Ref. 1
Researchers tested an implant containing human stem cells that had been engineered to produce a protein called secreted alkaline phosphatase.
A system that uses brain activity to switch on genes with light could give new meaning to the phrase 'mind over matter'. The set-up, which was tested in mice, might one day allow human patients to pre-empt pain or seizures by recognizing brain activity that signals the onset of these phenomena and intervening to stop them.
The findings, reported on 11 November in Nature Communications1, are another advance in the burgeoning field of optogenetics, which uses light to control the activity of genes. But whereas many experimental systems still require an outside power source, the team led by Martin Fussenegger, a bioengineer at ETH Zurich in Switzerland, used the brain's own electricity picked up by means of electroencephalography (EEG) to provide power through a daisy-chain of signals.
Fussenegger and his colleagues first created a small, implantable cartridge containing human stem cells that had been engineered to produce a protein, called secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP), when the cells were exposed to a beam of near-infrared light. The researchers then put this cartridge under the skin of a mouse, along with a near-infrared light-emitting diode (LED).
Next, the team programmed a computer to receive and recognize brain-activity patterns from volunteers wearing an EEG headset. When the computer recognized a particular predetermined pattern, such as that caused by meditation, it switched on an electrical-field generator. The electrical current passed into the mouse, which was sitting on the generator, and powered up its implanted LED. The light caused the implanted cells to begin producing SEAP, which passed through the cartridge and into the mouses bloodstream.
Fussenegger says that human trials of this system are a very long way off. For instance, the researchers would first need to show that the stem cells do not harm the brain and find a way to control the amount of protein that the cells produce in response to the light. But he has thought of numerous possible applications for a device that can respond so rapidly to brain signals. For instance, the device could be programmed to respond to the EEG patterns that predict a seizure and prevent it by delivering a drug to the brain.
This is super innovative and very exciting, says neuroscientist Michael Bruchas of Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. You can go from biology to electronics back to biology; I think thats powerful. He agrees that human trials are far off, but suggests that the device could also be implanted in many areas of the body, such as the gut, and be controlled by EEG patterns.
Others question how useful the system is, given the limitations of current technology and scientific knowledge. Medical ethicist Joseph Fins at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City calls the experiment a beautiful marriage of optogenetics and the conception of a braincomputer interface. But he says that there is so much work left to be done, mapping the circuits of the brain and developing computer programs to interpret EEG signals, that talking about potential therapies is premature.
Still, Fins says, a device that can recognize and respond to certain brain signatures would be useful for patients with locked-in syndrome who rely on others for their care. EEG patterns that indicate pain, for instance, could be linked to the delivery of a painkiller. If they had some measure of control, it would be a wonderful thing, he says.
See the original post here:
Human brainwaves light up mouse genes
- Soils, Plant Nutrition and Nutrient Management | MU Extension - October 13th, 2022
- Missouri S&T welcomes new faculty - Missouri S&T News and Research - October 4th, 2022
- Questioning the wisdom of the late Susan Solomon Catholic World Report - Catholic World Report - September 25th, 2022
- Aspect Biosystems Appoints Three New Board Members - Business Wire - September 25th, 2022
- IMAC Holdings, Inc. Announces Completion of Third Cohort of its Phase 1 ... - September 16th, 2022
- IMAC Holdings, Inc. Announces Completion of Third Cohort of its Phase 1 Clinical Study of Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the... - September 16th, 2022
- Sunflower: The story of this summer goddess begins with search for love Pratt Tribune - Pratt Tribune - September 16th, 2022
- Is the ISS an Ideal Place to Grow Billions of Stem Cells? Scientists Seem to Think So - iTech Post - July 19th, 2022
- UM-Dearborn graduate hopes to make it to space - Dearborn Press and Guide - July 19th, 2022
- Preventing and Managing Plant Diseases | MU Extension - June 4th, 2022
- Plants and Their Environment | MU Extension - June 4th, 2022
- Can you mix COVID vaccines? What that could mean for Moderna and J&J boosters - CNET - October 16th, 2021
- Missouri S&T hosts first in series of national critical minerals workshops - Missouri S&T News and Research - July 21st, 2021
- The race for a steak grown in the laboratory - Techno EA - January 12th, 2020
- Inside the Beltway: Abortion, immigration among forbidden topics at Thanksgiving table - Washington Times - November 30th, 2019
- The Ihrie Lab @ Vanderbilt | Neural stem cells, neural ... - May 23rd, 2019
- Saint Louis, Missouri - Stem Cells Transplant Institute - January 23rd, 2019
- Missouri University of Science and Technology - Wikipedia - December 10th, 2018
- Bluetail Medical Group Regenerative Medicine Experts - July 8th, 2018
- Brain's Stem Cells Slow Aging in Mice - Scientific American - July 30th, 2017
- Brain's stem cells slow ageing in mice - Nature.com - July 30th, 2017
- Chemical persuasion by David Sparks Ph.d, click here for bio - AgInfo.net (press release) (registration) (blog) - July 30th, 2017
- Pig research could improve IVF in humans - Wallace's Farmer - July 30th, 2017
- Neuralstem, Inc. (CUR) Just Recorded A Sigfniciant Increase - Weekly Register - July 9th, 2017
- stem cells - decodingscience.missouri.edu - December 1st, 2016
- Stem cells can repair torn tendons or ligaments ... - October 6th, 2016
- Stem Cells for Orthopedics Missouri & Florida - September 18th, 2016
- Stem Cells Quotes - Notable Quotes - September 18th, 2016
- Stem Cells | Topics | Christianity Today - September 13th, 2016
- Stem Cell Therapy In Springfield, Missouri - Cherry Health ... - August 8th, 2016
- Missouri Constitutional Amendment 2 (2006) - Wikipedia ... - October 27th, 2014
- PRP Therapy, Adult Stem Cell Therapy, Regenerative ... - August 29th, 2014
- MU News Bureau | MU News Bureau - University of Missouri - August 29th, 2014
- Missouri Stem Cell Treatments | Stem Cell Treatments - August 22nd, 2014
- The Missouri Embryonic Stem Cell Research Initiative - August 22nd, 2014
- Laws Governing Stem Cell Research - Missouri Right to Life - August 22nd, 2014
- Catholic school officials partake in ALS challenge despite warning - August 22nd, 2014