腦麻是最常見的兒童殘疾,是目前無法預防的病種之一。根據世界衛生組織 (WHO)的估計,腦性麻痺的發生率為千分之二至五,亦即大約每300個新生兒之中,就有一個罹患小兒腦性麻痺症。1.2

    麥克唐納博士的研究團隊發現,將臍帶血回輸到初生 12小時的新生動物中,可避免因出生窒息產生的腦損傷。他在澳洲和紐西蘭的周產期年度大會中表示”臍帶血幹細胞可以中止造成腦損傷的發炎反應,幫助嬰兒大腦自我修復和強化血管。另外,韓國的臨床試驗中也發現,接受臍帶血移植的患童,可改進其運動與認知功能。”他指出,使用臍帶血治療腦麻是有希望的。3

Could babies fight cerebral palsy with their own blood?

MELBOURNE researchers have singled out three types of stem cells in the cord blood, as they prepare to trial giving Victorian babies back their own umbilical blood in the hope of preventing cerebral palsy.

Pre-clinical studies at the Ritchie Centre, part of the MIMR-PHI Institute of Medical Research, found that giving cord blood back to newborn animals in their first 12 hours of life, can help prevent brain damage caused by birth asphyxia.

Postdoctoral scientist Courtney McDonald told the Annual Congress of the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand, they were now working on finding out what factors in cord blood were crucial for brain repair.

      Cord blood works, but we want to know what’s the best cord blood to give back,” Dr McDonald said.

These particular cells can actually stop the inflammation which causes damage. They can help the baby’s own brain repair itself, and help these blood vessels become stronger.”

Cerebral palsy is the most common childhood physical disability, with about 700 Australian babies born with the movement disorder each year.

It is usually caused by oxygen deprivation around the time of birth.

Many desperate Australian families are turning to unproven stem cell therapies overseas, as more research centres begin testing its effectiveness.

Human clinical trials in South Korea found improvements in motor skills and cognitive function in children, aged between six months and 10 years, who received donated cord blood as well as other rehabilitation therapies.

The three types of stem cell being looked at by the Ritchie Centre are Mesenchymal stem cells that repair damaged nervous tissue in the brain, T-regulatory cells which have anti-inflammatory properties, and Endothelial Progenitor cells, which encourage blood flow to the injured area.

Dr McDonald said her team had taken cord blood from lambs and successfully isolated the stem cells, before injecting them back into the animals 12 hours after the injury.

The results of this study will inform a national human clinical trial, to be led by Professor Euan Wallace and Associate Professor Michael Fahey, giving cord blood to babies in the first few days after birth who are at risk of cerebral palsy.

The results that are coming out of our studies and the clinical trials overseas are so promising. It’s going to happen. It has so much potential,” she said.

資料來源:

1. http://www.nhi.gov.tw/resource/MonthEbook/109/InternetVersion/files/assets/basic-html/page36.html

2. http://www.trunson.org.tw/p9-4.htm

3. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/could-babies-fight-cerebral-palsy-with-their-own-blood/news-story/1be6ef00a47d554954a7043d62133a44

編輯整理:幹細胞論壇部落格

arrow
arrow
    全站熱搜

    幹細胞達人 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣()