Stem Cell Treatment Shows Promise in Restoring Motor Function for Spinal Cord Injury Patients
A groundbreaking stem cell treatment has shown promising results in improving the motor function of patients with spinal cord injuries. In the first clinical study of its kind, Japanese scientists at Tokyo’s Keio University used induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) to help patients regain movement.
Spinal cord injuries can lead to paralysis, affecting more than 150,000 patients in Japan alone, with 5,000 new cases reported each year. Currently, there is no effective treatment for such injuries, making this research a significant breakthrough in the field of regenerative medicine.
The iPS cells used in the study were derived from mature, specialized cells that were reprogrammed into a juvenile state. These cells were then coaxed to mature into neural stem cells, which were implanted into the spinal cords of the patients.
After the operation, two out of the four patients showed improvement in their motor function scores. One patient, an elderly man who had suffered a spinal cord injury in an accident, was able to stand without support and has even started practicing walking. The results of the study have been hailed as a major achievement in the use of iPS cells for spinal cord treatment.
The research team, led by Professor Hideyuki Okano, is now looking to move towards a clinical trial to further validate the effectiveness of the treatment. The safety of the procedure was closely monitored, and no serious adverse events were reported during the one-year follow-up period.
The study, which received government approval in 2019, marks a significant step forward in the field of regenerative medicine. The team is hopeful that their findings will pave the way for new treatment options for patients with spinal cord injuries.
While the details of the patients remain confidential, the focus of the study was on individuals who had sustained spinal cord injuries within 14-28 days before the operation. The number of cells implanted was carefully determined based on safety experiments in animals.
In conclusion, the use of stem cell therapy in restoring motor function for spinal cord injury patients holds great promise for the future of regenerative medicine. The results of this study represent a significant advancement in the field and offer hope to those living with paralysis due to spinal cord injuries.
This article is adapted from the original publication by AFP. For more information, please visit: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-03-japanese-scientists-stem-cell-treatment.html.
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