Source: University of Chicago Medical Center
Posted: May 11, 2006
Summary:
A research team has discovered a new way to preserve the cells that surround and protect nerves, whch could lead to new treatments for demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
The researchers showed that interferon-gamma -- a chemical signal used to activate the immune system -- plays a critical role in damaging the cells that produce myelin, the protective coating that lines healthy nerves. Interferon not only leaves these cells, called oligodendrocytes, incapable of repairing the damage but can also kill them directly.
If stem cells could be engineered to resist harmful signals such as interferon-gamma, they might be protected from the "harsh environment" present in demyelinated lesions. This protective approach of turning off a gene that protected myelin-producing cells from interferon gamma could be combined with stem cell therapy to repair nerve damage.
High interferon levels were also associated with loss of myelin sheaths around nerve connections and unprotected axons in the brain. Again, the gene was able to reduce the damage.
Commentary:
The combination approach of gene and chemical siginal manipuation with stem cells seems to not only protect healthy cells from de-myelination, but could also regenerate destoyed myelin to treat, or possibly cure, Multiple Sclerosis. Hopefully these results will also be able to be applied to human Multiple Sclerosis patients
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