SCIENTISTS are well on their way to turning stem cells into the most complex organ - the HUMAN BRAIN.
PUBLISHED: 15:09, Fri, Apr 14, 2017 | UPDATED: 15:24, Fri, Apr 14, 2017
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http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/792013/Parkinsons-breakthrough-stem-cells-brain-science-research-medical-study
'Cradle of life' stem cells taken from skin samples were developed into three-dimensional brain-like organisms capable of exchanging signals between each other in a network.
The petri dish cells behave in a similar way to the brain cells which produce messenger dopamine from neurons - and scientists hope they will be able to use them to come up with a cure for Parkinson's.
Dopamine maintains smooth body movements, but when the neurons die off, tremors, rigid muscles and other Parkinson's disease symptoms begin to take over.
The new developments mean scientists can now use the cells to test what environmental factors like pollutants have on the onset of the disease and potentially find a cure.
Lead author Professor Jens Schwamborn said: "Our cell cultures open new doors to brain research.
Stem cells taken from skin samples were developed into three-dimensional brain-like organisms
"We can now use them to study the causes of Parkinson's disease and how it could possibly be effectively treated."
Our cell cultures open new doors to brain research
The stem cells can be transformed into any cell type of the human body but cannot produce a complete organism.
PHD student Anna Monzel developed a procedure to convert the stem cells into brain cells as part of her doctoral thesis.
Scientists hope they will be able to use petri dish cells to come up with a cure for Parkinson's
One in every 500 people has Parkinson's. It is a progressive neurological condition, that limits movement. Here are the most common signs and symptoms.
Tremor - One of the most noticeable signs of Parkinson's is a tremor that often starts in the hands or fingers when they are relaxed
Slowed movement - Parkinson's can slow your movement making simple tasks more time-consuming. It may become difficult to walk or get out of a chair
Distorted vision - If you have Parkinson's, you may experience blurred or double vision, dry eyes or involuntary opening or closing of eyelids
Loss of balance - Some suffers will notice balance problems
Muscle stiffness - Stiff muscles can limit your mobility and occur in any part of the body
Speech difficulties - One of the signs of Parkinson's disease can be speech problems, such as speaking softly, quickly, slurring or in a monotone
Loss of automatic movements
She said: "I had to develop a special, precisely defined cocktail of growth factors and a certain treatment method for the stem cells, so that they would differentiate in the desired direction."
Prof Schwamborn from the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine at Luxembourg University said: "Our subsequent examination of these artificial tissue samples revealed that various cell types characteristic of the midbrain had developed."
"The cells can transmit and process signals.
"We were even able to detect dopaminergic cells - just like in the midbrain."
The scientists say their petri dish study can also reduce the amount of animal testing in brain research.
Because cell cultures in the petri dishes are of human origin in some aspects they resemble human brains more than the brains of lab animals such as rats or mice.
Professor Schwamborn added: "There are also attractive economic opportunities in our approach.
"The production of tissue cultures is highly elaborate.
"In the scope of our spin-off Braingineering Technologies Sarl, we will be developing technologies by which we can provide the cultures for a fee to other labs or the pharmaceutical industry for their research."
The study was published in the Stem Cell Reports journal.
PUBLISHED: 15:09, Fri, Apr 14, 2017 | UPDATED: 15:24, Fri, Apr 14, 2017
Click for pictures and video:
http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/792013/Parkinsons-breakthrough-stem-cells-brain-science-research-medical-study
'Cradle of life' stem cells taken from skin samples were developed into three-dimensional brain-like organisms capable of exchanging signals between each other in a network.
The petri dish cells behave in a similar way to the brain cells which produce messenger dopamine from neurons - and scientists hope they will be able to use them to come up with a cure for Parkinson's.
Dopamine maintains smooth body movements, but when the neurons die off, tremors, rigid muscles and other Parkinson's disease symptoms begin to take over.
The new developments mean scientists can now use the cells to test what environmental factors like pollutants have on the onset of the disease and potentially find a cure.
Lead author Professor Jens Schwamborn said: "Our cell cultures open new doors to brain research.
Stem cells taken from skin samples were developed into three-dimensional brain-like organisms
"We can now use them to study the causes of Parkinson's disease and how it could possibly be effectively treated."
Our cell cultures open new doors to brain research
The stem cells can be transformed into any cell type of the human body but cannot produce a complete organism.
PHD student Anna Monzel developed a procedure to convert the stem cells into brain cells as part of her doctoral thesis.
Scientists hope they will be able to use petri dish cells to come up with a cure for Parkinson's
One in every 500 people has Parkinson's. It is a progressive neurological condition, that limits movement. Here are the most common signs and symptoms.
Tremor - One of the most noticeable signs of Parkinson's is a tremor that often starts in the hands or fingers when they are relaxed
Slowed movement - Parkinson's can slow your movement making simple tasks more time-consuming. It may become difficult to walk or get out of a chair
Distorted vision - If you have Parkinson's, you may experience blurred or double vision, dry eyes or involuntary opening or closing of eyelids
Loss of balance - Some suffers will notice balance problems
Muscle stiffness - Stiff muscles can limit your mobility and occur in any part of the body
Speech difficulties - One of the signs of Parkinson's disease can be speech problems, such as speaking softly, quickly, slurring or in a monotone
Loss of automatic movements
She said: "I had to develop a special, precisely defined cocktail of growth factors and a certain treatment method for the stem cells, so that they would differentiate in the desired direction."
Prof Schwamborn from the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine at Luxembourg University said: "Our subsequent examination of these artificial tissue samples revealed that various cell types characteristic of the midbrain had developed."
"The cells can transmit and process signals.
"We were even able to detect dopaminergic cells - just like in the midbrain."
The scientists say their petri dish study can also reduce the amount of animal testing in brain research.
Because cell cultures in the petri dishes are of human origin in some aspects they resemble human brains more than the brains of lab animals such as rats or mice.
Professor Schwamborn added: "There are also attractive economic opportunities in our approach.
"The production of tissue cultures is highly elaborate.
"In the scope of our spin-off Braingineering Technologies Sarl, we will be developing technologies by which we can provide the cultures for a fee to other labs or the pharmaceutical industry for their research."
The study was published in the Stem Cell Reports journal.