New stem cell discovery to aid spinal injury repair?RSS Feed

A new type of stem cell could prove useful in repairing spinal cord injury, scientists believe.

Research, published in journal PLoS One, uncovered a new class of stem cells in the spinal cord that behave like neural stem cells.

Study authors believe that the identification of these new stem cell-like radial glial cells may enable the activation of a certain set of genes in order to promote the reconstruction of a damaged network in the spinal cord.

Senior author Jane Roskams, neuroscientist at the University of British Columbia, said: "By using the Allen Spinal Cord Atlas, we were able to discover a brand new cell type that has previously been overlooked and that could be an important player in all manner of spinal cord injury and disease, including multiple sclerosis and ALS."

Meanwhile, scientists at Case Western University have bridged a spinal cord injury to restore breathing in mice, according to a study published in journal Nature.

News by Serious Law. Expert legal assistance for those affected by spinal injury

Posted by Paul Breen
 

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