Guest guest Posted July 21, 2003 Report Share Posted July 21, 2003 Hi Gang - check this out - give me your thoughts this is similar to the article from Massimo - I believe this will be the cure - St. 's Researchers Conduct World-First, MS The following media release was issued by St. 's Hospital, Sydney on Tuesday 21 January 2003. "Scientists at Sydney's St. 's Hospital have, for the first time, been able to differentiate adult stem cells into particular brain cells as a potential means of eliminating some of the effects of Multiple Sclerosis and other similar illnesses. The premise of this NH & MRC funded research is to take stem cells from the bone marrow of mice as well as bone marrow from humans and insert these cells into the brains of mice which have a disease that resembles multiple sclerosis. The brain contains several different kinds of cells in addition to neurones. One of these cell types is the oligodendrocyte. This cell produces a substance called myelin which surrounds the neurones and makes electrical conduction along the neurones more efficient. People with multiple sclerosis and a number of other diseases produce less myelin which causes poor electrical conduction and therefore poor neurological function. One of the reasons for this diminished myelin production appears to be a loss of oligodenrocytes. One solution to this myelin shortage would be to transplant oligodenrocytes into the brain of a patient with multiple sclerosis to reverse the myelin deficit. However, this would involve donation of human brain cells, which aside from the impracticality would create problems with rejection. Another possible solution however is the use of adult stem cells. All cells in the body have exactly the same genes, the only thing that distinguished one type of cell from another - such as muscle cell in one's leg from a brain cell - is that different genes were turned on during their development. A stem cell is a primitive cell with all the genes of the rest of the body, but in which none of the genes that cause differentiation into a specific type of cell (ie brain or muscle) have not yet turned up. For the first time, St. 's researchers are using adult stem cells derived from the bone marrow to differentiate them into brain cells. Preliminary data have now shown that some of these cells can be induced to differentiate into oligodendrocytes. This development has the potential to reverse the deficiency of myelin that is associated with many of the disabilities in multiple sclerosis and other illnesses. According to the Chief Investigator of the study, Director of Neurology and Neurosciences at St. 's Hospital, Professor Bruce Brew "while we are still some years away from a human application, the fact that we are able to use adult stem cells in this way is extremely important in the development of effective therapies against a variety of brain diseases." The Chief Executive of MS Australia, Brettell, welcomed this announcement. "This is an exciting development and one which provides a real sense of optimism. It is especially exciting because it obviates the need for embryonic stem cells and appears to herald the possibility of autologous stem cell repair. The realistic goal to repairing myelin injury due to multiple sclerosis has always been to harness the body's own reparative mechanism. The news that a bone marrow derived adult stem cell appears to be capable of becoming a specialised oligodendrocyte (the myelin-producing and supporting cell in the brain and spinal cord) and commencing this repair is a major development. It is likely however that considerable work will have to be undertaken in the animal model of multiple sclerosis to determine how effective and extensive this repair is", he said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2003 Report Share Posted July 22, 2003 This is very interesting and sounds very promising and like I have said in the past....We have the healthiest mice around...lol. There was a man, last year, on the Montel show. He had an operation, using his own ( either stem cells or bone marrow - I can't remember) transplanted in spine, and it was successful.....however He said that it only lasts for a few years and then you go right back to the way you were....bummer. I guess because it really didn't cure the underlaying problem....just put him in remission for awhile. I guess I am just not that desperate YET!!! But I sure do like the idea of growing new mylin....could sure use some of that. I hope that this new study helps us one day. Stay the ldn course and hope for the best...God Bless All. ~Sally > Hi Gang - check this out - give me your thoughts this is similar to the > article from Massimo - I believe this will be the cure - > > St. 's Researchers Conduct World-First, MS > > The following media release was issued by St. 's Hospital, Sydney on > Tuesday 21 January 2003. > > > " Scientists at Sydney's St. 's Hospital have, for the first time, been > able to differentiate adult stem cells into particular brain cells as a > potential means of eliminating some of the effects of Multiple Sclerosis and other > similar illnesses. > > > The premise of this NH & MRC funded research is to take stem cells from the > bone marrow of mice as well as bone marrow from humans and insert these cells > into the brains of mice which have a disease that resembles multiple sclerosis. > > > The brain contains several different kinds of cells in addition to neurones. > One of these cell types is the oligodendrocyte. This cell produces a substance > called myelin which surrounds the neurones and makes electrical conduction > along the neurones more efficient. > > > People with multiple sclerosis and a number of other diseases produce less > myelin which causes poor electrical conduction and therefore poor neurological > function. One of the reasons for this diminished myelin production appears to > be a loss of oligodenrocytes. > > > One solution to this myelin shortage would be to transplant oligodenrocytes > into the brain of a patient with multiple sclerosis to reverse the myelin > deficit. However, this would involve donation of human brain cells, which aside > from the impracticality would create problems with rejection. > > > Another possible solution however is the use of adult stem cells. All cells > in the body have exactly the same genes, the only thing that distinguished one > type of cell from another - such as muscle cell in one's leg from a brain cell > - is that different genes were turned on during their development. > > A stem cell is a primitive cell with all the genes of the rest of the body, > but in which none of the genes that cause differentiation into a specific type > of cell (ie brain or muscle) have not yet turned up. > > > For the first time, St. 's researchers are using adult stem cells > derived from the bone marrow to differentiate them into brain cells. Preliminary > data have now shown that some of these cells can be induced to differentiate > into oligodendrocytes. This development has the potential to reverse the > deficiency of myelin that is associated with many of the disabilities in multiple > sclerosis and other illnesses. > > > According to the Chief Investigator of the study, Director of Neurology and > Neurosciences at St. 's Hospital, Professor Bruce Brew " while we are > still some years away from a human application, the fact that we are able to use > adult stem cells in this way is extremely important in the development of > effective therapies against a variety of brain diseases. " > > > The Chief Executive of MS Australia, Brettell, welcomed this > announcement. " This is an exciting development and one which provides a real sense of > optimism. It is especially exciting because it obviates the need for embryonic > stem cells and appears to herald the possibility of autologous stem cell > repair. The realistic goal to repairing myelin injury due to multiple sclerosis has > always been to harness the body's own reparative mechanism. The news that a > bone marrow derived adult stem cell appears to be capable of becoming a > specialised oligodendrocyte (the myelin-producing and supporting cell in the brain and > spinal cord) and commencing this repair is a major development. It is likely > however that > considerable work will have to be undertaken in the animal model of multiple > sclerosis to determine how effective and extensive this repair is " , he said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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