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Because the human body views transplanted stem cells as an unknown and potentially dangerous foreign organism, the immune system often goes into high gear when cells are detected. This can result in transplant rejection. Although some medications help to inhibit the immune system's response, they also expose the patient to other diseases that can complicate things. The modified stem cells created at UCSF represent a potential solution to this problem by simply not triggering the alarms of the immune system.
The discovery at UCSF marks the first time that modified cells have managed to survive in their recipients without any kind of immune response. This process is performed using powerful and sometimes controversial CRISPR technology to remove two genes, the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) of Classes I and II, which would usually signal to the immune system that a cell is foreign. Scientists then added CD47, a cellular protein that essentially tells the immune system not to destroy a cell.
The technique has been tested on mice and has proven to be successful, suggesting that the process could also work on humans. Although the use of modified CRISPR cells in humans presented risks, the new method could significantly reduce the risks associated with stem cells and other transplants. This would open up new possibilities for procedures that save, extend and improve people's lives.
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