Stem cell therapy might eventually provide a treatment for muscular dystrophy, an illness which causes muscle wasting. Experiments in mice bred to have a condition resembling muscular dystrophy showed that some muscle strength could be restored using stem cells.
Scientists from the University of Pittsburgh, US, took stem cells taken from the muscles of healthy baby mice. These were transplanted into the muscles of the affected mice. The cells differentiated not only into healthy working muscle cells, but also into blood vessel and nerve cells.
Further research will be necessary as the technique is currently limited by having to inject the healthy cells directly into each muscle. This would be impractical in human muscular dystrophy treatments, as the entire muscular system can be affected.
Meanwhile, a scientist at the University of Florida, US, has used gene therapy to restore muscle function in mice with another form of muscular dystrophy. A single gene caused the condition known as glycogen storage disease type 2, in which an enzyme deficiency causes gradual weakening of muscle tissues. Mice treated with gene therapy to restore enzyme production consistently improved over a six-month period. It is hoped that human trials will begin next year.
Sources and References
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Muscle stem cell offers treatment hope for muscular dystrophy
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Gene therapy restores strength to dystrophic muscles
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Stem cell muscular dystrophy promise
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