Multiple Sclerosis, or MS, is an
autoimmune disease of the brain and spinal cord where the immune system begins
attacking the myelin covering on axons. Damaging the myelin sheath can slow
down or block signals being sent between and within your brain and body. This
results in connection and communication issues and can potentially disable one
physically and mentally. Some will lose the ability to coordinate movement, or
lose mental functions developing thinking and memory problems. Due to sometimes
the vagueness and range of symptoms, MS can be hard to diagnose. Currently
there’s no cure, however treatments to manage the disease are available.
Considering this disease can
potentially physically disable the person with it, there is much effort going
into researching mitigation techniques. On February 22, 2018, a study published
by Luca Peruzzoti-Jametti of the University of Cambridge made the claim that “Scientists
have shown in mice that skin cells re-programmed into stem cells, transplanted
into the central nervous system, help reduce inflammation and may be able to
help repair damage caused by multiple sclerosis.” Stem cells possess the unique
feature to be able to turn into any cell within the body. Traditionally, these
cells are harvested from embryos of failed or terminated pregnancies, however, scientists
have found a technique that can turn skin cells back into stem cell form. This
technique alleviates the demand for stem cells from embryo’s (as there are not
many available and this tends to be an ethical debate) and also reduces the
chance of the patient developing an immune response to potentially “alien”
cells in the body.
Science Daily writes that the
researchers at the University of Cambridge have shown that the ‘induced neural
stem cells’, or the stem cells made from reprogrammed skin cells have the power
to reprogram the “bad” immune cells to be “good” from results seen on their
mouse study. They report this treatment as a viable option to repairing the
damage of MS and that the research could be used as a personalized treatment
for other chronic inflammatory diseases. Considering now that our only
treatments available at most slow down the progression of this disease, the
potential for this new treatment to reverse the effects of MS is ground
breaking science. There is now some hope for those who seemingly randomly acquired
this unfortunate disease.
I find stem cell research to be fascinating. Like your article details, stem cells have an impressive range of use and researchers continue to discover new ways to use them for their experiments. I found this article to be very interesting because I did not know that skin cells of mice can be transformed into stem cells, I was always under the impression that stem cells only originated from embryos. This research pines me to question if the same were possible in humans. I also ponder if this could be further advanced and used in other treatments for things such as organ transplants. If researchers could take "Bob's" skin cells, turn them into a form of stem cell and then use these stem cells to grow a kidney or liver that would be specifically compatible with "Bob" because they originally were "Bob's" skin cells. This could then be used to replace his damaged organ and the rate of acceptance of this new organ I would think to be much greater due to the fact that they cells were originally his. This would lead to fantastic discoveries, lives saved and incredible advances in the medical field.
ReplyDeleteThe article you chose is intriguing. Stem cells and the research that goes along with them absolutely blows my mind. My knowledge of stem cells goes about as far as they are harvested from embryos (and sometime frozen) and the controversy that surrounds that process. I had no idea that they were experimenting with them and turning other cells into stem cells. The mice study that your article explains has me wonder if they could use this to not only help nervous system diseases but other degenerative body issues as well. If so, is it only skin cells that would be able to be turned into stem cells or could they use different organ cells to help different body systems. If they are able to take skin cells and turn them into stems cells to help the nervous system, could they take stomach cells and turn them into stems cells to help the digestive system? This opens up so many doors in the medical field and also alleviates the ethical issues that come along with stem cell harvesting from embryos. Being able to use ones own somatic cells to build stem cells to then again use on there own body would propel modern medicine by leaps and bounds and bring about life saving techniques.
ReplyDeleteThis is certainly groundbreaking science - not only in terms of chronic inflammatory disease, but also due to the awe-inspiring potential of stem cells! I am fascinated that induced skin cells have the power to reprogram the malfunctioning immune cells and render them functional. As a treatment, this is incredible because it goes beyond removing the cause of the disease to actually reinstate functional immune cells.
ReplyDeleteIn your post, you mention reversing the effects of MS.
Does this “reversal” refer to the regeneration of functioning immune cells or the re-myelination of damaged axons? Even if myelin is not replaced by this treatment, it certainly surpasses the potential of treatments currently in use.
The reprogramming of immune cells in and of itself is an incredible finding. This has potential for a variety of autoimmune diseases from rheumatoid arthritis to type II diabetes mellitus. I look forward to hearing how usage of stem cells continues as we seek cures for immune system hyperactivity.
I find stem cell research very interesting. Learning that there is now a way to turn skin cells into stem cells is quite remarkable not only because it erases the ethical stigma surrounding it but also allows for more research not just for multiple sclerosis. I do wonder if these stem cells in regards to the article and multiple sclerosis would it be more for a treatment purpose, preventative in disease progression or trying to reverse damage? And if it can reverse the damage how much would or could be restored? I am also curious if this research with stem cells could also be applied to people suffering from Parkinson's or degenerative neurological disorders. Could or would that make a difference? Stem cell research makes a lot possible and the fact that there have been some promising results in mice towards MS only shows how little we know and much more we can do and learn.
ReplyDelete