SC: MRI shows possibilities of bone marrow stem cell therapy

In vivo MRI results demonstrate that mesenchymal stem cells migrate toward a quinolinic acid lesion and can survive for 19 days post-transplantation, which gives hope for future research harnessing stem cells for treating neurodegenerative diseases, such as Huntington's, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, according to research in this month’s issue of Stem Cells.

Yoram Cohen, MD, of Tel Aviv University's School of Chemistry in Israel, has recently researched the viability of MSCs using in-vivo MRI. Cohen has been able to track their progress within the brain, and initial studies indicate they can identify unhealthy or damaged tissues, migrate to them and potentially repair or halt cell degeneration.

“By monitoring the motion of these cells, you get information about how viable they are, and how they can benefit the tissue," he explained. "We have been able to prove that these stem cells travel within the brain, and only travel where they are needed. They read the chemical signaling of the tissue, which indicate areas of stress. And then they go and try to repair the situation.”

To test the capabilities of the new stem cells, Cohen tracked the activity of the live cells within the brain using in vivo MRI at the Strauss Centre for Computational Neuro-Imaging. Watching the live, active cells has been central to establishing their viability as a therapy for neurodegenerative disease.

Cohen and his colleagues took magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and used them to label the stem cells they tested. When injected into the brain, they could then be identified as clear black dots on MRI images. The stem cells were then injected into the brain of an animal that had an experimental model of Huntington's disease.

On MRI, it was possible to watch the stem cells migrating towards the diseased area of the brain.

"Cells that go toward a certain position that needs to be rescued are the best indirect proof that they are live and viable," Cohen explained. "If they can migrate towards the target, they are alive and can read chemical signaling."

The study is based on differentiated MSC, discovered at the university. Bone marrow cells are transformed into neurotrophic factors-secreting stem cells, which can then be used to treat neurodegenerative diseases. The advance circumvents the ethical debate caused by the use of stem cells obtained from embryos.

Although there is a drawback to using this particular type of stem cell--there is more difficulty involved in rendering them "neuron-like"--the benefits are numerous, according to the researchers.

"Bone marrow-derived MSCs bypass ethical and production complications," Cohen said, "and in the long run, the cells are less likely to be rejected because they come from the patients themselves. This means you don't need immunosuppressant therapy."

Cohen noted that the next step is to develop a real-life therapy for those suffering from neurodegenerative diseases. The ultimate goal is to repair neuronal cells and tissues. Researchers may also be able to develop a therapy for stroke victims. If post-stroke cell degeneration can be stopped at an early stage, Cohen said, patients could live for many years with a good quality of life.

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