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Donor cells from new source ignored by the immune system

Kansas State University researchers successfully transplanted umbilical cord matrix stem cells from a pig into the brain of a live rat without triggering an immune response. The recipient cells survived for over six weeks and began to differentiate into nervous system cells, suggesting a new therapeutic option for Parkinson's disease.

SourceKansas State University·JournalExperimental Neurology·DateJun 18, 2003

Salk news: Spinal cord injury

Researchers at the Salk Institute have developed a detailed model of how stem cells produce motor neurons, which could lead to new treatments for spinal cord injuries and diseases affecting motor nerve cells. The study demonstrates an unusually efficient yield of 60 percent motor nerves using two key gene and protein-regulated pathways.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalNeuron·DateJun 4, 2003

UT Southwestern researchers developing new procedures to make bone-marrow transplants safer

Researchers at UT Southwestern are developing a new procedure to eliminate graft-versus-host disease in bone-marrow transplants while retaining anti-leukemic activity. The approach uses immunotoxins to selectively target and eliminate harmful immune cells, with promising results in clinical trials.

SourceUT Southwestern Medical Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 4, 2003

Getting more mileage out of cord blood

Researchers have developed a method to culture and expand cord blood-derived stem cells, increasing their number by over 100-fold. The expanded cells showed improved potency in reconstituting the recipient's blood and immune cell systems.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateOct 22, 2002

Islet cell transplantation for diabetes turns corner

A new study demonstrates that pig cells can be transplanted into children with type 1 diabetes without the need for immunosuppressive drugs, resulting in some patients being off insulin. The use of embryonic stem cells and novel preservation methods also holds promise for increasing the availability of viable cells for transplantation.

SourceTransplantation Society·JournalTransplantation·DateAug 27, 2002

Bone marrow transplants may be improved due to the uncovering of a key mechanism

Researchers discovered that degradation of SDF-1 protein is crucial for stem cell mobilization in bone marrow transplants. G-CSF growth factor triggers this process by reducing SDF-1 levels, allowing stem cells to flow into the bloodstream. The findings may lead to improved collection of stem cells for clinical transplantations.

Scarring process plays major role in kidney rejection following transplant, researchers report

A study by UCSD researchers reveals that chronic kidney rejection is caused by the recipient's own cells' normal reaction to a wound, specifically mesenchymal cells colonizing the transplant site. This finding opens up new possibilities for developing methods to block scar-causing cells and mitigate or prevent kidney rejection.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJul 11, 2001

Turning blood into brain: new studies suggest bone marrow stem cells can develop into neurons in living animals

Two new studies show that bone marrow cells transplanted into mice can migrate into the brain and develop into cells resembling neurons. These findings have significant implications for treating conditions such as Parkinson's disease and traumatic brain injury, potentially using patients' own cells that would not be rejected by the imm...

Early results show irradiating donor organ reduces rejection in intestine transplants, say researchers at international meeting

A new strategy involving radiation and bone marrow infusion appears to effectively reduce immune system attack in intestinal transplant recipients. Five patients who received irradiated intestines experienced no episodes of rejection for up to four months, while two control patients experienced typical rejection within weeks.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh Medical Center·JournalTransplantation Proceedings·DateAug 28, 2000

Healing the brain from the inside out

Researchers from Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School have made a groundbreaking discovery that existing brain cells can replenish dead counterparts, potentially treating degenerative brain diseases. The study found that nerve cells in the cerebral cortex can be induced to heal themselves through a process called neuronal rep...

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalNature·DateJun 20, 2000

Report highlights of TRANSPLANT 2000

The meeting featured key findings on pediatric transplantation, mandatory liver sharing benefits, new tests predicting rejection, and advancements in immunosuppression. Researchers discovered a test that can predict organ rejection days or weeks before symptoms appear, reducing valuable treatment time.

Less Toxic Bone Marrow Transplant Technique May Have More Powerful Anti-Cancer Effect

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have developed a new approach to bone marrow transplantation that induces mixed chimerism in four patients with treatment-resistant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Two patients achieved long-term remission without significant graft-versus-host disease, a dangerous complication of the procedure. The...

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalThe Lancet·DateMay 21, 1999