Oligodendrocytes from umbilical cord blood
Scientists have reprogrammed umbilical cord stem cells for the first time
But first you need to learn how to give a command to the cells to choose one or another specialization.
Bioengineers from the University of Central Florida have managed to turn stem cells from the umbilical cord into oligodendrocytes engaged in axon myelination, that is, isolating nerves in the brain and spinal cord.
The cells transformed under the influence of a number of chemical and physical signals demonstrated the synthesis of the main protein myelin. Therefore, the achievement of Americans may lead to the creation of a new method of treating spinal cord injuries, as well as multiple sclerosis and other diseases of the nervous system.
According to the head of the research team, James Hickman, "this was done for the first time not with embryonic stem cells," (UCF: A First: Brain Support Cells from Umbilical Cord Stem Cells).
To stimulate the transformation, the authors used the hormone norepinephrine (norepinephrine). However, its action alone was not enough – the cells reached the stage of oligodendrocyte precursors and stopped.
From left to right: stem cells, norepinephrine, oligodendrocyte
(photo by Hedvika Davis et al./ ACS Chemical Neuroscience)
Only after the researchers managed to select the appropriate habitat for the cells (they were cultured on a microscope slide, covered with another piece of glass on top), the original multipotent cells turned into mature oligodendrocytes.
Details of the experiment can be found in an article in the journal ACS Chemical Neuroscience (Davis et al., Small Molecule Induction of Human Umbilical Stem Cells into Myelin Basic Protein Positive Oligodendrocytes in a Defined Three-Dimensional Environment).
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20.01.2012