Groundwork For Stem Cells Versus Stroke Damage
The groundwork continues to be laid for the use of autologous stem cell therapies to regenerate more varied types of damage in the aged. Via EurekAlert!: bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) "were injected into animals 24 hours following [a stroke] ... researchers found that within seven days of the injection the BMSCs had migrated through the region of the middle cerebral artery into the scar area and border zone of the ischemic region. ... We evaluated vascular density in the ischemic region in all animals seven days after cell transplantation. The animals exhibited significant reductions in scar size and cell death and improvements in neurological function when compared to controls that received no BMSCs ... the intravenous delivery of bone marrow-derived cells may enhance tissue repair and, in turn, functional recovery after a stroke. While the potential mechanisms for this recovery are unclear, among the possibilities are that the brain microenvironment early on following a stroke may mimic brain development. Subsequent elevated levels of growth factors might enhance homing of BMSCs to the injured area and induce cell proliferation." Greatly enhanced regeneration through manipulation of stem cells and cellular environments will be commonplace a decade from now.
Link: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/ctco-svm012508.php