human stem cells cure disease in rats

Cole Winsor

Author: University of Utah Health Sciences

Published: may 15, 2014
link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140515123204.htm


summary: Mice with multiple sclerosis were able to walk after two weeks following treatment with human stem cells. It was first expected that the mice would reject the stem cells much like an organ transplant. However the scientist were all very surprised when the transplant worked and the rats were cured of their multiple sclerosis. after 10 to 14 days the rats could move again and after six months they still seemed fine. The treatment seemed to have a reversal of symptoms and could help people with more progressive forms of MS, which has no cure right now. in fact after i week there were no stem cells left in the mice, however in the time that the stem cells were present they sent out chemical signals, which caused a repair of the myelin. this could point to the possibility that drugs could be developed that mimicked these effects in a patient.

connection: This article connects to the systems of the human body. In this case it is focusing on the nervous system. multiple sclerosis is a disease which we learned about during the presentation on the nervous system by our classmates.It is an  autoimmune  disease which we also learned about in class. It talks about myelin sheaths, which are important in quickening nervous responses. that is how it connects to what we have learned about in class.