Prospects for the treatment of spinal cord injuries by stem cells are found
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
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Stem cell therapy helps to establish control over urination and eliminate posttraumatic pain after spinal cord injury in experimental rodents.
Success in the application of stem cells was made by scientists from the University of California, San Francisco - in particular, Dr. Arnold Krigshtein and his colleagues.
The conducted studies indicate that stem cell transplantation operation can overcome several of the most serious post-traumatic consequences.
Previously, attempts have been made to cure spinal injuries in a similar way, but to date no clear positive results have been obtained.
Today, researchers believe: this way you can achieve the return of control over urination and reduce or eliminate neuropathic pain.
"This is an important achievement in medicine. We managed to prove the possibility and necessity of using cell therapy for neuropathic discomfort and a disorder of the urinary system, even on an animal body with a spinal cord injury. Our next goal is to conduct clinical experiments on voluntarily participating people. Presumably, we will open the way to a new FDA method, "says Dr. Krigstein.
With a spinal cord injury, an inflammatory reaction, or a direct physical effect, results in damage to the nerve fibers that are responsible for the control of urination and the sensation of pain. For cardinal solution of such a problem it is necessary to renew the function of damaged nerve cells.
On the pages of the periodical Cell Stem Cell, experts from California made public the information on the use of laboratory-recreated embryonic stem cells, which can ripen to the structures of precursors of ganglionic blocking nerve cells.
These cells represent a special subgroup of neurons, allowing you to establish control over sensitivity, as well as performing other important functions.
After transplanting such cells to rodents with a spinal cord injury, after a few months specialists were able to observe the regeneration of neurons and synapses.
At the same time, rodents from the inoperable group felt bad and showed a pronounced reaction even to small pain stimuli.
Those animals that were treated with stem cells, in time, almost completely recovered: they returned to sensitivity, they were able to again control the urinary function.
"Thanks to the research, we were able to prove the possibility of regeneration of nervous innervation after the application of stem cells. We hope that after a short period of time our technique will be used in the treatment of real sick people: from that day a new era will begin in medicine, "the author of the research states.
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