Stem cell transplants may advance ALS treatment by repair of blood-spinal cord barrier
In a study recently published in the journal Scientific Reports , researchers in USF's Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair say the results of their experiment are an early step in pursuing stem cells for potential repair of the blood-spinal cord barrier, which has been identified as key in the development of ALS. USF Health Professor Svitlana Garbuzova-Davis, PhD, led the project. Previous studies in development of various therapeutic approaches for ALS typically used pre-symptomatic mice. "This is the first study advancing barrier repair that treats symptomatic mice, which more closely mirrors conditions for human patients," Dr. Garbuzova-Davis said. Using stem cells harvested from human bone marrow, researchers transplanted cells into mice modeling ALS and already showing disease symptoms. The transplanted stem cells differentiated and attached to vascular walls of many capillaries, beginning the process of blood-spinal cord barrier repair. The st...