New form of stem cell communication rescues diseased neurons

International effort demonstrates cross-talk between implanted stem cells and diseased cells in mouse model

LA JOLLA, Calif., February 1, 2010 -- Investigators at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (Sanford-Burnham, formerly Burnham Institute for Medical Research), the Karolinska Institutet, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), Harvard Medical School and Université Libre de Bruxelles have demonstrated in mouse models that transplanted stems cells, when in direct contact with diseased neurons, send signals through specialized channels that rescue the neurons from death. These direct cell-to-cell connections may also play a role in normal development by laying down the blueprint for more mature electrical connections between neurons and other cells. The research was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on February 1.

While it was already known that stem cells will seek out diseased cells in the brain, the international group of scientists showed, both in tissue culture and in mice, that the stem cells actively bring diseased neurons back from the brink via cross-talk through gap junctions, the connections between cells that allow molecular signals to pass back and forth. Significantly, the stem cells do not need to differentiate into the specific type of neuron to provide this therapeutic effect. The researchers also believe this protective mechanism may be active in other cell types and play a role in many diseases. For example, some of their preliminary work shows that these mechanisms may rescue damaged neural fibers in adult spinal cord injuries.

"We showed a while ago that stems cells may exert a therapeutic effect on damaged or diseased host systems by secreting therapeutic factors and 'bathing' the dying cells," said Evan Snyder, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology program at Sanford-Burnham. "However, we did not know that stem cells can also exert their action through direct cell-to-cell contact. Indeed, we believe that this may be a newly-recognized way in which stem cells communicate with the cells around them, not only under diseased conditions but during normal development."

"Grafted neural stem cells of mouse and human origin make early gap junction contact with cells in the host brain that benefit endangered host neurons, even rescuing them from impending cell death," added Richard L. Sidman, M.D., Professor of Neuropathology (Neuroscience) at BIDMC, Boston and Harvard Medical School.

Beginning with tissue culture studies, the team found that neural stem cells (NSCs, including human NSCs) integrated into the neural circuitry, coordinated signaling (as measured by calcium fluxes) and protected injured neurons. The team replicated these findings in diseased mice (including those that have a disorder similar to Huntington's disease) and spinal-injured rats. The scientists, led by Eric Herlenius, Ph.D., of the Karolinska Institutet and Dr. Snyder, hypothesized that communication through gap junctions was the mechanism for the protective effect. Subsequently, the researchers disabled gap junctions, which diminished the therapeutic effect and validated the gap junction hypothesis.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-02/smri-nfo020110.php

Does anyone have information on how the first patient at Emory injected with stem cells is doing? Wishing him quick recovery. Warior

Then let's all pray the information is correct in ALSYOYO'S posts..We should see improvement even in patients who's progression is advanced..Lets hope the news is so good they skip phase two and start clinical injections..
Lot to hope for and I usually don't get my hopes to high..Been dejected to many times..This one may hold water..Ron

Hi DeeBee,

I believe they used rats in their animal experiments.

Mike

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Without hope there is nothing.

The ones in Monterrey are CD133+ stem cells taken from the patients blood. Being from blood they are neither neural nor embryonic stem cells.

http://www.neuralstem.com/index.asp?pgid=1


Fetal tissue from donors.

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Le meilleur vin avec les meilleurs amis

Its really hard to imagine a mother having herself opened up, and then her fetus opened up to donate fetal tissue from a live fetus that is intended to be delivered. Almost assuredly this is a dead fetus. Now whether that means a miscarriage or an abortion I don't know. Hopefully the former, because if its from an abortion, then once pro-life advocates get wind of it there will be protests.

Raining like hell and I don't drink, so I have finally found a possible treatment I think has merit for us.Plus they are finally putting stem cells in humans..We need more trials like this all over..I would like to see the California project be FDA approved also..Same people like pushed the Emory trial type people need to get behind them and ALSTDI if they come up with a viable line of cells.
We need more stem cells in humans..Ron

Ron,

Note that I wasn't advocating a position either way, just stating the opinion that if these cells came from aborted fetuses and if the pro-life movement hears of it, they will object. I suspect that it hasn't made it on their radar screens.

If the cells come from a miscarriage than I doubt any group will object and thus one less headache for us to worry about.

I agree , Wayne..It seems like the pro-life movement fights very little on legalize abortion issues but raises hell using already dead fetuses for something like saving lives..
I argue with my Priest all the time on this.
There will always be abortions for one reason or another. That doesn't seem to bother the dumb asses.. But we don't need any hassles for sure..If a few pro-lifers had ALS I bet you would see an immediate about face..My humble opinion..Ron