Neurologists at Ohio State University have discovered a new type of human leukocyte that can regenerate nerve fibers. The results of this study, published in the journal Nature Immunology, may help develop new treatments for paralysis.
Under normal conditions, damaged nerve cells do not regenerate, leading to irreversible neurological damage. However, scientists have managed to stimulate bone marrow cells with specific molecules, turning them into pro-regenerative cells that promote the survival and recovery of damaged nerve cells.
The team extracted bone marrow cells from eight different human donors. All samples successfully promote the regeneration of nerve cells, tripling their survival under stress, indicating the potential to slow or prevent the progression of degenerative diseases, as well as to treat the effects of injury.
Researchers also note that patients' own cells can be used to create safe and effective treatments. After laboratory experiments to find the most effective methods of growing cells and delivering them, scientists plan to start clinical trials.
Nerve damage from injuries to the spinal cord, optic nerve, or brain, as well as degenerative neurological diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and multiple sclerosis, are still considered irreversible.