Okayama University research: Therapeutic potential of stem cells for treating neurodegenerative disease
Researchers at Okayama University report in
Scientific Reports that a particular type of stem cell has therapeutic benefits for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects bodily motion and for which there is no cure yet.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease resulting in the gradual loss of motor nerve cells (neurons) that control certain muscles, ultimately leading to fatal paralysis. As there is no cure for the disease, therapeutic strategies are highly needed. Now, Professor ABE Koji and Associate Professor YAMASHITA Toru from Okayama University and colleagues have investigated the potential of a particular kind of stem cells ( Muse cells ), which can recognize damaged sites in the human body, for treating ALS. Experiments in mice reveal promising potential therapeutic benefits for ALS pat