neural stem cells

Human stem cell-based model of ALS opens doors for rapid drug screening

harminka — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:07:15 -0600

Long thought of as mere bystanders, astrocytes are crucial for the survival and well-being of motor neurons, which control voluntary muscle movements. In fact, defective astrocytes can lay waste to motor neurons and are the main suspects in the muscle-wasting disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Neurologically impaired mice improve after receiving human stem cells

harminka — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:04:14 -0500

Scientists report a dramatic success in what may be the first documented rescue of a congenital brain disorder by transplantation of human neural stem cells. The research, published by Cell Press in the June issue of the journal Cell Stem Cell, may lead the way to new strategies for treating certain hereditary and perinatal neurological disorders.

New nerve cells originate from neural stem cells

harminka — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 07:20:29 -0500

Most cells in the human brain are not nerve cells, but supporting cells (glial cells). They serve as a framework for nerve cells and play an important role in the wound reaction that occurs with injuries to the brain.

Injection of human umbilical cord blood helps the aging brain

harminka — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 11:28:00 -0500

When human umbilical cord blood cells (UCBC) were injected into aged laboratory animals, researchers at the University of South Florida (USF) found improvements in the microenvironment of the hippocampus region of the animals’ brains and a subsequent rejuvenation of neural stem/progenitor cells.

Newborn brain cells modulate learning and memory

harminka — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:06:12 -0600

Boosted by physical and mental exercise, neural stem cells continue to sprout new neurons throughout life, but the exact function of these newcomers has been the topic of much debate. Removing a genetic master switch that maintains neural stem cells in their proliferative state finally gave researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies some definitive answers.

Human bone marrow stem cells behave like those derived from brain tissue

harminka — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 07:37:01 -0600

Stem cells as cancer therapy

harminka — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 00:40:54 -0600

Genes allow brain cancer-causing stem cells to resist treatment

harminka — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 13:33:00 -0600