Encouraging result
A group of researchers from the University of California at San Diego transplanted neural stem cells to four patients with spinal cord injury as part of a phase I clinical trial. Three of them reported objectively confirmed improvement. No serious adverse effects were observed.
The main purpose of the study at this stage is to assess the safety of the method. None of the patients had any complications associated with the procedure. This means that the method can be investigated further, the next step is the selection of the dose.
The study used a neuron progenitor cell line obtained by Neuralstem Corporation from human embryonic stem cells. Four participants with an old (more than a year) injury to the thoracic spinal cord received six injections, each of which contained 1.2 million nerve stem cells.
In a previous study published in 2013, stem cells were transplanted into rats with spinal cord injuries. This led to the regeneration of neurons and improved functioning and mobility of animals.
The results of the current human study are not so impressive, however, they are there and give hope for a cure. 18-27 months after stem cell transplantation, motor and sensory function analysis showed improvement in three out of four participants.
The small sample size is undoubtedly a disadvantage of the study, but there are also strengths: a long follow-up period, the use of electrophysiological assessment methods, as well as the late start of treatment. All patients were included in the study a year or more after the injury, which means that there could be no spontaneous recovery.
So, the method is safe and will probably be more effective at the earliest possible start of treatment. Therefore, studies will be conducted with an increase in the number of transplanted stem cells.
The next study is in the planning stage, it will involve patients with cervical spinal cord injury.
Article by E. Curtis et al. A First-in-Human, Phase I Study of Neural Stem Cell Transplantation for Chronic Spinal Cord Injury is published in the journal Cell Stem Cell.
Aminat Adzhieva, portal "Eternal Youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru Based on UC San Diego News Center: Stem Cell-Based Phase I Trial to Repair Spinal Cord Injuries Produces Encouraging Results.