Spinal cord injury patients' immune systems can be controlled by therapeutic stem cells, based on a new study, according to MD. Cleveland-based Case Western Reserve University researchers studied the stem cells injected in mice, and Scientific Reports published their results.
Here are five observations:
1. After a spinal cord injury, the body reacts aggressively, with macrophages clearing out debris and blood as well as destroying healthy tissue.
2. The researchers studied multipotent adult progenitor cells.
3. They found these cells were gentler macrophages, sparing healthy tissue.
4. When the researchers injected the mice with the multipotent adult progenitor cells, they saw significant neuroprotection.
5. The researchers plan to combine the multipotent adult progenitor cells with intracellular sigma peptide, which improves nerve plasticity and regeneration, next.