The victims of spinal injury could be assisted to walk agin with the help of tooth-derived stem cells, found a new research. In a latest study a team from Nagoya University in Japan put stem cells taken from dental puplp into mice suffering spinal cord injury and found that mice retrieved some movement in their legs.
The new research could transform the lives of millions of patients suffering stern problems of mobility. The research team found that dental pulp halts nerve cell from dying, helps regerating severed nerves and heartens the growth of other cells which support the spine. The pulp is extracted from the centre of adult wisdom teeth, without any unfavorable health effect.
They suggest that stem cell extracted form tooth could an excellent and practical cellular resource for treating spinal cord injuries. According to Dr Mark Bacon director of research from the charity Spinal Research, within the context of spinal cord injuries, this is a relatively new and under-studied source of stem cells which seems s to demonstrate remarkably promising results.
The results had been attained subsequent to the instantaneous transplanting of the cells into the injured area. However, this procedure is not possible in paticents, particularly if the cells are to be taken post-injury from the patient and purified. ‘It will therefore be interesting to see how effective these cells are after delayed transplantation, added Dr Bacon.
The study findings were reported published in The Mirror. They are excited by the prospect of a cure being found for spinal cord injuries through the use of dental pulp stem cells. But even once a cure has been identified it will take considerable time before it is put into practice, stated Alex Rankin from spinal injury charity Aspire.