The safety of stem cell + gene therapy, combination therapy for alzheimer's disease was confirmed

Science and Technology Daily Beijing, September 6 (Reporter Zhang Mengran) Researchers at the Cedar Senai Medical Center in the United States have developed a combination of stem cells and genes that potentially protects diseased motor neurons

The researchers say using stem cells is an effective way to deliver important proteins to the brain or spinal cord that would otherwise not be able to cross the blood-brain barrier

The data showed that none of the 18 patients treated with the new method experienced serious side effects after transplantation

The study used stem cells to produce a protein called neurotrophic factor (GDNF), which is derived from glial cell lines that promote the survival of motor neurons, which are cells

The researchers transplanted engineered stem cells into the central nervous system in which the motor neurons are located, which can turn into new supporting glial cells and release the protective protein GDNF, which together help motor neurons stay alive

The main goal of the trial is to ensure that GDNF-releasing cells are delivered into the spinal cord without creating any safety issues or affecting leg function

Since ALS patients typically lose the strength of their legs at a similar rate, the researchers transplanted stem cell gene products to one side of the spinal cord in order to make a direct comparison

In another clinical trial to treat ALS, the team used GDNF-secreted stem cells to transplant the cells to specific brain regions — the motor cortex that controls hand movement — to prove its safety