The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) has revealed that a type of adult stem cell is proving itself more versatile for research and therapies thanks to 3D lab experiments.
These cells have already shown promise for repairing damaged bone and cartilage but until now have been fairly limited in the type of cells they can form in the laboratory.
Dr Paul Genever from the University of York will be speaking at the annual UK National Stem Cell Network science meeting.
He will speak about his work to grow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) - currently one of the leading candidates to be used in stem cell therapies - as tiny spheres.
Under these conditions, MSCs show potential to become a variety of different cell types, including, possibly, the early precursors to heart muscle cells.
The work is funded by the BBSRC and Smith and Nephew.
MSCs are common in children and adults and quite easy to find in blood, bone marrow and many other tissues.
They are already being used to repair bone in a small number of patients with severe fractures or bone disease.
Genever's experiments hope to recreate the microscopic 3D environment that stem cells would normally occupy inside our bodies and so give an accurate approximation of the factors that might influence the ability of MSCs to eventually produce different types of cell for regenerative medicine.
He said: 'In the past we've grown MSCs in 2D layers in the lab and they are only really strongly inclined to become bone, fat or cartilage - they are very useful for research and therapy, but in both cases would largely by limited to these three cell types.
'Our 3D technique aims to recreate the nutrients, oxygen levels and mechanical forces that these cells would normally experience inside our bodies.
'By growing the cells as 3D spheres of microscopic size instead of in a 2D layer, they specialise their roles more rapidly and more completely and also appear to be able to become a greater range of cell types.
'This shows that they are quite a bit more versatile than we thought and so are an exciting prospect for the use of these cells in therapies,' he added.
The spheres used are made of aggregates of MSCs and are tiny, measuring only 200-300micrometres across - about half the size of a dust mite.
Within these spheres it is possible to monitor the effects of interaction between several cells and between cells and other supporting structures.
The MSCs can also be combined with other types of cells that they would usually be associated with such as endothelial cells, which are found on the surfaces of blood vessels.
Prof Douglas Kell, chief executive at BBSRC, said: 'Stem cells are a vital part of normal development and healthy repair.
'Stem cell biology is subtle and complicated and this discovery will help to ensure that results from laboratory experiments offer a good approximation of what is happening with stem cells under normal circumstances inside humans and other animals.'
