Stem cells in brain damage: encouraging results
Japanese researchers from Hokkaido University, working under the guidance of Dr. Toshiya Osanai, damaged areas of the cerebral cortex of rats by freezing and 7 days later injected stem cells isolated from bone marrow into the carotid artery of animals. The purpose of this was to deliver cells directly to the brain, excluding their entry into the general bloodstream.
The movements of cells in the body were traced thanks to pre–attached tags to them - the so-called "quantum dots", which are nanoparticles made of biocompatible fluorescent semiconductor material. These tags emit near-infrared light penetrating through bones and skin.
Such non-invasive monitoring allowed the researchers to observe how the stem cells really immediately penetrated directly into the brain. Within three hours, they began to migrate from the capillaries of the brain to the areas of damage.
Four weeks later, the rats injected with stem cells showed a significant recovery of motor function, while the condition of the control group animals did not improve. The analysis of the brain tissue of the experimental group of rats confirmed that the injected stem cells differentiated into different types of brain cells and took part in the process of repairing damaged tissues.
Experts believe that over time, the introduction of stem cells will become an important method of treating patients with traumatic brain injuries and strokes. A potential source of therapeutic cells is the bone marrow. However, specialists have yet to work out the optimal mode and method of cell administration, as well as choose the most effective dosage. To track the fate of donor cells in the recipient's brain, you can also use the technique proposed by the authors, but it will have to be modified, since the bones of the human skull and scalp are much thicker than rat ones.
Article by Osanai, Toshiya et al. Therapeutic Effects of Intra-Arterial Delivery of Bone Marrow Stromal Cells in Traumatic Brain Injury of Rats—In Vivo Cell Tracking Study by Near-Infrared Fluorescence Imaging published in the journal Neurosurgery.
Evgeniya Ryabtseva
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on Lippincott Williams & Wilkins:
Encouraging Results with Stem Cell Transplant for Brain Injury.
03.02.2012