ANNUAL REPORT - Department of Biotechnology

other diseases like end-stage renal disease,
hypothyroidism, neural tube defect, diabetes,
Alzheimer's ec. Work is under progress to study the
effect of hyper-homocysteine in CAD and stroke. It is
emerging that the levels of homocysteine are
significantly higher in subjects adhering to a
vegetarian diet. Homocysteine levels are also
associated with MTHFR C677T polymorphism. Insilico
studies indicated that elevated levels of
homocysteine probably result in endoplasmic
reticulum stress. Similarly, in stroke patients with
hyperhomocysteinemia, the probable cause was
identified in about 61%
Joint Diseases
A workshop on Joint Diseases was organized at
SGPGIMS, Lucknow and suggestions made for
biomarker studies for diagnosis and prognosis;
understanding mechanisms of apoptosis and
autoimmunity, clinical genetics, cohort
development, bio-banks etc. It is proposed to create
a “Center on Joint Diseases” to address crucial
th
scientific issues on the subject during early 11 plan.
Stem Cell Research
The potential of stem cell technology to develop
therapy for many untreatable diseases through
cellular replacement or tissue engineering is widely
recognized. A highly interactive field of life sciences,
it requires close interaction of basic researchers,
clinicians and the industry for the overall growth and
development. In view its potential therapeutic
applications, major programmes on stem cell
science was initiated in the country. After a wide
consultation with the national and international
experts, priority areas have been identified and
categorized into basic research, translational
research, institutional development, creation of
facilities/infrastructure and human resource
development.
Both basic and clinical research are being promoted
by the Department. The programmes have been
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identified and implemented on various aspects of
both embryonic and adult stem cells such as limbal,
haematopoitic, embryonic, pancreatic, neural,
cardiac stem cells; generation of human embryonic
stem cell lines; use of banana lectins for stem cell
preservation; haematopoitic stem cells (HSC) for
haplo-identical HSC transplantation; use of limbal
stem cells for ocular surface disorders, isolation &
characterization of mesenchymal and liver stem
cells; in vitro differentiation of human embryonic
stem cells to neural and non- neural lineages;
phenotypic and genotypic characterization of limbal
stem cells, cultivated limbal epithelial cells; etc.
Major research leads include use of limbal stem cells
to repair corneal surface disorders caused by limbal
stem cell deficiencies. So far, more than 300 patients
have been treated at LV Prasad Eye Institute
(LVPEI), Hyderabad. A technology has been
established at Christian Medical College (CMC),
Vellore for collection, isolation and purification of
HSCs for haploidentical haematopoietic stem cell
transplantation. Banana lectins have been isolated
and purified showing stem cell preservation
activities by the scientists of NCCS, Pune and IISc,
Bangalore. Indigenous human embryonic stem cell
lines are being generated at few institutions in the
country. In the programmes supported on spinal
cord regeneration using stem cell transplantation
and other novel techniques, olfactory ensheathing
cells have been isolated and cultured from human as
well as rat samples of olfactory mucoa and bone
marrow stromal cells have been cultured and
differentiated in to neuronal tissue. In the study
supported on molecular characterization of human
liver stem cells for use in the treatment of hepatic
diseases, hepatic progenitors have been isolated
from human fetal gestation (13-20 weeks) and
characterized by hepatocytic lineage markers. The
isolated and characterized hepatic progenitors were
cultured and maintained as per the standard
procedures.
During the period, about twenty programmes have
Research and Development