Modified human stem cells may provide a new avenue for repairing damaged spinal cord nerves according to recently published research from two Universities in Hong Kong.
By transplanting human neural stem cells with a 50% reduced response to the gene SOX9, researchers were able to increase reconstruction of neural circuits which dramatically improved movement in severely spinal-cord-injured rats.
Though the initial study was limited to rats, it opens a promising path for modifying the human stem cells that naturally occur after an injury, thereby reducing and even mending spinal cord damage. It may lead to a new treatment direction for repairing damaged spinal cords after further study.
To read more about stem cell researchers and their findings click here.
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