The multipotent adult progenitor cells used in Athersys' MultiStem cell therapy improved the animals' health after acute rodent spinal cord injury. Athersys is a biotechnology company headquartered in Cleveland.
Jerry Silver, PhD, at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, led the study. Researchers gave rodents with spinal cord injuries one dose of MAPC the day after injury. Nature's Scientific Reports published the findings.
Here are four observations:
1. The MAPC administration into the rodents saved spinal cord tissue, which helped maintain the ability to walk and control urinary functions.
2. The researchers found many MAPC cells migrated to the spleen, which is a main spot for inflammatory cells.
3. MultiStem cell therapy is a regenerative medicine product that promotes tissue repair through the production of therapeutic factors in response to signals of inflammation and tissue damage.
4. "Importantly, these results support our belief that the intravenous administration of MultiStem may lead to durable and substantial benefits in humans," said Robert Mays, PhD, senior vice president and head of neurosciences at Athersys.