Stem Cell Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries

Stem cells offer a promising treatment for spinal cord injury.

Stem cells are unspecialized cells, capable of developing into other types of cells in the body. In laboratory conditions, they can be induced to become organ or tissue-specific cells. In many parts of the body, stem cells work to repair damage to organs and tissues, dividing continuously throughout the life of the organism. Spinal cord injury, an often permanently disabling condition, has been the subject of recent research towards the development of stem cell therapies to treat and ultimately reverse the effects of these injuries.

Symptoms

Spinal cord injury typically results in impaired control and sensation in the limbs. According to the Mayo Clinic, the injury is classified as either complete, in which all sensory and motor function is lost; or incomplete, in which some sensory and motor function remains. Spinal cord injuries are referred to as tetraplegia or quadriplegia in which the trunk, arms, legs and pelvic organs are affected; or paraplegia in which the legs, pelvic organs and all or part of the trunk are affected.

Traditional Treatments

Traditionally there has been no way to reverse a spinal cord injury. Treatments have included medications that sometimes can promote nerve cell regeneration and improve the function of existing cells, and prostheses to aid in movement and communication. Treatments also focus on improving strength and health through diet and physical therapy, and preventing future injury, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Politics of Stem Cell Trials

Proponents of the possibilities presented by stem cell-based treatments for spinal cord injury have come up against pro-life advocates working against the use of embryonic stem cells for scientific research. According to the website Sci-Info, former president George W. Bush limited research by limiting available cell lines but President Obama has removed some restrictions, allowing for the first human trials.

Early Stem Cell Studies

In 2005, researchers at the Reeve-Irvine Research Center found that a treatment developed from human embryonic stem cells improved physical mobility in rats with injuries to their spinal cords. This was the first physical evidence of the efficacy of embryonic stem cell treatments for spinal cord injuries in mammals.

First Human Trials

According to CNN, January of 2010 saw the first U.S. human stem cell trials for spinal cord injury. The subject of the trial was a patient suffering from ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). There is no cure for ALS, and the trial was intended to assess the efficacy and safety of stem cell treatments for the disorder.

"What we are attempting is a novel approach, directly injecting them into the middle of the spinal cord, which to our knowledge has never been done before," said Karl Johe, chief scientific officer and chairman of Neuralstem, the Rockville, Maryland-based biotech company conducting the trial.

There are 12 ALS patients currently signed up to participate in the trial.

References

• Mayo Clinic: Spinal Cord Injury
• CNN.com: First U.S. Stem Cells Transplanted Into Spinal Cord
• Sci-Info Pages: Stem Cells and Spinal Cord Injury
• MedPageToday: Clinical Trial of Stem Cells for Spinal Cord Injury Cleared by FDA
• Medical News Today: Stem Cell Treatment Improves Mobility after Spinal Cord Injury

Resources

• National Institutes of Health: Stem Cell Basics