Stem Cell Therapy as a Treatment for Stroke in a Pig Middle Cerebral Artery Model

Summary

Stroke is the number one cause of long term disability and the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Despite the significant effect of stroke on millions of patients and considerable effort to develop treatments, there is currently few therapies- all of which have major limitations. We are now testing the ability of induced pluripotent stem cell derived neural stem cells (iNSCs) to replace lost and damaged brain tissue. The replacement of this tissue may lead to restoration of cognitive, motor and sensory function in stroke patients.

Situation

Stroke is the number one cause of long term disability and fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Despite over 700 drugs going to human clinical trials, only one pharmacological treatment, with significant therapeutic short comings, has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. An assessment of failed treatments by the Stem Cell Therapies as an Emerging Paradigm in Stroke group, an assembly of leading stroke experts, has identified stem cell therapies as a promising option for the treatment of stroke patients. Induced pluripotent stem cell derived neural stem cells (iNSCs) have the ability to function as a dual therapeutic as they can produce regenerative signaling factors and replace damage tissue. However, the efficacy of iNSC therapy has never been tested in a large animal stroke model similar to humans such as the recently developed pig stroke model.

Response

NSCs have been recently developed and are a promising therapeutic cell type for neural injuries such as stroke. iNSCs can be derived from the patient's own body limiting the potential for rejection. Our research team have found these cells to be highly proliferative and easy to maintain in culture making them amenable to therapy. In culture, these cells are capable of forming all three major neural cell types of the central nervous system (astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and neurons). Stroked pigs that received the iNSC therapy showed significant improvement at the tissue and functional levels. iNSCs treatment improved cerebral blood flow in damaged tissue, protected damaged neural tissue from further degeneration and lead to improved motor function. Further studies are being performed to assess the level of integration of iNSCs into damaged tissue and the mechanism of action.

Impact

The development of iNSC regenerative cell therapy will lead to the replacement and repair of damaged neural networks in stroke patients. This will lead to improved sensory, motor and cognitive function and improve the patient's life quality. This platform technology can also be adapted to other central nervous system injuries such as spinal cord injuries or traumatic brain injury.

State Issue

Other Issue

Details

• Year: 2014
• Geographic Scope: International
• County: Clarke
• Program Areas:
  • Agriculture & Natural Resources