ID :
44194
Wed, 02/04/2009 - 21:09
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/44194
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Researchers cure mice with damaged spines using human iPS cells
TOKYO, Feb. 4 Kyodo - A research team at Keio University has succeeded in curing mice whose hind legs
are paralyzed due to damage to the spinal cord by transplanting neural stem
cells grown from human iPS cells, researchers reported Wednesday at a symposium
held at the university in Tokyo.
Hideyuki Okano, professor of physiology at the university and leader of the
team, said it is the first case in the world in which the curative effects of
human iPS cells, or induced pluripotent stem cells, have been confirmed.
Currently, there is no effective treatment for spinal cord injuries that damage
the nerves in the spine, often caused by traffic accidents and sports injuries,
and treatment using iPS cell gives hope of a cure.
Okano said, ''It is valuable that treatment using human iPS cells has proved
effective. We want to apply (the results) in a clinical setting as soon as
possible.''
The research team generated neural stem cells, which will grow into nerve
cells, from human iPS cells produced under a scheme that Shinya Yamanaka of
Kyoto University developed.
The team then transplanted some 500,000 neural stem cells into the damaged
spines of 40 mice nine days after their injuries, which is believed to be the
most effective time for transplant, according to Okano.
The team used special kinds of mice that develop no immunological rejections in
the transplants.
About a month later, all 29 surviving mice had become able to walk or run. The
other 11 mice died of diseases not related to the experiment.
Although some people had previously pointed out that the cells could turn
malignant during the treatment using iPS cells, no cancer has been found among
the mice, according to Okano.
The research team will check whether the nerve tissues were regenerated in the
damaged organs of the mice by dissecting them later.
The team is also planning to tackle cancer issues associated with the treatment
involving iPS cells and aims to start the same kind of experiment on monkeys by
spring next year.
==Kyodo
are paralyzed due to damage to the spinal cord by transplanting neural stem
cells grown from human iPS cells, researchers reported Wednesday at a symposium
held at the university in Tokyo.
Hideyuki Okano, professor of physiology at the university and leader of the
team, said it is the first case in the world in which the curative effects of
human iPS cells, or induced pluripotent stem cells, have been confirmed.
Currently, there is no effective treatment for spinal cord injuries that damage
the nerves in the spine, often caused by traffic accidents and sports injuries,
and treatment using iPS cell gives hope of a cure.
Okano said, ''It is valuable that treatment using human iPS cells has proved
effective. We want to apply (the results) in a clinical setting as soon as
possible.''
The research team generated neural stem cells, which will grow into nerve
cells, from human iPS cells produced under a scheme that Shinya Yamanaka of
Kyoto University developed.
The team then transplanted some 500,000 neural stem cells into the damaged
spines of 40 mice nine days after their injuries, which is believed to be the
most effective time for transplant, according to Okano.
The team used special kinds of mice that develop no immunological rejections in
the transplants.
About a month later, all 29 surviving mice had become able to walk or run. The
other 11 mice died of diseases not related to the experiment.
Although some people had previously pointed out that the cells could turn
malignant during the treatment using iPS cells, no cancer has been found among
the mice, according to Okano.
The research team will check whether the nerve tissues were regenerated in the
damaged organs of the mice by dissecting them later.
The team is also planning to tackle cancer issues associated with the treatment
involving iPS cells and aims to start the same kind of experiment on monkeys by
spring next year.
==Kyodo
