Neuralstem’s Cells Restore Motor Function in Spinal Ischemia-Paralyzed Rat
Three rats paralyzed due to spinal ischemia returned to near normal ambulatory function six weeks after having received human spinal stem cells (hSSCs) developed by Neuralstem, Inc. (OTC BB:NRLS), researchers reported online in the journal, Neuroscience (www. neuroscience-ibro.com/). Three other rats, while not able to stand up two months after treatment, showed significant improvement in the mobility of all three lower extremity joints and increased muscle tone. In all the grafted animals, the majority of transplanted hSSCs cells survived and became mature neurons. The study was conducted at the University of California at San Diego.
The rats suffered from Ischemic Spastic Paraplegia (ISP), a painful form of extreme spasticity and rigidity that causes permanent and untreatable loss of motor function and paralysis. In humans, ISP can result from surgery to repair aortic aneurysms, an operation that is performed on thousands of patients a year in the United States.
“Other human stem cell transplants in the spinal cord have focused on repairing the myelin- forming cells,” commented Dr. Karl Johe, Neuralstem founding scientist, and a study author. “In this breakthrough study, we are reconstructing the neural circuitry, which has not been done before. This novel approach is one for which our technology, which generates highly neurogenic human stem cell lines, is uniquely suited.” Dr. Johe went on to say, “Human ISP patients, unlike the rat subjects of this study, will be able to receive physical therapy once treated. We believe this will accelerate integration of the grafted stem cells with the host tissue and enhance the therapeutic benefit of the cells. The goal is to provide a significant gain in functional mobility of the patient’s legs.”
According to lead investigator Dr. Martin Marsala, “In this study, we demonstrated that grafting human neural cells directly into the spinal cord leads to a progressive recovery of motor function. This could be an effective treatment for patients suffering from the same kind of ischemia-induced paralysis. We are currently studying hSSCs in paralyzed mini-pigs, who have similar spinal cord anatomy as human spinal cords.”
Neuralstem plans to file for regulatory approval to begin its first human trial with paraplegic patients this year.
For a full report on this study, please visit www.neuralstem.com.
Study Finds MRI Useful in Predicting SCI Recovery
A study published in the June issue of Radiology demonstrates that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may help to predict complete or partial recovery in patients with acute cervical traumatic spinal cord injury.
The study included 100 patients (79 male, 21 female; mean age, 45 years; age range, 17-96 years) with traumatic cervical SCI who were classified according to injury severity. Three quantitative (maximum spinal cord compression [MSCC], maximum canal compromise [MCC], and lesion length) and six qualitative (intramedullary hemorrhage, edema, cord swelling, soft-tissue injury [STI], canal stenosis, and disk herniation) imaging parameters were studied. MRI exams were performed 24 to 48 hours post-injury.
Researchers reported that patients with complete motor and sensory SCIs had more substantial MCC, MSCC, and lesion length than did patients with incomplete SCIs and those with no SCIs. Patients with complete SCIs also had higher frequencies of hemorrhage, edema, cord swelling, stenosis, and STI. In addition, MSCC, hemorrhage, and cord swelling were predictive of the neurologic outcome at follow-up.
The study concluded that MSCC, spinal cord hemorrhage, and cord swelling are associated with a poor prognosis for neurologic recovery. Extent of MSCC was also found to be more reliable than presence of canal stenosis for predicting the neurologic outcome after SCI.
“Our study demonstrates that the possibility and extent of neurological recovery after SCI can be predicted within 48 hours after injury by rigorous assessment of MR images,” said co-author Michael G. Fehlings, MD, PhD, FRCSC, professor of neurosurgery at the University of Toronto and medical director at the Krembil Neuroscience Centre at Toronto Western Hospital. “In addition,” Dr. Fehlings said, “these findings could result in a more aggressive clinical strategy for patients who may appear to have a severe SCI but may, indeed, have the capacity for substantial neurological recovery.
“Since the severity of spinal cord compression is a predictor of outcome after SCI, this study suggests that MRI may predict which patients would benefit the most from decompressive surgery,” Dr. Fehlings said.
He added that MRI should be performed on all patients with acute SCI whenever feasible as it provides information with prognostic value and serves to guide the clinician to optimize clinical care.
For more information, please visit the Radiological Society of North America’s Web site at www.rsna.org.
