International Stem Cell Corp. (ISCO) Uses Neural Stem Cells International Stem Cell Corp. (ISCO) Uses Neural Stem Cells to Reverse Neurological Stroke Symptoms
International Stem Cell Corp., a California-based biotechnology company developing novel stem cell based therapies and biomedical products, today issued a press release to update the medical and investor communities about its recent experiments. Using animal models, the company has successfully demonstrated how human parthenogenetic neural stem cells (ISC-hpNSC) can significantly reduce neurological dysfunction after a stroke.
“With no approved treatments for neurological dysfunction, individuals who have suffered a stroke have few treatment options available beyond physical rehabilitation following recovery,” stated Ruslan Semechkin Ph.D., the company’s chief scientific officer. “These new results are highly encouraging, suggesting that ISC-hpNSC may have significant ability to not only reduce but also reverse these neurological symptoms of dysfunction. These findings not only broaden the future potential use of our neural stem cells beyond Parkinson’s disease but also offer hope to a patient population with a significant unmet medical need.”
Neural stem cells work to repair the brain in several ways. The cells are attracted to the site of injury and in response to signals released by the damaged tissue release a range of molecules that reduce inflammation and trigger the recovery process. Neural stem cells have the ability to make the various neurological cell types to replace the dead and dying cells necessary for the formation of new brain tissue. In this way the hpNSCs act as coordinators of all the various activities necessary to recover brain function.
ISCO’s stroke program uses the same neural stem cells as the company’s Parkinson’s disease program, derived from the company’s human parthenogenetic stem cells using a cGMP method based on the protocol published in Nature Scientific Reports in March 2013 (click here). Parthenogenetic neural stem cells have been shown in peer-reviewed publications to have superior immunological properties to other neural stem cells. The complete dataset will be presented at an upcoming scientific conference to be announced separately. Further studies investigating the potential for treating stroke are planned.
According to the National Stroke Association stroke is a leading cause of death in the United States, killing nearly 130,000 people each year, and is a leading cause of serious, long-term adult disability. Approximately 795,000 strokes will occur each year, one occurring every 40 seconds, and taking a life approximately every four minutes. Approximately two million brain cells die every minute during stroke, increasing the risk of permanent brain damage, disability or death. The estimated direct and indirect cost of stroke in the United States in 2010 is $73.7 billion.
For more information on International Stem Cell Corp., visit www.internationalstemcell.com
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