods of biomedical research based on genetic engineering allow the most sensational results. "For example, it was found that switching off some genes allows you to prolong the life of insects, invertebrates and unicellular 2-10 times," the scientist said. – Therefore, there are special programs for the "death" of cells and the body. In addition, hundreds of mouse lines have been created, each of which is specifically deprived of a certain gene. This made it possible to model some pathologies and diseases, therefore, to study the mechanisms of their development and to conduct a targeted search for new drugs."

Today, researchers have the opportunity to "turn off" certain genes or, conversely, to introduce synthesized genes into cells, and then observe changes in the physiology of the cell or the whole organism, Academician Tkachuk pointed out. Thanks to such methods, it has been shown that by introducing a certain gene into pathologically altered tissues or organs, their structure and even lost function can be restored in patients. With the help of gene therapy, it is also possible to "reprogram" cells of one type into another, that is, to force them to divide and differentiate, replenishing the lost structures. Scientists achieve this with the help of stem cells, which are present in all organs and tissues. These are cells that have not differentiated, have not turned into any of the types. Now they are forced to differentiate into the type necessary for the treatment of any given organ and then simply injected into the damaged tissue. As a result, the regeneration of this tissue accelerates and functions are restored, the researcher said.

Such experiments are already being conducted, Tkachuk said. For example, four years ago, Japanese scientists managed to turn ordinary somatic cells into so-called pluripotent, that is, capable of performing other functions. "They are like embryonic cells, those from which you can grow any tissue or organ, or you can grow an entire organism," the researcher stressed. "Perhaps in the future this discovery will allow growing organs for transplantation."

Thus, gene and cell therapy "open up brilliant prospects for the restoration of lost cells and tissues and the genetic engineering of organs, which will undoubtedly significantly expand the arsenal of methods for biomedical research and create new opportunities for the preservation and prolongation of human life," Academician Tkachuk said.

Unfortunately, Russian science is not rich in laboratories for expanding such research, Mikhail Kirpichnikov, a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, noted in response. "The work is being carried out at the Moscow State University, the Institute. Engelhardt Institute of Cytology SB RAS," he said, "but the number of such places is extremely limited." And as a result, it turns out that "theoretical research is carried out here, and experimental verification is carried out abroad."

Legislative restrictions also interfere, those present at the meeting noted. For example, in the USA, the number of studies in the field of genetic engineering has increased 25 times, and in Russia there is not a single cell technology approved for clinical use. But we are talking about nothing less than the realization of humanity's dream of obtaining spare parts for the body. What, in the future we will have to import them from abroad? Won't this cause social tension? – the participants of the discussion asked themselves.

In any case, it is necessary to cooperate with all groups involved in cellular medicine, Academician Viktor Sadovnichy, Rector of Moscow State University, suggested. "It is necessary to solve a lot of issues, not only medical, but also purely theoretical," Academician Anatoly Grigoriev joined him. – It is necessary to combine the efforts of many specialists – physiologists, biologists, etc. It is necessary to create a comprehensive interdepartmental program with an emphasis on the experimental part."

Such studies need to be continued in all directions, the participants of the meeting of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences concluded.

The report of ITAR-TASS correspondent Alexander Tsyganov is published on the AMI-TASS website.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru10.03.2010