The Different Beneficial Effects of Stem Cell Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury Patients

The cylindrical nerve fiber bundle and other associated tissues that lie within the spine are called spinal cord. Spinal cord connects almost all the other body areas to the human brain. Spinal cord along with the brain forms the CNS or Central Nervous System of the human body. As all signals between the brain and the body are carried through the spinal cord, any injury to it will cause a disruption in these signals.

Causes of Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal Cord Injury or SCI results because of trauma that affects the ligaments, vertebrae or the spinal column discs. The traumatic causes of spinal cord injury are motor accidents, sports injuries, falls, violence, gymnastic and other similar activities. Spinal cord injury may also occur because of non-traumatic causes like infections, arthritis, inflammation, cancer and others.

Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injuries are often evident in the form of severe sensory, motor and autonomic nervous function damages. SCI also often results in paraplegia (complete or partial paralysis of the body’s lower half) and tetraplegia or paralysis of all the 4 limbs (2 hands and 2 legs) of the body. As there is a huge loss of cells, the cells are not capable enough to regenerate, and cannot reach their original strength.

Stem Cell Therapy

The transplantation of the embryonic stem cells (especially embryonic stem cells) can replace the lost neurons and can provide for the growth of the axons. The stem cells have the ability to form specialized cells like motor neurons and also have the property of self-renewal.

Stem cells exert their beneficial effects through multiple mechanisms and ways.

Some of the therapeutic benefits of stem cell spinal cord injury treatment include:

• They are introduced into the damaged tissues where they make links with the other surrounding tissues and regenerate the neurons. The transplanted stem cell releases certain neurotrophic and growth factors that provide for repair, survival and regeneration of the damaged tissues.
• They replace the damaged neurons and enhance the regeneration of axons (plasticity).
• They also repair the supportive cells of the brain, including the oligodendrocytes that increase myelination.
• Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs), derived from the donated umbilical cords, can help repair following SCI. These cells differentiate to form the neuron and the oligodendrocytes and provide for better locomotor functionality.
• If SCI is also accompanied by the CNS or Central Nervous System injuries, the transplantation of MSCs provides for secretion of growth factors and for the modulation of the immune activities and system. Hence, stem cells have great potential for combination therapies as well.
• They exhibit extensive migration and move the different demyelinated axons. They bring in great therapeutic care as they can reach all the damaged tissues following an SCI.
• Schwann cells (cells that form the myelin sheath around the neuronal axons) are very important when remyelination is to be promoted. These cells are easily derived from the peripheral nerves of the patient itself and are then produced in-vitro so that adequate material can be obtained for transplantation. Schwann cells, when transplanted, secrete certain Neurotrophic factors that provide for axonal regeneration.

Post Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), the transplantation of stem cells provides for better spinal cord functionality and better neural and axonal regeneration. Different kinds of stem cells, like the MSCs and the neural (progenitor), stem cells show different kinds of improvement patterns and have varying benefits in store for the patient who is suffering from SCI. Apart from the treatment for SCI, leading healthcare institutions like NeuroGen BSI also provide stem cell stroke treatment and treatment for other kinds of neurological and muscular disorders.

The author is an expert in the field of stem cell research & therapy. The writer has a flair for writing and she keeps on writing various articles and blogs related to industry.