SUMMARY:
UCLA researchers in the department of Dentistry have developed a novel approach to increase the successful transplantation and survival of stem cells into patients.
BACKGROUND:
The World Health Organization has recognized that transplantation of human cells saves and restores essential life functions to patients who are not presented with other therapies for their disease. Transplantation of human cells can in certain instances reverse or slow disease progression for patients affected by incurable disorders. Specifically, the motor neuronal degeneration disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which has a high patient death rate, is an example of diseases where stem cell treatments may be the ideal therapy. In ALS, patients have progressive deterioration of motor function because of a loss in motor neurons. Although the precise mechanism through which this loss of motor neurons occurs is unknown, inflammatory response by cytotoxic T cells is thought to play a role. Stem cells could overcome this harmful response by guarding neurons against T cell response, and promoting muscular regeneration. Despite the promise of stem cells to be used as a therapeutic, advances to the stem cell transplantation needs to be made so that the stem cells both survive the transplantation process and remain functional in their new environment.
INNOVATION:
Researchers at UCLA led by Dr. Anahid Jewett have innovated a novel approach which increases the survivability and functionality of stem cells in transplantations. This method was developed by harnessing the knowledge of immunological cells that affect transplantation. By irradiating monocytes before implantation, and then combining them with mesenchymal stem cells, dental pulp stem cells, embryonic stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells prior to implantation to weakened muscles, UCLA researchers were successful in decreasing CD8+ T cell activation in an ALS model. This method leads to repair of the loss of function in muscles and the CNS. This approach can therefore be applied to multiple implantation styles, where an increase in survivability and functionality of implanted stem cells is desired.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS:
• Advancing stem cell transplantations
• Repair loss of function in muscles and the central nervous system
• Stem cell transplants for ALS
ADVANTAGES:
• Increased stem cell implantation success to muscles and the central nervous system
• Increased stem cell transplantation survival
DEVELOPMENT-TO-DATE:
UCLA researchers have shown an increase in the survival and function of four different types of stem cells in functional assays.
Related Papers (from the inventors only):
Jewett, A., Arasteh, A., Tseng, H.C., Behel, A., Arasteh, H. Yang, W. Cacalano, N.A., Paranjpe, A. Strategies to Rescue Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) from NK Cell Mediated Cytotoxicity. PLoS ONE. 2010.