Based on a rat study researchers at Stanford University said stem cells were able to reduce stroke damage and that testing human treatments may be as near as five years away.  Stroke is an event that causes permanent brain damage and significant disability.

Thus far there is no medical remedy for stroke victims. Only supportive therapy is given to such patients. But the present study says that human embryonic stem cells may offer a solution and repair brain damage caused by a stroke. The details appear in the Public Library of Science journal PLoS ONE.

The researchers first conditioned the stem cells by combing them with growth hormones and making sure they grew into stable neural cells like neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. This is because stem cells not only have the ability to turn into any type of cells, but also grow uncontrollably causing tumors.

After stability was ensured, lead researcher Gary Steinberg and co-author Anne-Lise Maag transplanted these cells into the brains of rats that had been induced into a stroke-like condition. For example, the forelimbs of the rats were weak after suffering stroke, a condition that is identical to the one seen in humans.

After two months, researchers found these transplanted stem cells had migrated to the injured zone in the brain and had also managed to repair some damaged tissue. After eight weeks, the rats were able to use their forelimbs in a more normal manner than rats that had not been treated with stem cell transplants.

“Human embryonic stem cell-based therapies have the potential to help treat this complex disease,” Steinberg said. The next step is to grow stem cells in accordance with FDA guidelines so as to make them fit for human trials. Before that the researchers will try and ensure that the transplanted stem cells in rats do not grow into tumors.
 

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