More Effective Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries

A unique type of cell, which can support regeneration in the central nervous system has been discovered by scientists at the University of Cambridge.

Their findings have raised the possibility of obtaining a more reliable source of these cells for use in cell transplantation therapy for spinal cord injuries.

About Transplantation
Since the early times, the novel idea of transplanting tissues and other body parts from one organism to the other has captured the imagination of successive generations.

Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs), ensheath and protect the nerve fibres in the olfactory nerve, which transmit olfactory (smell) information to the brain from receptor cells sitting in the lining of the nose.

OECs can promote nerve repair when transplanted into the damaged spinal cord.

Clare Baker of the University of Cambridge and lead author of the study, said: "In theory, one should be able to purify OECs from a patient's nose and transplant them into the damaged spinal cord to promote nerve repair, without any fear of graft rejection.

Brilliant Human Brain
The most amazing and complex organ in the entire universe, the human brain continues to remain an enigma.

"Unfortunately, there aren't very many OECs in the nasal lining, and this tissue also contains other peripheral nerve fibres, ensheathed by cells that look very similar to OECs but which are less effective at promoting spinal cord repair. As a result, it has thus far proven difficult to purify sufficiently large numbers of OECs from the nasal lining for effective use in cell transplantation therapy."

The new research, however, revealed a different origin for OECs that may enable scientists in the future to produce them in large quantities from adult stem cells. he researchers have discovered that, like all other cells ensheathing peripheral nerve fibres, OECs are actually derived from a group of embryonic stem cells called 'neural crest cells'.

Quiz on Brain
The human brain is exquisitely intrinsic and is the seat of all emotions. If you are curious about what makes you bad, sad, silly or glad this quiz on the brain will satiate you.

Neural crest stem cells persist in adult skin and hair follicles, and other researchers have already shown that it is possible to isolate these stem cells and grow them in the lab.

Baker said, "The next step is to work out how to turn these stem cells into OECs. To do this, we need to investigate how this process happens normally in the developing embryo."

Top 10 Amazing Brain Facts
The brain is the most amazing and complex organ in this universe and has billions of nerve cells called as neurons. Medindia brings to you the top 10 amazing brain facts.

The findings were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

Source-ANI