Recover after radiotherapy
A method of regeneration of blood cells after irradiation has been developed
Dmitry Mazalevsky, Naked Science
Patients diagnosed with blood cancer, such as leukemia and lymphoma, are often treated by bone marrow irradiation, which destroys diseased cells. After the procedure, patients have an increased risk of infection until new blood cells are formed.
Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a method for the rapid recovery of these cells. It involves the stimulation of a certain type of stem cells to produce growth factors that will help the damaged elements transform into full-fledged blood cells. An experiment on mice showed that specially grown cells helped animals recover faster from bone marrow irradiation. The results of the work are published on the university's website.
A group of scientists led by Professor of bioengineering Kristin Van Vliet (Krystyn Van Vliet) grew mesenchymal stem cells on a surface whose mechanical properties are very similar to the characteristics of bone marrow. This prompted the cells to produce special factors that help hematopoietic stem cells and original cells transform into red and white blood cells and platelets. Mesenchymal stem cells are produced throughout the human body and can be transformed into various tissues, including bones, cartilage, muscles and fats. They can also produce proteins that help other types of stem cells transform into full-fledged cells.
"The process is like trying to grow a plant. Mesenchymal stem cells contribute to the improvement of the soil, on the basis of which the original cells can begin to multiply and transform into those blood cells that are necessary for the survival of the body," says van Vliet.
Over the past decade, researchers have shown that changing the mechanical properties of the surfaces on which stem cells grow can affect their transformation into mature cell types. In her latest work, the scientist demonstrated for the first time that mechanical properties can also influence factors that stimulate stem cells.
The study proved that mesenchymal stem cells grown on materials with mechanical properties most similar to bone marrow conditions yielded the greatest number of factors necessary to form new full-fledged blood cells.
The experimental results showed that mice with irradiated bone marrow implanted with specially grown mesenchymal stem cells recovered faster than rodents who received the same cells grown on traditional glass surfaces.
"You can imagine that by changing the cultural environment, including the mechanical environment, mesenchymal stem cells can be used to fight several other diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, rheumatoid arthritis and others," concludes Vlit.
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