New research from McLean Hospital and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute has shown that stem cell therapy reduces seizures in mice. <\/p>\n
Researchers used an animal model to transplant seizure-inhibiting, human embryonic stem cell-derived neurons into the brains of mice that had a common form of epilepsy. Half of the mice that received the transplanted neurons no longer had seizures, while the other half experienced a significant drop in seizure frequency. <\/p>\n
The transplanted neurons integrated into the mouse brains and began to receive neuronal activity. The neurons then released GABA, an inhibitory response that reversed the electrical hyperactivity that causes seizure. <\/p>\n
Previous studies showed increasing inhibition in the epileptic brain can help control the seizure and also a lot of anti-epilepsy drugs are mimicking this GABA, so many of them worked by binding to the GABA receptors, researcher Sangmi Chung, assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard, told FoxNews.com. <\/p>\n
Researchers initially set out to test the functionality of human neurons, but later decided to test their effect on epilepsy because it is such a devastating disease. About 30 percent of people do not respond to seizure drugs and one out of 26 people will be affected by seizures in their lifetime, Chung said. <\/p>\n
Over 65 million people worldwide are affected by epileptic seizures, which can cause convulsions, loss of consciousness and other neurological symptoms. Patients are treated with anti-seizure drugs, and may choose to have a portion of their brain removed. <\/p>\n
Because mouse cells mature more quickly than human cells within weeks instead of years it was unclear how long a stem cell transplant in a human would take before becoming effective, Chung noted. <\/p>\n
If we compare it with the mouse [model], we believe it will be years, not weeks, she said. <\/p>\n
However, the study found that, even without full maturation, the cells integrated into the epileptic mouse brains, receive signals and release GABA, therefore preventing seizures. <\/p>\n
I think its really good news in terms of transplantation even maturing, not fully mature [cells] still work, Chung said. <\/p>\n
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Stem cell transplants may help reduce seizures, study says<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" New research from McLean Hospital and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute has shown that stem cell therapy reduces seizures in mice. Researchers used an animal model to transplant seizure-inhibiting, human embryonic stem cell-derived neurons into the brains of mice that had a common form of epilepsy. Continue reading