Sector News

Fat could hold key to stem cell treatments for Parkinson’s disease

June 5, 2022
Life sciences

Could fat hold the key to finally treating Parkinson’s disease? A study by researchers at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital has suggested that fatty tissue could produce a source of homegrown stem cells needed to create long-sought-after regenerative treatments for a range of central nervous system disorders.

These neural stem cells were first identified while scientists were examining subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), otherwise known as body fat, in mice and noticed that a clump of nerve fibers included what appeared to be Schwann cells, a type of cell involved in the maintenance and regeneration of the motor and sensory neurons of the peripheral nervous system. Further in vitro analysis of these Schwann cells showed they can develop stem-cell-like qualities, according to a study published May 25 in Science Translational Medicine.

The researchers noted that when the cells were grafted into the gastrointestinal tracts of mice, they differentiated into both neurons and supportive glial cells, which provide physical and metabolic support to neurons. What’s more, the Schwann cells were shown to have regenerative properties, improving digestive function in mice with digestive disorders like gastroparesis and colonic aganglionosis.

But their potential benefits don’t stop at the stomach—the researchers pointed out that the main barrier to developing effective treatments for the likes of Parkinson’s and stroke has been sourcing neural stem cells from the patient’s own body.

“Because adipose stem cells are widely considered to be safe therapeutic agents for humans … the derivation of SAT-[neural stem cells] offers unprecedented potential for therapeutic application in neurological diseases,” the researchers said.

Before that, more work is required to define the properties of these cells and establish protocols to isolate and expand them, they added.

By Max Bayer, James Waldron

Source: fiercebiotech.com

comments closed

Related News

March 19, 2023

Ferring Pharmaceuticals’ 1st in class C.diff Treatment, Rebyota, experiences a positive early launch ahead of potential competition

Life sciences

With a first to market advantage, Ferring’s Rebyota has seen early positive adoption from gastroenterologists and infectious disease specialist in the first month post-launch. As part of their Launch Dynamix™: C.diff service, Spherix reports, while new monthly initiations are modest, a majority of physicians trialing Rebyota report high satisfaction.

March 19, 2023

UCB enters drug discovery collaboration with Aitia

Life sciences

Global biopharmaceutical firm UCB has entered an early drug discovery collaboration with Aitia. The collaboration is aimed at discovering and validating new drug targets and drug candidates that are linked to clinical endpoints causally in Huntington’s disease, a debilitating genetic disorder.

March 19, 2023

Novo, Medtronic add $25M in fuel to FIRE1 and its heart failure monitoring device

Life sciences

Foundry Innovation & Research 1—known by its much catchier acronym, FIRE1—announced Wednesday the close of a $25 million financing round. It was led by a pair of new investors in the company: Andera Partners and Novo Holdings, the holding and investment company that serves as the controlling shareholder for Novo Nordisk and Novozymes.

How can we help you?

We're easy to reach