EU-funded group finds a new way to turn stem cells into neurons
A study coordinated by Malin Parmar at the University of Lund has developed a new method to convert human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) into functioning brain cells. Researchers say that the technique is twice as fast to perform than previous methods and reduces the risk of tumour formation, one of the most common obstacles in stem cell transplantations. The research was published on May 24th in the journal Cell Reports (http://download.cell.com/images/EdImages/cellreports/Parmar.pdf(opens in new window)) and was funded as a part of the EU consortium NeuroStemcell. To obtain neurons from human ESCs, the Swedish group have used molecules that are known to regulate the normal development of the brain. “This technique allows us to fine-tune our steering of stem cells to different types of brain cells. Previous studies have not always used the signals that are activated during the brain’s normal development. This has caused the transplanted cells to develop tumours or function poorly in the brain”, says Agnete Kirkeby, a co-author of the article. Researchers hope that their method may be applied in the future to help patients affected by Parkinson’s disease. One type of ESC-derived neuron produced dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is lacking in the brains affected by Parkinson’s. When transplanted into mice, these cells integrated successfully and secreted the transmitter in the brain. The authors caution, however, that their work is still basic research, and it could take years before it leads to clinical applications. “The next step is to test the process on a larger scale and to carry out more pre-clinical safety tests”, says Malin Parmar, leading author of the study. In November 2011, another group from the NeuroStemcell consortium hit the headlines with a method to produce brain cells from human ESCs that may also be useful to treat Parkinsons’. “These results are an encouraging proof that stem cell research is progressing towards clinical applications for many neurodegenerative disorders,” says NeuroStemcell coordinator Elena Cattaneo.