National
Developing neurons using stem cell therapy
By R. Prasad
CHENNAI, DEC 5. Human embryonic stem cell technology got a shot in the arm with the successful demonstration of its ability to develop into healthy and functioning neurons in the brain. The work reported in the journal, Nature Biotechnology, represents a major step in treating diseases of the brain like Parkinson's disease in the future. Stem cell therapy is seen as a revolution in the treatment of many intractable cell-based disease.
Scientists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Bonn Medical Centre took the stem cells from early embryos and guided them down the developmental pathway to become precursor brain cells in the laboratory. These cells were then transplanted into the brains of baby mice where they developed into neurons and astrocytes. Neurons and astrocytes cells are found in the brain and spinal cord of humans.
The work represents a major achievement for two reasons. It establishes the ability of human embryonic stem cells to develop into any specified cells and more importantly its ability to be transplanted into animals yet develop into more specific cells required for normal brain function. According to the scientists, the neurons that developed in the mice are identical to those seen in human brain. The results have also gone to show the absence of tumours in the mice that received the stem cell transplant. Potential stem cell therapy, especially when the stem cells are transplanted into an animal, has a possibility of developing tumour through contamination with undifferentiated cells in a transplanted animal.
The absence of this in the present case, according to the scientists, attests to the methods used to purify the precursor cells in the laboratory prior to transplantation.
The results gain special significance as stem cell therapy is in its infancy and would take more time for clinical application in humans.
The study in effect has helped in demonstrating the ability of the stem cells to turn to specialised neuron cells and its potential to treat a condition like Parkinson's in an animal model such as primates.
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
National
|
