Adult stem cell treatment can enhance motor function recovery in animal subjects with ischemic brain injury, according to researchers at the Medical College of Georgia. Ten percent of children with cerebral palsy have suffered an ischemic brain injury. If these results can be achieved in humans, these finding may revolutionize cerebral palsy treatment. These findings may also be beneficial to facilitating ischemic stroke recovery and the treatment of other brain injuries.
Seven days after injury, researchers injected adult stem cells directly into the brains of rats with ischemic cerebral palsy. Two weeks later they were evaluated against a control group. The group of treated rats showed a 25 percent improvement in balance and was 20 percent less likely to favor the unaffected side of their bodies. “We found that when these cells were injected directly into the brain, it significantly improves the outcome in the animals” states Dr. James E Carroll, the study’s primary investigator and chief of the MCG Section of Pediatric Neurology.
The adult stem cells, manufactured by Athersys, a Cleveland-based pharmaceutical company, are called multi-potent progenitor cells because they have the ability to make different tissues. The treated rats were also given immunosuppressants to prevent cell rejection, though researchers believe this precaution may not be necessary. Researchers are also investigating different routes of administration, such as the bloodstream.
The study has shown that while only a small amount of stem cells survive to replace cells destroyed by injury, many help the injured cells recover. Neuroscientist, Dr. Cesario Borlongan says, “Recovery might be even more important in baby brains than forming new cells.” He also remarks that the healing benefit of stem cells lies largely in the nourishing factors they secrete. Chemokines are growth factors that converge on an injury site.
Experts point out that more research is required before this treatment is evaluated in clinical trials, but they are hopeful about this innovative stem cell treatment. Eventually experts hope that stem cells can be used to treat babies who are born with severe asphyxial brain injuries, injuries that occur in ten percent of patients with cerebral palsy. There is currently no means of treating children who suffer these brain injuries before or during birth. This therapy has the potential to help thousands of children born with cerebral palsy every year.
