Stem cells restored spinal cord after injury
As part of a clinical study, Korean scientists from Ulsan University (Seoul) injected 10 patients with stable motor function disorders or paralysis that developed as a result of spinal cord injuries at the level of the cervical spine with their own mesenchymal stem cells. These cells were isolated from the bone marrow of patients and, to increase their number, cultured in the laboratory for 4 weeks. The first injection consisted of two parts: one was injected directly into the spinal cord, and the second was intradurally (between the leaves of the dura mater of the spinal cord). After 4 and 8 weeks, patients received additional injections of cells into the lumbar spinal cord.
Monitoring of the patients' condition showed that 6 months after the procedure, the motor capabilities of the upper extremities (arms and hands) improved in 6 of them. In 3 of these 6 patients, there was a gradual improvement in the ability to perform everyday activities, such as cooking and working on the keyboard.
Examination using magnetic resonance imaging and electrophysiological methods revealed in these three patients signs of restoration of nerve tissue in the area of damage, as well as improvement in muscle activity.
The researchers note that patients with the most pronounced improvements at the time of inclusion in the study showed the preservation of residual neurological activity. This suggests that the approach under consideration rather contributes to the improvement of preserved neurological function than ensures the regeneration of lost nerve tissue.
The study also showed that the introduction of own mesenchymal stem cells is safe and does not cause any side effects. The authors plan to continue working in this direction and study the mechanisms by which mesenchymal cells have the observed positive effect. They are also going to find out for which categories of patients such cell therapy may be most useful.
Article by Park et al. Long-term Results of Spinal Cord Injury Therapy Using Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived From Bone Marrow in Humans are published in the journal Neurosurgery.
Evgeniya Ryabtseva
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of LiveScience:
Stem Cell Transplant Patients Show Long Term Improvement.
21.05.2012