Unlocking the potential of stem cells to repair brain damage
 |
QUT researcher Rachel Okolicsanyi is looking at
using stem cells to repair brain damage.
Credit: Image courtesy of Queensland University
of Technology |
Date:
June 4, 2014
Source:
Queensland University of Technology
Summary:
Scientists
are hoping to unlock the potential of stem cells as a way of repairing
neural damage to the brain. They are manipulating adult stem cells from
bone marrow to produce a population of cells that can be used to treat
brain damage.
Rachel Okolicsanyi, from the Genomics Research Centre at QUT’s
Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, said unlike other cells in the
body which were able to divide and replicate, once most types of brain cells
died, the damage was deemed irreversible.
Ms Okolicsanyi is manipulating adult stem cells from bone marrow
to produce a population of cells that can be used to treat brain damage.
“My research is a step in proving that stem cells taken from the
bone marrow can be manipulated into neural cells, or precursor cells that have
the potential to replace, repair or treat brain damage,” she said.
Ms Okolicsanyi’s research has been published in Developmental
Biology journal, and outlines the potential stem cells have for brain damage
repair.
“What I am looking at is whether or not stem cells from the bone
marrow have the potential to differentiate or mature into neural cells,” she
said.
“Neural cells are those cells from the brain that make everything
from the structure of the brain itself, to all the connections that make
movement, voice, hearing and sight possible.”
Ms Okolicsanyi’s research is looking at heparin sulfate
proteoglycans — a family of proteins found on the surface of all cells.
“What we are hoping is that by manipulating this particular family
of proteins we can encourage the stem cells to show a higher percentage of
neural markers indicating that they could mature into neural cells rather than
what they would normally do, which is form into bone, cartilage and fat,” she
said.
“We will manipulate these cells by modifying the surrounding
environment. For example we will add chemicals such as complex salts and other
commonly found biological chemicals to feed these cells and this will either
inhibit or encourage cellular processes.”
Ms Okolicsanyi said by doing this, it would be possible to see the
different reactions stem cells had to particular chemicals and find out whether
these chemicals could increase or decrease the neural markers in the cells.
“The proteins that we are interested in are almost like a tree,”
she said.
“They have a core protein that is attached to the cell surface and
they have these heparin sulfate chains that branch off.
“So when the chemicals we add influence the stem cell in different
ways, it will help us understand the interactions between proteins and the
resulting changes in the cell.
“In the short-term it is proof that simple manipulations can influence
the stem cell and in the long-term it is about the possibility of increasing
the neural potential of these stem cells.”
Ms Okolicsanyi said the big picture plan was to be able to
introduce stem cells into the brain that would be able to be manipulated to
repair damaged brain cells.
“The idea, for example, is that in stroke patients where the
patient loses movement, speech or control of one side of their face because the
brain’s electrical current is impaired, that these stem cells will be able to
be introduced and help the electrical current reconnect by bypassing the
damaged cells.”
Story Source:
The above story is based on materials provided by Queensland University of Technology. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
The above story is based on materials provided by Queensland University of Technology. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
Journal Reference:
Cite This Page:- Rachel K. Okolicsanyi, Lyn R. Griffiths, Larisa M. Haupt. Mesenchymal stem cells, neural lineage potential, heparan sulfate proteoglycans and the matrix. Developmental Biology, 2014; 388 (1): 1 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2014.01.024
Queensland
University of Technology. "Unlocking the potential of stem cells to
repair brain damage." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 4 June 2014.
<www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/06/140604094127.htm>.
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/06/140604094127.htm
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