Retrodifferentiation Technology

WHAT IS RETRODIFFERENTIATION ?

Retrodifferentiation is a process during which mature, specialised cells can revert back to a more primitive, immature cell stage. This is achieved by introducing an agent, i.e. a CR3/43 murrain monoclonal antibody, to a particular cell surface receptor. These retrodifferentiated stem cells are then capable of re-differentiating into a variety of cell types. Therefore, the process itself has the potential to reconstitute an entire human tissue such as blood, neurones, muscle etc.
 

Another advantage of retrodifferentiation is that it can generate cells of the specific arm of the immune system, such as B and T lymphocytes that can help to fight viral infections and cancer. Moreover, research to date has shown that retrodifferentiation is also a method by which diseases such as cancer, autoimmunity and AIDS might be better understood and possibly treated.

TriStem has retrodifferentiated 'leukaemic' B cells to an unmutated stem cell stage, in particular in B cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL). Thus, the technology has the potential to erase or rectify acquired genetic mutations, the hallmark of a return to a non-malignant stage. Moreover, not only does the technology produce stem cells, but also the microenvironment that maintains and proliferates the stem cells, such as various stromal cell types. These mesenchymal cells are able to produce a variety of growth factors that can be utilised in expanding current populations of stem cells, whether retrodifferentiated or not.