A groundbreaking five-year clinical trial has revealed promising results for treating chronic spinal cord injuries using neural stem cell transplantation. The study, conducted at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, marks a significant step forward in addressing these devastating injuries that often result in partial or complete paralysis.
Published in Cell Reports Medicine | Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
The Phase I trial, led by Joseph Ciacci, M.D., professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery at UC San Diego School of Medicine, and Joel Martin, M.D., followed four patients with chronic spinal cord injuries over five years. The results demonstrated both the safety of the procedure and unexpected improvements in some patients’ conditions.
Key Findings
Two of the four patients showed lasting neurological improvements after receiving neural stem cell implants. These improvements included enhanced motor and sensory scores, along with increased electromyography (EMG) activity – a crucial indicator of nerve function. The study also revealed an unexpected benefit: some patients experienced reduced pain levels following the treatment.
The research team used a specific type of neural stem cells called NSI-566, derived from human spinal cord tissue. These cells were carefully implanted into the injury sites of patients who had experienced their injuries between one and two years prior to treatment.
“All four subjects tolerated the procedure well,” note the researchers, with only one serious adverse event recorded during the five-year follow-up period. This event was determined to be unrelated to the stem cell treatment itself.
Understanding the Impact
The improvements observed in the patients were particularly notable given the chronic nature of their injuries. Two patients demonstrated increased control over muscles below their injury sites, with EMG tests revealing new voluntary muscle activity. One patient showed improvement extending down two spinal levels below their original injury, though this later stabilized at one level of improvement.
While these changes might seem modest, they represent significant progress in a field where any improvement in chronic spinal cord injury has traditionally been considered unlikely. The study’s success in demonstrating both safety and potential effectiveness has paved the way for larger trials.
Looking Ahead
Following these encouraging results, researchers are now planning a Phase II clinical trial to further evaluate the treatment’s effectiveness. The study suggests that neural stem cell transplantation could become a viable treatment option for chronic spinal cord injuries, though more research is needed to fully understand its potential.
Glossary
- Neural Stem Cells (NSCs)
- Human-derived cells capable of developing into various types of nervous system cells, offering potential regenerative properties for damaged nerve tissue.
- Electromyography (EMG)
- A diagnostic procedure that measures electrical activity in muscles, used to assess nerve function and muscle response.
- ISNCSCI
- International Standards for the Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury – a standardized system for assessing spinal cord injury severity and recovery.
Test Your Knowledge
How long did researchers follow the patients in this study?
The study followed patients for five years after their neural stem cell transplantation.
What type of stem cells were used in the treatment?
The study used NSI-566 cells, which are human spinal cord-derived neural stem cells.
What were the two main types of improvements seen in some patients?
Some patients showed improvements in motor and sensory scores, as well as increased EMG activity. Additionally, some patients experienced reduced pain levels.
Why is the timing of stem cell transplantation significant in spinal cord injury treatment?
Research suggests that the timing of transplantation affects outcomes, with data indicating that transplantation in the subacute period may contribute to improved remyelination of axons compared to several months after injury.
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