Italian researchers recently reported the results of their research with stem cells in mice that one day might offer a way to treat victims of muscular dystrophy.
Muscular dystrophy is a broad category of a number of genetic diseases that cause the muscles to gradually deteriorate. In many cases, muscular dystrophy leads to extremely shortened life expectancies — those born with the most common form of the disease, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, only survive on average into their early 20s.
Italian researchers performed tests in mice of stem cells called mesangioblasts. Mesangioblasts were only recently discovered in fetal blood vessels.
When the researchers injected mesangioblasts into the mice, the stem cells were able to pass from blood vessels into surrounding muscle tissue. In addition, once they were in the muscle tissue, they helped regenerate damage to the muscle tissue.
This research raises the possibility that someday a genetically engineered stem cell might be able to be introduced into the blood stream of muscular dystrophy victims and not only repair existing damage, but also correct the genetic defect that causes the disease in the first place.
Lead researcher Dr. Giulio Cossu is quick to point out, however, that the prospect of such a cure is a long way off,
Although these results are exciting, we have not cured the mice. We believe this is a significant therapy, but the question that keeps me awake at night is whether this will work in larger animals. I’m convinced this is an important result, but this is still not the therapy — for the mice or for patients.
Sources:
Stem cell treatment for muscular dystrophy. The BBC, July 11, 2003.
Muscular Dystrophy might be treatable; stem-cell research yields hopeful signs. Robert Cooke, New York Newsday, July 15, 2003.