From stem cell to brain cell new technique mimics the brain

24.05.2012 - (idw) Schwedischer Forschungsrat - The Swedish Research Council

A new technique that converts stem cells into brain cells has been developed by researchers at Lund University. The method is simpler, quicker and safer than previous research has shown and opens the doors to a shorter route to clinical cell transplants. By adding two different molecules, the researchers have discovered a surprisingly simple way of starting the stem cells journey to become finished brain cells. The process mimics the brains natural development by releasing signals that are part of the normal development process. Experiments in animal models have shown that the cells quickly adapt in the brain and behave like normal brain cells.

This technique allows us to fine-tune our steering of stem cells to different types of brain cells. Previous studies have not always used the signals that are activated during the brains normal development. This has caused the transplanted cells to develop tumours or function poorly in the brain, says Agnete Kirkeby, one of the authors of the study.

Since the method effectively imitates the brains own processes, it reduces the risk of tumour formation, one of the most common obstacles in stem cell research. The quick, simple technique makes the cells mature faster, which both makes the transplant safer and helps the cells integrate better into the brain. The results of the study bring stem cell research closer to transplant trials in the human brain.

The research is presented in the report Generation of regionally specified neural progenitors and functional neurons from human embryonic stem cells under defined conditions in the journal Cell Reports.

The study has been conducted as part of the EU 7th Framework Programme project NeuroStemcell.

For more information, please contact: Malin Parmar +46 709 823901, Malin.Parmar@med.lu.se Agnete Kirkeby +45 5168 5353, Agnete.Kirkeby@med.lu.se jQuery(document).ready(function($) { $("fb_share").attr("share_url") = encodeURIComponent(window.location); });

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From stem cell to brain cell new technique mimics the brain