January 18, 2012 1:37 PM EST
Researchers have found a new therapeutic method that may restore damaged myelin sheaths lost during Multiple Sclerosis in a proof-of-principle study published in the journal Cell Stem Cell.
The animal study found that exposing old animals to circulatory systems of young animals may regenerate myelin sheaths surrounding the nerves lost during Multiple Sclerosis.
The study was carried about by researchers from Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard University, and the University of Cambridge.
“Aging impairs regenerative potential in the central nervous system,” says author Amy J. Wagers, PhD.
Wagers is an associate professor of stem cell and regenerative biology at Harvard University and Joslin. She co-led the study with Professor Robin Franklin, director of the MS Society’s Cambridge Centre for Myelin Repair at the University of Cambridge
Researchers using a surgical technique introduced experimental demyelinating injury in the spinal cord of an old mouse, creating small areas of myelin loss, and then exposing that area to cells found in the blood of young mouse. Immune cells from the young mouse helped old mouse stem cells to restore effective remyelination of the spinal cord.
“This means that, in theory, regenerative therapies will work throughout the duration of the disease,” said Franklin.
This could be particularly useful, in treating MS, according to the researcher.
“This impairment can be reversed, however, suggesting that the eventual development of cell-based or drug-based interventions that mimic the rejuvenation signals found in our study could be used therapeutically”, said Franklin.
..Comments for each blog posting are always appreciated.
Please use the link found below, to leave comments.. .. All comments are moderated to reduce SPAM and bad language
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
– Click to: REGISTER – For our MS weekly e-Newsletter
“Providing You with ‘MS Views and News’, IS What We Do”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Disclaimer: ‘MS Views and News’ (MSVN), does not endorse any products or services found on this blog. It is up to you to seek advice from your healthcare provider. The intent of this blog is to provide information on various medical conditions, medications, treatments, and procedures for your personal knowledge and to keep you informed of current health-related issues. It is not intended to be complete or exhaustive, nor is it a substitute for the advice of your physician. Should you or your family members have any specific medical problem, seek medical care promptly.
…………………………
Visit our MS Learning Channel on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/msviewsandnews