For the first time in the world, stem cells from the thyroid gland were transformed into parathyroid gland cells, another organ. Thus, a new pathway has been opened in the treatment of organ failures. Endocrine Surgery Specialist Prof. Dr. Erhan Ayşan: “This technique, which we have developed with a large research team, can work not only in parathyroid transplantation but also in other transplants. It may provide new insights in the treatment of diseases such as diabetes, for example, in which cellular transplantation is involved.”

In the study conducted by a multidisciplinary research group headed by Yeditepe University Koşuyolu Hospital Endocrine Surgery Prof. Dr. Erhan Ayşan, stem cells obtained from healthy thyroid gland were transformed into parathyroid gland cells, which is a completely different organ, by undergoing various laboratory processes. This important study was published in an internationally respected scientific journal and entered the medical literature. 

“With This Method, We Have Developed; Both the Problem of Finding a Donor Will be Solved and the Success Rate of Transplants Will Increase”

Stating that the parathyroid is the only organ in our body that provides calcium balance, Prof. Dr. Erhan Ayşan: “If there were not enough calcium in our muscles, we could neither move nor talk. If we don't get enough calcium for our heart muscle, our heart will not work, and this can even lead to cardiac arrest. The parathyroid gland, which manages all of our mentioned processes, is a very important organ for our body. In our study, we obtained another tissue from a tissue; in the literature, there is a condition of obtaining liver from liver stem cells and kidney from kidney stem cells. We transformed from the thyroid organ to a different organ, the parathyroid organ. This technique is very important and innovative for literature because it will both solve the problem of finding a donor and increase the transplant success rate. In transplants to be performed with stem cells obtained from the thyroid gland of the same person, it will not be necessary to find a donor for the transplant, and the success rate of the transplants will also increase as there will be no tissue adaptation problem since that person's own tissue is used."

“Our Transmitter Rate is Low Due to Restrictive Factors” 

Prof. Dr. Erhan Ayşan gave the following information about this important study:

“In kidney transplants, each person has two kidneys, so they have a kidney donation. Parathyroids are the smallest organs of the human body, the size of a large grain of rice! There are four parathyroid glands in our body, but when one or two parathyroid glands are taken from a healthy person, this is not enough for the other person for various technical reasons. The small size of the organ is one of the most important reasons for this. In addition, the parathyroid tissue of a healthy person cannot be used in Turkey or the world. Therefore, in line with certain criteria, we take this tissue from people with overworked parathyroid glands and transplant it. Due to these restrictive factors, our donor rate is low. As I said before, with this technique, the problem of the transmitter will also disappear.”

“Our Study Entered the Literature About a Month Ago” 

Underlining that they have been working on this subject for many years with a wide academic staff, Yeditepe University Koşuyolu Hospital Endocrine Surgery Specialist Prof. Dr. Ayşan, “We published the article of the technique we developed in an internationally respected science journal. Thus, our study entered medical literature and this process was presented to the knowledge of the scientists who were familiar with the subject. We even started receiving emails from abroad. The widespread use of this technique will pave the way for a new approach to many organ failures. One of them is pancreatic islet transplantation, which is used in the treatment of diabetes.”

Prof. Dr. Ayşan shared the following information about the study processes: “We transformed the stem cells obtained from the thyroid tissues into adult parathyroid cells by combining them with some special converting factors under laboratory conditions. We also proved that they are functional by transplanting these cells into experimental animals. As a result, the cells belonging to one organ became another organ. This study also has the feature of being a doctoral thesis of one of our students." 

“We Still Have a Lot of Work To Do!” 

Prof. Dr. Ayşan: “It is a very valuable step to transplant cells obtained from an organ that exists in itself instead of transplanting organs obtained from other people to people who do not have an organ or do not function. Thus, the problem of donors in tissue and organ transplants, the problem of using drugs that suppress the immune system, and most importantly, the problem of unsuccessful transplants will be solved. There is still much work to be done in this regard, and these works can only be done with multidisciplinary, visionary, harmonious, and hardworking academicians.”