Stem cells may protect brain, nervous system -study

MILAN (Reuters) – Stem cells may protect the brain and
nervous system against damage from tumors and conditions such
as multiple sclerosis, researchers at Milan’s San Raffaele
Scientific Institute found.

Experiments with mice with a disease similar to multiple
sclerosis showed that stem cells injected into the blood stream
migrated to inflamed areas in the brain and spinal cord,
killing inflammatory cells, the researchers said.

This means a single injection of stem cells could be used
to treat many different areas of damage in the body, reducing
the clinical signs of the disease.

“There is a therapeutic potential in this discovery, but
it’s still too early to talk about a cure for humans,” head of
research Gianvito Martino told a news conference.

Mice treated with stem cells at the onset of the disease
started to recover between one or two months, the team
reported.

Stem cells are primitive cells that can transform
themselves into many specialized forms, such as blood cells.
Their potential of regenerating organs or tissue has given hope
to sufferers from nervous diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

The researchers said the stem cells could also potentially
be used as a natural anti-inflammatory drug to treat damage by
diseases such as stroke, brain tumors, and spinal cord
injuries.

“With this discovery, we are moving closer to a targeted
use of stem cell therapy without side effects,” researcher
Stefano Pluchino said.

“The interesting thing is that adult stem cells grow in
vitro without becoming specialized, they are injected and the
find the damaged organ by themselves and decide autonomously
how to treat it.”

The results of the study will be published in Nature
magazine this week.