Researchers have discovered a way to produce huge amounts of myelinating cells in short periods of time – paving the way for revolutionary treatment in neurodegenerative diseases.

How we use our senses and the ways that we respond to them is a common part of what makes us human. More specifically, the communication between special nerve cells called neurons in our nervous system is especially important if we expect to sense, think, and move.

A part of what makes neurons work so efficiently is the protein myelin – a smooth layer of protein that helps speed up nerve impulses between neurons. Losing this myelin causes significant nerve damage; and is the hallmark of debilitating diseases like cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis.

But scientists at Case Western Reserve University of School of Medicine have discovered a way to produce copious amounts of myelinating cells in a short period of time using stem cells.

“The mouse cells that we utilized, which are pluripotent epiblast stem calls, can make any cell type in the body,” Paul Tesar explains, an assistant professor of genetics at Case Western Reserve University and senior author of the study.

So Tesar’s team set out to transform these stem cells into myelinating cells. In the past, scientists have failed to change these stem cells into cells that will create myelin; resulting only in an unwanted mix of other cell types.

But Tesar’s team was able to produce more than one trillion myelinating cells in only 10 days using special signaling proteins, growth factors, and thyroid hormone.

The resulting oligodendrocytes – cells that produce myelin – were tested in cells outside the body and in animal models. Tesar and his fellow colleagues found that these cells restored normal myelin in a matter of days.

The Case Western researchers believe that this could be replicated in human cells.

“The ability of these methods to produce functional cells that restore myelin in diseased mice provides a solid framework for the ability to produce analogous human cells for use in the clinic,” said Robert H Miller, vice dean for research at the school of medicine and one author of the paper.

Perhaps in the future, individuals with demyelinated diseases may be able to treat themselves using their very own cells.

Rapid and robust generation of functional oligodendrocyte progenitor cells from epiblast stem cells. Najm et al. Published online: 25 Steptember 2011/ doi.: 10.1038/nmeth.1712

Source: Examiner.com Copyright © Clarity Digital Group LLC (26/09/11)