Proteins in fluid 'essential for building brain'RSS Feed

Proteins in fluids which bathe the brain are essential for building the organ, research has shown, which has implications for brain injury stem cell research as well as cancer and neurological disease.

It was previously believed that the brain fluid functioned merely to maintain the brain's ionic balance. However, research by the Children's Hospital in Boston indicates otherwise.

Anthony LaMantia, director of the GW Institute for Neuroscience at the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences, said that the study was a "game changer".

"The possibilities for using the fluid as an efficient mechanism to deliver small molecule drugs are endless," he explained.

This comes after research found that stem cells taken from umbilical cord blood cells and menstrual blood cells could offer hope for those suffering from the brain injury seen in conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Research published in Cell Transplantation showed the cells could be used to promote cell survival rather than play the role of replacements when transplanted.

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Posted by Matthew Heap
 

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