Potential of stem cell therapy for Stroke

PRLog (Press Release) - Jul 05, 2009 -
http://www.stemcells21.com

Stroke is caused by the interruption of blood flow in a brain-supplying artery; commonly an embolus causes an occlusion (blockage) in the blood vessel. Ischaemic stroke (cerebral infarction) and the even more devastating intracerebral haemorrhage, cause a disturbance of neuronal circuitry and disruption of the blood-brain-barrier that can lead to functional disabilities – very typically destroying a person's ability to speak and move normally. At this time, therapy is primarily based on the prevention of recurrent (secondary) strokes. Rehabilitation therapy is important for maximizing functional recovery in the early phase after stroke, but once recovery has plateaued there is no known treatment. There are still no neuroprotective therapies available that reduce brain damage and improve neurological recovery once a stroke has occurred.

Stem cell treatment could be the major breakthrough in effecting repair of some of the damage caused by stroke.


Review of human umbilical cord blood cell (HUCBC) treatments for stroke:

As early as 2001, a study was conducted to assess whether an intravenous infusion of human umbilical cord blood cells in a rodent model, could enter the brain, survive, differentiate, and improve neurological functional recovery at 24 hours and 7 days after stroke. The study objectives were all achieved to a certain extent.

In 2005 a research team at the University of South Florida investigated strategies to effectively treat stroke patients other than by re-canalisation of the occluded vessels in the cerebral infarcted area. This group also investigated strategies to extend the narrow anticoagulant treatment window to which only a minority of patients have timely access. The following results were published: rats receiving human cord blood cells 24 h after stroke demonstrated improvements in behavioural defects; the 3 hour therapeutic window for anticoagulant treatment of stroke victims may be extended 24-72 hours post stroke with the use of umbilical cord blood cell therapy.
Paradoxically, a Finnish study (2006) reported that human cord blood cells, administered intravenously 24 h after stroke in rats, did not improve functional sensorimotor and cognitive recovery because of limited migration of cells, but that an infusion of pure CD34+ cells following focal cerebral ischemia demonstrated some improvement in functional outcome.
Recently, Kim et al showed that human mesenchymal (CD34+) stem cells transplanted intravenously (ipsi- and contralateral) into a rat after ischaemic stroke, possessed the capacity to migrate extensively to the infarcted area. Promising data were also recently cited for treatment of intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH): intravenous delivery of cord blood cells might well enhance endogenous repair mechanisms and functional recovery after ICH .

Full Story : http://www.stemcells21.com/stem_cell_therapy_for_stroke.asp

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