Researchers found that intravenous infusions of human umbilical cord blood stem cells delayed ALS disease progression by at least two to three weeks and improved survival in mice. The cells also circulated to organs outside the central nervous system, suggesting an immune-protective mechanism.
Researchers have developed a method to extend the shelf life of cultured fetal neural stem cells, enabling the generation of enough cells to treat diseases like Parkinson's and ALS. The study characterized long-term neural stem cell lines using gene chip analysis, which may help create customized cells for therapy.
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.
Researchers have identified small chemical molecules that can direct embryonic stem cells to become neurons, paving the way for potential treatments of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Type 1 diabetes. The study provides important insights into the molecular mechanism controlling stem cell fate and may lead to new therap...
Researchers have identified 'transcription factors' that control the time of neural cell generation, surprising discovery given earlier spatial control roles. The findings suggest a link between temporal and spatial control mechanisms in neuronal differentiation.
A researcher has found a new cell type, VENT cells, that can give rise to all four major types of human tissue. This discovery challenges the existing understanding of human development and opens up new avenues for research into diseases such as Hirschsprung's disease and esophageal reflux disease.
Researchers have found that bone marrow cells can enter the human brain and form new neurons, a phenomenon previously observed in mice. The study, led by Dr. Mezey, examined brain tissue from patients who received bone marrow transplants to treat leukemia and other diseases.
Researchers have discovered a new source of stem cells in the umbilical cord, which can be obtained through a non-invasive method. The cord matrix stem cells have been shown to differentiate into neurons and glia, exhibiting telomerase activity and producing nerve-cell specific traits.
Researchers successfully differentiated stem cells from whole adult bone marrow into central nervous system cells. These cells may be used to treat various neurological conditions by replacing damaged brain cells.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center have developed a new approach for treating gliomas by engineering neural stem cells to deliver a cancer-killing protein. The treatment, known as NSC-TRAIL, successfully tracked and destroyed glioma cells in mice, while sparing normal brain tissue.
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University have successfully converted human neural stem cells into dopamine-making neurons in a laboratory setting. Approximately 25% of the stem cells were able to produce the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase, which is necessary for dopamine production. The breakthrough could potentially lead to the develop...
Scientists have developed a novel treatment using neural stem cells to track and target brain tumor cells that spread into normal brain tissue. The therapy involves genetically engineering neural stem cells to produce interleukin 12, an immune-stimulating chemical known to kill glioma cells. Mice treated with this approach survived sig...
Researchers have found that neural stem cell transplants in mice improve specific components of motor function, but not cognitive abilities. The study suggests that neural stem cells could be a promising therapy for humans with traumatic brain injuries.
Researchers have discovered stem cells in the adult peripheral nervous system, which can persist into adulthood and give rise to thousands of neurons, glial cells, and smooth muscle cells. This finding has significant implications for understanding the development and repair of the peripheral nervous system.
Adult stem cells have intrinsic properties and respond differently to environmental signals, suggesting a new approach to repairing damaged PNS tissue without transplanting exogenous cells. The study reveals that matching the origin of the stem cell to the specific tissue being repaired is crucial for successful application.
Scientists have made a breakthrough in growing functioning motor neurons from embryonic stem cells, a crucial step towards regenerating nerve tissue lost to disease or trauma. The success of the experiments suggests that human motor neurons can be grown using the same approach.
Researchers found that cord blood cells improved neurological function in rats with traumatic brain injury, suggesting a new approach for treating this condition. The cells helped promote brain self-repair by stimulating trophic factors and cytokines, which led to better movement, balance, and reflex responses.
Duke University researchers have successfully transformed adult stem cells taken from fat into cells that resemble nerve cells. The new cells were grown in the laboratory using chemicals and growth factors, and showed promise as a potential treatment for central nervous system disorders. While further research is needed to determine th...
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have discovered a unique population of muscle stem cells that can be transplanted into mice with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, delivering the key protein dystrophin and improving muscle regeneration. The study suggests these cells may hold promise for treating the genetic disease.
Researchers at Rush University Medical Center have identified the signal that instructs stem/progenitor cells to become dopamine neurons, a key step in treating Parkinson's disease. By cloning and transplanting these specific cells, the team hopes to develop new treatments for Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and other diseases.
Recent research reveals that astrocytes instruct neural stem cells on which developmental pathway to select, promoting neuronal maturation. The study also found that astrocytes trigger stem cell proliferation and differentiation into neurons, suggesting a new mechanism for regulating neural growth.
Researchers found that bone marrow stem cells naturally migrate to injured brain regions after a stroke to aid in tissue repair. These cells can form new neurons and blood vessels, potentially enhancing recovery from stroke-related damage.
