It has been an exciting year for stem cell research, with several ground-breaking trials being completed. These projects have further demonstrated the therapeutic value of stem cells and indicate that more breakthroughs may happen in the near future.
To help you understand the types of discoveries which are being made, here are 5 recent ground-breaking trials using cord blood stem cells.
Cord blood might be able to reverse hearing loss
Sensorineural hearing loss is a common form of hearing loss that occurs when the hearing pathways to the brain don’t function properly or become damaged. It makes it much harder to hear quiet sounds and affects the quality of incoming sound.
There are several causes of sensorineural hearing loss including prolonged exposure to loud noise, viral infections or disease, injury causing trauma to the brain, genetics, and certain drug treatments.
A recent study from researchers in Florida looked at the use of autologous cord blood infusions to treat children with sensorineural hearing loss. The children in the study were between 6 months and 6 years of age, and had moderate to severe hearing loss.
The study used “autologous” stem cell transplants, which use a patient’s own stem cells. It was the first study to treat this condition using cord blood stem cells instead of bone marrow stem cells.
The results of the trial were published in 2019. The researchers found that cord blood was a safe and potentially feasible treatment for sensorineural hearing loss. They also discovered it was effective, with half of the patients in the group experiencing improved hearing after their transfusion, as demonstrated by improvements in their Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR).
These findings may lead to a treatment that could help millions of people who are suffering from sensorineural hearing loss.
Cord blood successful used to treat brain injuries
A Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a serious injury which disrupts the normal function of the brain. It is a leading cause of disability and mortality, affecting millions of people each year.
Over the past three decades, researchers have made significant progress in the treatment of traumatic brain injuries, largely thanks to stem cell research.
Cord blood has been shown to be particularly useful for treating brain injuries as it contains a cell called CD14+. This rare type of cell can enter the brain, move to damaged areas and initiate cellular repair processes.
Researchers have also found that the CD14+ cells found in cord blood are more effective than the CD14+ cells found in other parts of the body. This is why so many researchers looking for a treatment for TBIs are focussing their efforts on cord blood stem cell research.
One of the earliest studies using cord blood to treat neurological disorders took place in 2004 at the Duke University Medical Center. This early study showed promising results. By 2009, almost 200 children had safely received a cord blood treatment to treat brain injuries.
Currently, there are over 40 clinical trials using cord blood stem cells to treat brain injuries. Since 2012, Cells4Life has released 4 cord blood samples to treat patients with acquired brain injuries.
Cord blood and autism
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a common condition in the United Kingdom, affecting about 700,000 adults and children. It is a complex disorder, which impacts a person’s communication skills as well as their ability to socialise and self regulate.
There have been several research projects in recent years which indicate that cord blood stem cells may be used to create a treatment for autism.
A recent study performed by researchers at Duke University looked at the effectiveness of using a child’s own cord blood stem cells to treat their autism. Each patient received 3 transfusions of cord blood. The researchers found that the treatment was safe and effective.
Additional results from this study were published in 2019. They indicated that a transfusion of cord blood stem cells was able to decrease inflammation in the brain and improve structural connectivity. This transformation is what prompted an improvement in the social and communication skills of participants.
Cord blood and cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is a group of movement disorders that appear in early childhood. It is a common condition, affecting about 30,000 children in the United Kingdom. Cerebral palsy is usually caused by abnormal brain development, often just before or after birth.
There have been several studies which have indicated that an infusion of a cerebral palsy patient’s own umbilical cord blood could improve their mobility. Researchers believe that stem cells improve brain connectivity and motor function, allowing the patients with cerebral palsy to control their body more easily.
One of the most exciting studies was performed by Dr. Joanne Kurtzberg of Duke University. Dr. Kurtzberg conducted a study featuring 63 participants with cerebral palsy of different severities. Each participant received a single transplant of autologous cord blood stem cells.
After 12 months, the children who had received a stem cell transplant had significant improvements in their motor function compared to a placebo group. Other cerebral palsy symptoms had also eased.
Because the trial was such a success Dr. Kurtzberg and her team received a $15 million grant to continue researching the use of umbilical cord blood cells to brain disorders.
Cord blood and COVID-19
Researchers have been frantically looking for a treatment for COVID-19 since late last year. There is now some evidence to suggest that umbilical cord blood stem cells may be useful for treating patients who are severely affected by Coronavirus.
Researchers have found that the anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties of cord blood stem cells can relieve the symptoms of COVID-19.
A study performed in March tested cord blood stem cells on 7 patients with COVID-19. The patient’s symptoms were significantly alleviated within just 48 hours of receiving the treatment and they displayed no adverse effects. Of the 7 patients, three were released from hospital within 10 days.
The success of this study prompted researchers to run a larger trial involving 30 patients. This study was also successful, with all patients exhibiting a significant improvement in their symptoms after receiving the transplant.
There are now 15 new clinical trials which are testing the safety and effectiveness of cord blood for treating COVID-19.
References:
https://nhc.com.au/ear-diseases-symptoms/other-problems/sensorineural-hearing-loss#:~:text=Sensorineural%20hearing%20loss%20in%20a,hearing%20loss%20and%20total%20deafness.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/groundbreaking-clinical-trials-study-cord-blood-stem-cells-to-help-treat-brain-injury-and-hearing-loss-139442748.html
https://parentsguidecordblood.org/en/news/overview-clinical-trials-treating-cerebral-palsy-cord-blood
https://parentsguidecordblood.org/en/news/accessing-value-cord-blood-therapies
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/resultscond=Brain+Injuries&term=cord+blood&cntry=&state=&city=&dist=
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5168492/#:~:text=Traumatic%20brain%20injury%20(TBI)%20is,the%20age%20of%2040%20years.
https://parentsguidecordblood.org/en/news/developing-new-treatments-traumatic-brain-injury
https://www.ejao.org/journal/view.php?doi=10.7874/jao.2018.00115
https://parentsguidecordblood.org/en/news/overview-clinical-trials-treating-cerebral-palsy-cord-blood
https://pediatrics.duke.edu/news/umbilical-cord-blood-improves-motor-skills-some-children-cerebral-palsy
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