MIT discovers spinal repair cells
By Greg George
CEO
Spinal Cord Resources Network
EurekaAlert.org reports that the MIT Picower Institute has discovered a type of cell in the spine that may be able to repair damage. While searching for new types of stem cells researchers found a new type of cell that can either create scar tissue or help to repair damaged neuron bundles. This type of cell has shown great promise because it has already been used in mice to virtually cure severe spinal cord damage. However, in humans this cell creates scar tissue almost exclusively, with only a tiny percentage turning into cells to repair the spinal cord damage. If scientists can change what these cells turn into after an accident using drugs, then doctors may be able to greatly reduce or even prevent spinal cord injuries. Testing in humans is years off, but if successful, MIT may have created a safe method to repair severe spinal cord damage using cells from the patient. This would eliminate the worry of cancer or rejection and after the repair was finished, removal of the drug would allow the cells to revert back to their normal activity.
While this may be fantastic news to new spinal cord patients, it will not help those already living with the injury for years. At that point the scar tissue has already built up making it difficult for nerves to grow and reconnect. Further work needs to be done to either stop scar tissue from forming at the injury site, or to melt existing scar tissue so this procedure would work. In the mean time this shows great promise in successfully treating spinal cord injuries just as a broken leg is put into a splint. After several months of both drug and physical therapy, the patient may be able to regain most of what they had before the accident. Plus, the cells do not have to be harvested from others making this a much safer procedure then what is available now. Those that can’t wait are turning themselves into human guenea pigs because many times they get more pain as the final outcome. It is best to wait until medical science has a proven and safe method to cure or repair spinal cord injuries
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User Comments
Having incurred spinal cord injuries at three levels (i.e., C5/C6; T11/T12 & L2/L3) in June 1990 and having become aware of some advancements in stem cell research, I would be interested to know if you can provide any correction and/or repair processes to ensure that my spinal cord does not continue to inhibit my motor capabilities in some areas and introduce pain in others. Thank you very much.
Brian C. Bradley
Hi,
my name is Zoran. I’m from Germany. Last year in September i had an accident at work. I felt from 2 meters from a ledder on the ground. I was 4 months in hospital. Now i’m sitting in a wheel chair. My spinal injury is: complete spinal injury T12, BWK 11/12 Luxationsfractur.
The Doctors in Germany told me that i will never walk again. I saw an report on TV from USA that there i a clinic in USA who is specialized on spinal injury. There was a man who walked again after some operations.
Can you guys help me and give me an address from there. Where i can write an email if they can help me with this matter????
Thank you very much, many greetings from Germany. Looking forward to you email.
Zoran
Zoran;
There are only two places in the states that are concentrating their work on spinal cord injuries. The first is The Shepherd Center in Atlanta and the second is The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis in Miami. There are no surgeries that can cure a spinal cord injury, but there may be rehab training to help you get around better then you do now. Below are the links to the two places we just wrote about:
http://www.miamiproject.miami.edu
We suggest looking over both sites and give them a call and discuss your individual problems.
Is this method of tissue repairing work? I wish it really works because so many people are suffering from this spinal cord problem.
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Celebro y felicito a todas las personas que de alguna manera intervienen en el desarrollo y avances cientificos, asi como a todos los medios de difusion que tan acertadamente nos hacen llegar estos avances y estas investigaciones que se llevan a cabo en todo el mundo y al dìa. Gracias y un voto mas para continuar con esta loable labor.
English translation:
I welcome and congratulate all those who in some way involved in the development and scientific progress, as well as all the media so that we do get out these developments and that these investigations are conducted throughout the world and a day . Thanks and one more vote to continue this laudable work.