Researchers from the Uppsala University in Sweden have made a promising breakthrough in the use of stem cells to treat spinal injuries. The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, describes how a stem cell transplant for sensory function recovery was performed on mice.
When a person suffers a spinal injury the nerve fibres that enter the spinal cord can rupture. The injuries to the nerve fibres are what causes paralysis, loss of sensation and chronic pain in a person’s limbs. Surgery can sometimes restore some muscle function in the limbs, but there is no way to restore sensory function. That is because the ruptured nerve fibres cannot grow back into the spinal cord and restore lost nerve connections.
The new study injected stem cells into mice in an attempt to restore a path between the nerves and the spinal cord. The stem cells helped the injured sensory nerve fibres regrow and reach the spinal cord.
The transplanted cells differentiate themselves into the various components needed to rebuild nerves and restore sensory function. There were no signs of tumour development or functional abnormalities which can sometimes occur after stem cell transplants. This research is another important step forward to finding a treatment for spinal injuries. A stem cell transplant for sensory function recovery means that individuals with paralysis can once again feel their arms and legs.
From: Recovery of sensory function by stem cell transplants
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