Scientists from Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the United States have worked together to learn more about the potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) to protect and repair the brain.  They performed clinical trials on very young rodents to determine how MSCs can repair damage that occurs in the young mammalian brain.  The findings of this study were recently published in the journal Stem Cells and Development.

Mesenchymal stem cells are multipotent stromal cells that can differentiate into other types of cells including bone cells, fat cells, muscle cells, and cartilage cells.  MSCs are often the subject of research into regenerative medicine and scientists believe they could be used to treat many different ailments.

The Mesenchymal stem cells used in the study were extracted from Wharton’s jelly — a  gelatinous substance that is found in the umbilical cord and the eyeball.   Wharton’s jelly is packed with fibroblasts (cells that produce collagen), macrophages (cells that help fight infections), and stem cells.

The primary goal of the research was to find out if MSCs can protect the brains of premature babies.  According to the researchers: “The development of a mammalian brain is a complex and long-lasting process. Not surprisingly, preterm birth is the leading cause of death in newborns and children. Advances in perinatal care reduced mortality, but morbidity still represents a major burden. New therapeutic approaches are thus desperately needed.”

The researchers transplanted MSCs derived from the Wharton’s Jelly (WJ-MSCs) into very young rats to see if it improved their survival rates.  They found that rodents who received the stem cells experienced reduced myelin loss, astroglial activation and improved locomotor behaviour. 

The researchers tested the regulators of responses to DNA-damaging agents that injure the brain of preterm rodents.  They found that WJ-MSCs affect certain pivotal regulators that affect the lifespan of cells in the brain.  They believe that WJ-MSCs have great potential for treating perinatal injuries.

Source: Wharton’s Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells Protect the Immature Brain in Rats and Modulate Cell Fate

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