Research & Cure
My
Injury | MyMobility | About
SCI | SCI Facts | Research
| FAQs | Links
Could Stem Cells Cure Spinal Paralysis?
Nov 2000: "Scientists announced that they had restored movement to
paralyzed mice by injecting stem cells into their spinal fluid"
"There
have been many advances recently in this field of research.
There is also much debate as to whether this may ultimately yield a
'cure' for spinal cord injury. I personally hope that this
research will be successful and result in improving the lives of
many people worldwide. There are also many who object to this
type of genetic research on moral grounds. I've written below
what is currently known in this field and I'll leave you to make
your own analysis. I like to believe that this 'cure'
will come in time but honestly think it is a very long way
off."
Christopher Reeve, who was paralyzed at C1 & 2, in a
horse riding accident, talking about his hopes for the future
and stem cell therapy.
Video
Clip of Interview - Part 1
Video Clip of Interview - Part 2
"You
will need the 'RealOne'
Video Player to see the clips, download it for free
Cloning humans for stem cells
There is a very important reason why we might want to clone humans.
It has nothing to do with producing babies. Scientists have
discovered that there are cells of unbelievable power which could
one day be used to cure a range of diseases, produce new organs and
rejuvenate almost any part of our body. These cells are found in
human embryos. This
potentially could work to help re-grow spinal nerves in those with
spinal cord injury
What are stem cells?
Embryonic stem cells are nature’s way of making a human and have
the ability to develop into virtually every other cell type in the
body. Very young embryos have plenty of these special cells, which
have not yet differentiated into more specialized types like heart,
brain and nerve cells. ES cells first appear about a week after fertilization
and they are the 'parents' of all the cells of the
adult body.
What can embryonic stem cells be used for?
ES cells have amazing potential because they can develop into any
cell type, whether it is a new muscle cell which contracts or a new
nerve cell which conducts electrical impulses. In animal
experiments, stem cells placed inside damaged areas of the body seem
to 'know' where they are and turn into new cells of the appropriate
type. Scientists are investigating their potential to treat a myriad
of human diseases including diabetes (a disease of the Pancreas),
Parkinson's (a brain disease) and spinal paralysis.
Eventually it might be possible to grow whole ‘spare part’
organs from them.
Where do stem cells come from and why might cloning be necessary?
Embryonic stem cells have to be harvested from early embryos.
However, if you were ill, it would be probably be safer to treat you
with ES cells that were genetically identical to you so that there
was no chance of your immune system rejecting them. In theory, these
could be harvested from an early embryo which was a cloned version
of you. This embryo would then be discarded.
The deliberate wastage of embryos is one reason therapeutic cloning
is controversial. On the other hand, the technique offers such
important live-saving treatments that its use is considered
justified by many people. Research into therapeutic cloning is
allowed in the UK, but it is illegal to put any cloned human embryo
into a womb. This is intended to prevent anyone trying to create a
living clone.
Where else could we get stem cells?
Adult stem cells
Stem cells can also
be found in adult bodies where they provide ongoing maintenance and
repair. Adult stem cells are said to be partially differentiated -
that is, they have made part of the journey towards becoming a
particular cell type. They nevertheless show great flexibility - for
example, turning from brain into blood cells. Many people who are
worried about wasting embryos would much rather see the development
of treatments which use adult stem cells.
Stem cells from cord blood
Another possibility
is use stem cells in the blood collected from a baby's umbilical
cord just after birth. Some parents are choosing to freeze and store
this blood so their baby will be able to call on a supply of its
very own stem cells later in life.
Further
reading about this research can be found at the Christopher
Reeve Paralysis Foundation Website
|
