Spinal Cord Injuries | Stem Cells Australia

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Spinal Cord Injuries

The spinal cord is a collection of millions of nerve cells (neurons) inside our spine that sends signals to and from the brain. Damage to this important and delicate tissue is often permanent and can result in paralysis.

There are presently no effective treatments for restoring spinal cord function.

However, several current clinical studies are testing the safety and effectiveness of stem cells as treatments. These treatments hope to at least partially restore function to the spinal cord. Several studies have shown promising results, but definitive outcomes are still unknown.

sca cell images Spinal cord

How could stem cells help?

Studies in animals have shown that a transplantation of stem cells may contribute to spinal cord repair by:

  • replacing the nerve cells that have died as a result of the injury;
  • generating new supporting cells that will re-form the insulating nerve sheath (myelin) and act as a bridge across the injury to stimulate re-growth;
  • protecting the cells at the injury site from further damage by releasing protective substances such as ‘growth factors’ and soaking up toxins if introduced into the spinal cord shortly after injury;
  • preventing spread of the injury by suppressing the damaging inflammation that can occur after injury.

These studies have mostly been conducted in rats. None of these cells have produced more than a partial recovery of function, but it is an active area of research, and several different types of stem cell are being tested and modified.

What are the challenges?

A spinal cord injury is complex, involving different kinds of damage to different types of cells, and this changes over the first few weeks after injury. Stem cell treatments for spinal cords are thought to work best if offered in the short time-frame after an injury. Scarring at the site of injury can hinder the effectiveness of a treatment, so this also needs to be addressed.

Most stem cell treatments presently in clinical trials rely on transplanted stem cells to repair damaged areas of the spinal cord. It’s not known whether this treatment will work for different people and types of injuries. When and how the cells are administered may also affect the outcome.

Where can I find out more about clinical trials?

There are a number of sites that list clinical trials, including the clinicaltrials.gov registry and Spinal Cord Injury Clinical Trials. Please note that the scientific justification for the intervention and the credentials of those offering the service may have NOT been fully evaluated by this registry and may not be a legitimate clinical trial. Please consult with your medical specialist or general practitioner as they are best placed to advise you on whether you would be a good candidate for a trial given your circumstances.

Please note: Although some clinics may claim to already offer stem cell treatments for spinal cord injury, there are serious questions about the scientific rationale and the safety of many of these approaches. Currently, there are no proven, safe and effective stem cell treatment for this spinal cord available in Australia, the EU, US or elsewhere.

Some of this material has been adapted from factsheets produced by EuroStemCell.org under a Creative Commons license.
Where else can I go to find out more?

Stem cells: hope, hype and progress

SpinalNetwork

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Progress and Promise of Stem Cell Research

YourekaScience

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A Closer Look at Stem Cells

The Stem Cell Podcast

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