Author: Bolysbek Dana
Editor: Anastasia Merentsova
Research conducted by scientists at the Ohio state University Wexner Medical center offers new hope for recovery from degenerative neurological diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis, as well as from damage caused by brain injuries and stroke.
Using a mouse model, scientists have discovered a new type of immune cell that not only saves damaged nerve cells from death, but also partially repairs damage to nerve fibers. The research team also identified a human immune cell line with similar characteristics that contributes to the recovery of the nervous system.
The cell discovered by these researchers is a granulocyte (a subspecies of a white blood cell with small granules). The most common granulocytes, neutrophils, usually help the body fight infection. This unique cell type resembles immature neutrophils, but differs in neuroprotective and neuroregenerative properties.
These immune cells secrete growth factors that stimulate the repair of severed nerve fibers in the Central nervous system. Scientists have found that this Pro-regenerative neutrophil contributes to the restoration of the optic nerve and spinal cord, demonstrating its significance in all areas of the Central nervous system and populations of neurons. A human cell line with the characteristics of immature neutrophils also demonstrated neuroregenerative ability. Researchers have demonstrated the therapeutic effectiveness of a subset of immature neutrophils by injecting them into mice with damaged optic nerves or nerve fibers in the spinal cord. Mice that were injected with a new subpopulation of neutrophils grew new nerve fibers.
The researchers hope that these cells can then be injected into patients to slow or stop progressive neurological decline.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-10-discovery-cell-key-incurable-neurological.html
