Researchers have discovered that turning brain immune cells into neurons successfully restores brain function after stroke-like injury in mice. These findings suggest that replenishing neurons from immune cells could be a promising avenue for treating stroke in humans.
Researchers at Kyushu University have discovered that turning brain immune cells into neurons successfully restores brain function after stroke-like injury in mice. These findings, published on October 10 in PNAS, suggest that replenishing neurons from immune cells could be a promising avenue for treating stroke in humans.
One possible strategy is to convert other cells in the brain into neurons. Here, the researchers focused on microglia, the main immune cells in the central nervous system. Microglia are tasked with removing damaged or dead cells in the brain, so after a stroke, they move towards the site of injury and replicate quickly.
To conduct the study, the researchers caused a stroke-like injury in mice by temporarily blocking the right middle cerebral artery -- a major blood vessel in the brain that is commonly associated with stroke in humans. A week later, the researchers examined the mice and found that they had difficulties in motor function and had a marked loss of neurons in a brain region known as the striatum. This part of the brain is involved in decision making, action planning and motor coordination.
Furthermore, the treatment was conducted in mice in the acute phase after stroke, when microglia were migrating to and replicating at the site of injury. Therefore, the researchers also plan to see if recovery is also possible in mice at a later, chronic phase.Takashi Irie, Taito Matsuda, Yoshinori Hayashi, Kanae Matsuda-Ito, Akihide Kamiya, Takahiro Masuda, Marco Prinz, Noriko Isobe, Jun-ichi Kira, Kinichi Nakashima.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
University of Utah researchers identify genetic variations linked to suicide riskTwo University of Utah professors were involved in a largest-of-its-kind study that identified 12 DNA variants, variations in the human genetic code, associated with the risk of attempting suicide.
Read more »
Utah researchers find genetic variants linked to suicide attempts also link to other health conditionsTwo University of Utah professors were involved in a largest-of-its-kind study that identified 12 DNA variants, variations in the human genetic code, associated with the risk of attempting suicide.
Read more »
How a Bronze Age rock became a 'treasure map' for researchersThe so-called Saint-Belec slab was claimed as Europe's oldest map by researchers and they have been working ever since to understand its etchings.
Read more »
UCSD researchers discover marker to determine if neurons will regenerateThough scientists have made progress in understanding neuronal regeneration, according to the researchers, it remains unknown why some neurons regenerate and others do not.
Read more »
Last-known crocodile in Europe lived in Spain 4.5 million years ago, researchers saySascha is a U.K.-based trainee staff writer at Live Science. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Southampton in England and a master’s degree in science communication from Imperial College London. Her work has appeared in The Guardian and the health website Zoe.
Read more »