Researchers at USF Center for Aging and Brain Repair investigate whether stem cells from human umbilical cord blood can reverse age-related declines in learning and memory. The 5-year study aims to determine the effectiveness of these cells in treating neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
Adult neural stem cells isolated from rats' brains can mature into functioning brain cells, forming normal neuronal structures and connections. The study's findings suggest potential for clinical application in regenerating damaged brain tissue.
Dr. Larysa Pevny, a UNC neuroscientist, has received a $1 million federal grant to study the genetics of neural stem cells and their potential in developing transplantation therapy for neurodegenerative diseases. Her research aims to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in regulating neural stem cell differentiation.
Human neural stem cells transplanted into normal mice and reeler mice showed symmetrical migration in the former but failed to migrate in the latter. This suggests that protein reelin plays a critical role in directing stem cell migration, potentially underlying schizophrenia's distorted perception and thinking.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have successfully transplanted stem cells into laboratory animals with stroke, restoring brain function. The study demonstrates that bone marrow-derived stem cells can differentiate into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendroglia, offering hope for future clinical trials.
Researchers found that neural stem cells migrate to injured brain areas in response to acute brain injuries, such as strokes. This self-repair mechanism could potentially lead to new treatments for brain-related disorders.
A recent study using human stem cells has made significant breakthroughs in understanding the origin of Down syndrome, one of the most common causes of developmental disabilities. The research found a faulty genetic circuit that disrupts brain development, leading to a deficit in specific genes critical for neuronal growth.
Scientists have created a new transgenic rat model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) that can quickly test novel treatments and advance understanding of the disease. The rats carry an abnormal human gene for superoxide dismutase, which reveals the critical role of astrocytes in ALS progression.
A team of scientists has successfully guided human embryonic stem cells to become precursor brain cells in a laboratory dish. Transplanted into baby mice, these cells further differentiated into neurons and astrocytes, paving the way for potential treatments of Parkinson's disease and spinal cord injuries.
Researchers have successfully treated five patients with severe chest pain with injections of their own bone marrow cells, showing increased blood flow in treated areas. The treatment appears safe and relatively inexpensive with no reported side effects.
Researchers have successfully converted adult human bone marrow stem cells into functional brain cells in the lab, using a combination of growth factors and nutrients. The breakthrough could potentially lead to new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease.
Researchers found that human umbilical cord blood cells improved motor and sensory abilities in rats after stroke, even when administered a week after onset. The study suggests these cells may be used to treat early stroke and other traumatic brain injuries through less invasive IV administration.
Researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Cancer Center have discovered the PTEN gene's role in regulating brain stem cells, finding that its absence disrupts normal growth and proliferation. The study suggests that PTEN is a critical regulator of brain stem cell behavior, which may contribute to tumor formation.
Researchers at UT Southwestern discovered that traumatic brain injuries trigger a rapid and prolonged regeneration of neurons in mice, with long-term effects even in distant areas. This study suggests the potential to develop new treatments using adult stem cells to enhance injured brain capabilities.
A study by Hong Wu and colleagues found that knocking out the gene Pten in mice hyper-activated a signaling pathway regulating cell proliferation and death in the brain. This led to an increase in brain size and cell number, suggesting PTEN regulates neural stem cell growth.
Researchers found that Drosophila neural precursor cells sequentially activate four different transcription factors, allowing them to maintain differences based on their time of birth. This 'memory' is crucial for normal brain development and may have implications for understanding human neural development.
Researchers at McGill University have isolated novel stem cells from the dermis of adult rodents that can differentiate into various cell types, including neurons and muscle cells. These multipotent stem cells, known as SKPs, hold promise for treating Parkinson's disease and other neural disorders.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine used stem cells to treat paralysis in rodents infected with an animal virus that damages motor neurons. Fifty percent of treated rodents regained hind leg function, suggesting potential for improved treatments for ALS and spinal motor atrophy.
Researchers have discovered retinal stem cells in adult mice, cows, and humans, which can proliferate and differentiate into new neurons when removed from the eye. The study suggests that these cells may be harnessed to regenerate and restore vision in damaged eyes.
Researchers successfully transplanted neural stem cells into mice with severe tremors caused by demyelinating disorders. The transplanted cells matured into oligodendrocytes, producing myelin and covering nearby nerve fibers, resulting in reduced disease symptoms.
Human neural stem cells have been cloned for the first time in a solid organ, validating decades of research on mouse cell biology. These cells hold potential for future therapies in conditions like Tay-Sachs disease and brain cancer.
Researchers have developed a method to multiply and mature neural stem cells in the lab, which can form dopamine-producing neurons and reduce symptoms in an animal model of Parkinson's disease. The study opens up new opportunities for studying brain development and may lead to the creation of easily controlled stem cell therapies.