Diseases of the nervous system Brain stem cells are bred from blood

Researchers succeed breakthrough: Brain stem cells from blood bred

Researchers have succeeded for the first time to breed brain stem cells from human blood cells. According to the scientists, it is now easier to better understand diseases of the nervous system such as Alzheimer's and multiple sclerosis. Maybe the incurable diseases could even be cured in the future.

Incurable nerve diseases

According to experts, Parkinson's disease is one of the most common diseases of the central nervous system. According to estimates, more than 400,000 people are affected in Germany. Parkinson's is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease. Both diseases, as well as multiple sclerosis (MS), are still incurable despite intensive research. However, new findings from researchers in Austria and Germany may possibly help to heal such diseases of the nervous system in the future.

Scientists have for the first time succeeded in cultivating brain stem cells from human blood cells. Stem cells are the hope for a whole range of therapies for previously incurable diseases. (Image: mmphoto / fotolia.com)

Development of pain medications is facilitated

A team of researchers led by Prof. Frank Edenhofer from the University of Innsbruck, together with colleagues from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg, has reprogrammed human blood cells by expressing four transcription factors in neural stem cells.

According to the information, the reprogrammed stem cells can proliferate indefinitely and mature in cells of both the central and peripheral nervous systems.

"In addition, we have created a model for a human pain disorder using the CRISPR / Cas9 gene scissors, which will facilitate the development of analgesics," Edenhofer said in a statement.

Hope bearers for a whole range of therapies

The Austrian researchers have recently succeeded in transforming skin cells into brain stem cells - the now published use of blood cells will greatly facilitate biomedical application.

In contrast to skin cells, blood cells are very easy to obtain from the patient. In addition to skin biopsy, blood collection is also a clinical routine.

Stem cells can form virtually any other cell in the body - and thus provide hope for a whole range of therapies for previously incurable diseases.

"Cells grown from stem cells can sometimes replace defective or diseased cells and thus contribute to the healing of diseases," says Prof. Edenhofer.

Deep insights into the development of the human nervous system

The researchers used modern single-cell sequencing methods to identify the stem cells in the research published in the journal Cell Stem Cell.

According to the researchers, the discovery will allow deep insights into the development of the human nervous system and provide a source of neural stem cells - which can then be used in regenerative medicine.

"Neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's or even chronic inflammatory diseases of the nervous system such as multiple sclerosis can not be cured today with common means, medicine can only alleviate it," explained Prof. Edenhofer.

"Treatment with laboratory-generated stem cells directly on the brain may slow the progression of Parkinson's disease in affected patients, and we are doing intensive research," said the expert. (Ad)