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Hela cells, a story lasting 60 years.
Posted on March 4th, 2010 1 commentHenrietta Lacks died in 1951 at the Johns Hopkins hospital in Baltimore because of an aggressive form of cervical cancer. She would be probably unknown now, if your cells hadn’t been extracted and cultured as HeLa cells. Scientists of every molecular biology and cellular lab know about these cells because they have used them at least one time or because they have studied their application on biology books. However, it’s very interesting the history about HeLa cells.
Henrietta was 31 years old when she died and she had five children. She was the unwitting protagonist of the story, because on 1950s none informed consent was asked her. Doctor Gey and his wife had all scientific merits to make possible HeLa cell culture. They put these cells on Petri dishes; at that time they were performing a lot of experiments to try to culture human cell lines. HeLa cells were able to quickly grow in established conditions, differentially from other cells tested. Dr Gey sent his cells to many laboratories around the world and shared information about culture conditions and so on. This generosity allowed important scientific advances, especially in vaccination field because HeLa cells were firstly used to test and produce the Polio vaccine. Unfortunately, giving their ability to grow also in unfavorable conditions, HeLa cells became one of the most dangerous contaminant agents of other cell lines. The doubt that scientists were using HeLa cells in their experiments rather than breast, prostate or placental cells made necessary further analyses to figure out the true identity of cell lines used. Thus, after almost thirty years from her death, the Hopkins Hospital contacted Henrietta’s children and familiar to invite them donate some blood or tissue samples.
Genetic analyses and blood type were information required by scientists to complete the Henrietta’ profile and recognize HeLa cells from others. Even if the scientific purpose was correct, Henrietta’ family didn’t have all explanation needed to well understand physicians’ operations. This was only one of dark points from an ethical point of view present in this story. Fortunately after Henrietta’s experience, ethical question has acquired great importance in experimental medicine and now informed consent is required for every medical action. Another important issue of this story were the moral and legal questions that arose about the commercial value of something derived from human body. Who may have the copyright of HeLa cells? With these cells several billions of dollars have been gained by pharmaceutical companies, research institutes and so on, but Henrietta’s family haven’t had any benefit. But on other hand, what has been the role of Henrietta in whole story? She was just a poor mother who died too soon. -
Celiac disease
Posted on December 24th, 2009 No commentsThe celiac disease is an immune disease in which gluten represents the principal cause. Gluten is contained in several cereals, such as oats, wheat, rye and barley. Immune system of persons affected by this disease is wrongly activated when gluten component are presented by antigen presenting cells of small gut. T lymphocytes destroy the small intestine cells presenting this antigen, with a big damage in the whole gut functionality.
Indeed, patients that suffer fro celiac disease, have frequent diarrhea and other intestinal problems that seriously compromise normal life. Celiac disease is particularly dangerous in childhood, because of dehydration. Giving the genetic components of this disease, it’s important that babies with familial cases of celiac disease are immediately screened and identified as sick. The only way to treat the celiac disease is a gluten free diet. Indeed, this approach allows not only to prevent symptoms but also to regenerate the intestinal cellular layers previously destroyed. Numerous foods don’t contain gluten: rice, meat, vegetables and fruits can be eaten by celiac people without any problems and other dietary limitations can be overcome with gluten free products now available on the market. In the next future, a vaccine will be probably developed and distributed. It’s important that susceptible babies will be vaccinated in order to teach their body to recognize gluten as a positive element. -
Pandemic distribution of H1N1 influenza vaccine
Posted on September 3rd, 2009 No commentsIn previous post, we talked about H1N1 virus flu that could be defined as pandemic. In June 2009, the director general of World Health Organization declared that influenza A pandemic reached the phase 6, so the virus was diffused on global scale. From June to now, great efforts have been done by pharmaceutical companies to set up a vaccine and produce it in really high amount in order to satisfy the global need. Several problems will be encountered when vaccine will have to be sold and distributed.
Firstly, rich and poor countries have the same necessity for this vaccine, but of course different financial availability. It could be important that regulatory office will allow an equal and fair distribution of the vaccine and that rich countries will contribute to cover costs also for poor countries. Secondarily, mass vaccination campaign will have to be organized to reach most of the population: in this case poor countries are facilitated because other campaigns, for instance versus malaria or polio, are now in progress, while rich countries need to start from the beginning. Last but not least, it’s important to consider if we are ready to face this flu and if manufacturers can produce enough vaccine for all people. We hope that vaccine will be available for all at the moment of the crisis. -
Malaria vaccine soon on the market
Posted on May 26th, 2009 No commentsIn 2009 malaria vaccine enters in clinical phase III after a long term clinical study performed in Tanzania. Thousands of children die everyday in Sub-Saharan Africa because of malaria and men and women spend a lot of time and money to care this disease. The vaccine should be a great promise and hope for these populations.
The clinical trial of malaria vaccine involves 16000 children aged from two years to eleven in seven different African countries. The vaccine is a fusion of a protein from malaria parasite and surface antigen form hepatitis B virus. The main goal is block symptoms of malaria (fever, weakness, death) and maintain protection for several years. If everything goes well, vaccine will be submitted for regulatory approval by 2011 and it will be on the market by 2012. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunizations ensure vaccine to reach the market.
This clinical trial open new opportunities to care malaria. This terrible disease kills a lot of children in poor countries every year also because anti-malaria drugs are very expensive and government cannot pay them. We have to keep our finger crossed for this clinical trial!
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