July 16, 2019 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD 3-D Brain Models of PPMS and Parkinson’s Off to Space Station for Research in Microgravity The National Stem Cell Foundation announced the start of a pioneering project to investigate the impact of microgravity on the neurodegeneration associated withĀ primary progressive multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease. The project, a collaboration between the New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute, theĀ Summit for Stem Cell, and investigators withĀ Aspen Neuroscience, will send 3-D brain organoids derived from patients with these disorders, for a first time, to the International Space Station on SpaceX CRS-18. This flight, set to launch on July 21 from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, is a test run for a 30-day study of neurodegeneration in microgravity set to take place on the space station this fall. "The National Stem Cell Foundation is delighted to be funding innovative science at the frontier of new drug and cell therapy discovery. The leading-edge research findings that have developed through this collaboration between important research groups may fundamentally alter our understanding of how and why neurodegeneration occurs," Paula Grisanti, chief executive officer of the NSCF, said in a press release. These organoids, or 3-D cellular brain models, contain microglia ā cells that normally support and protect neurons. Microglia are implicated in the brain inflammation and disease progression seen in people with Parkinson's, PPMS, and other neurodegenerative disorders. The project will allow scientistsĀ in the near absence of gravityĀ to study how these cells interact with each other, migrate, send and receive chemical signals, change their genetic signature, and promote brain inflammation. As such, investigators may get a glimpse of all the biological mechanisms involved in PPMS and Parkinson's in ways not feasible on Earth. This work might lead to understandings and advancements with a direct impact on the development of medicines and cell therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. Space Tango is leading the transport and maintenance logistics, to ensure the cells arrive at the ISS in the best possible condition and remain viable during the 30 days they will remain in orbit. To that end, the company has developed a series of automated systems intended to surpass conventional lab techniques, and allow space station researchers to work with a higher number of samples than typical, and use high-throughput techniques to easily analyze them. According to the company, these automated systems are not intended exclusively for research on the ISS, but may also be used by research facilities worldwide to support and accelerate scientific innovation. "The vision the National Stem Cell Foundation brings to using new approaches to science and creating collaborations between leading experts in Parkinsonās disease and multiple sclerosis from across the country is truly unique," said Jana Stoudemire, commercial innovation officer at Space Tango. "In addition to supporting the development of tissue chip platforms for microgravity, Space Tango is excited to expand capabilities for human 3-D brain organoid models that will assist in studying some of the most challenging diseases we have yet to truly understand," Stoudemire added. "We are very pleased to support this important research on the ISS."
July 9, 2019 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD New PET Scan Radiotracer May Help Identify Early Signs of MS Progression, Study Reports A new radiotracer called [F-18]PBR06, used in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, helps detect changes in the brainās grey matter that are linked to progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), a study shows. The findings support [F-18]PBR06’s potential for detecting signs of disease progression even before patients show…
July 2, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Protein Linked to Microglia Cell Activation and Nerve Fiber Damage in Study That Also Notes Potential Treatment A proteinĀ leads to nerve fiber and myelin damage, particularly in progressive forms of multiple sclerosis, by activating brain immune cells called microglia, according to a new study. Its researchers also noted this protein is theĀ target ofĀ experimental MS treatment calledĀ temelimabĀ (GNbAC1), which showed potential in Phase 2 clinical trials. The…
February 21, 2019 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD In Creating ‘Immune Cell Atlas of Brain,’ Scientists Find Microglia Highly Complex in Behavior and Role In mapping the immune system of the brain in mice and humans, scientists in Germany found that microgliaĀ ā a type of nerve cell located in the central nervous system and responsible for supporting and protecting neuronsĀ ā share the same core design, but behave differently depending on the specific function each…
January 25, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Chi3l3 Protein Favors Production of Myelin Repair Cells, Mouse Study Determines A protein marker for activated immune cells called Chi3I3 is key for the production of myelin-forming cells, and may become a target to boost myelin repair in multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new study. The research, āChi3l3 induces oligodendrogenesis in an experimental model of autoimmune…
January 10, 2019 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Common Fungal Infection Can Breach the Brain and Impair Memory, Mouse Study Shows Blood infection with the yeastĀ Candida albicans,Ā a type of fungus, can reach the brain and trigger an immune response, a new mouse study shows.Ā Although the fungus can be cleared within 10 days, it affects the spatial memory of mice. These findings are the first evidence that a blood infection with a…
December 10, 2018 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Microglia Cells Diverse with Distinct Subtypes and Certain Ones May Contribute to Inflammation, Study Finds Microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, were seen to change throughout the lifespan of mice in a study ā and to be diverse, with distinct cell subtypes. Those with pro-inflammatory behavior may be disease-causing, as they were found to accumulate in the brains of a mouse model of…
September 10, 2018 News by Ana Pena PhD ‘Guardian’ Immune Cells of Brain Respond Differently by Sex, Study of Male and Female Mice Reports Gender differences are evident in immune system cells of the brain called microglia, a study in male and female mice reports, suggesting these cells’ sex-specific features may be important to treating people withĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurological diseases. The study ā…
July 25, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Immune Response Promotes Remyelination in MS Mouse Model Activation of the immune response mediated by cells called microglia favors remyelination and myelin repair in multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new Canadian study using mice. The research, āmCSF-Induced Microglial Activation Prevents Myelin Loss and Promotes Its Repair in a Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis,ā was…
July 13, 2018 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Common Anti-Parasitic Agent Eases Motor Symptoms, Aids Remyelination in MS Mouse Model A common anti-parasitic agent showed a potential to prevent inflammation and to promote nerve cell recovery ā remyelination ā in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS). By promoting the activity of a receptor called P2X4R that is present in microglial cells ā immune cells that reside in the brain…
May 21, 2018 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Gut Microbiome May Offer Way to Ease or Halt Brain Inflammation, Study Suggests Metabolites produced by microbes in the gut can ease inflammationĀ in the central nervous system by limiting the damage done by microglia, an immune cell of the brain, an early study reports. Its scientists suggest this gut-brain axisĀ may open new avenues to treatment. “These findings provide a clear understanding of how…
February 26, 2018 News by Catarina Silva Epstein-Barr Virus Found in Brain Cells of Many MS Patients, Study Reports United Arab Emirates scientists have found active Epstein-Barr virus in many multiple sclerosis patients’ brain cells, supporting the notion that it plays a role in the disease. The team found it in two types of brain cells ā astrocytes and microglia. The virus can be active or lie dormant in…
October 27, 2017 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc #MSParis2017 ā Inhibiting Protein in Brain Cells Can Rejuvenate Protective Nerve Cell Coating, Study Shows Inhibiting a protein found at high levels in immune cells located in the brain can rejuvenate myelin, the protective coating around nerve cells, according to a multiple sclerosis study in mice. Blocking the protein, known as the colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor, or CSF1R, can also prevent the immune cells from…
May 24, 2017 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc N.Y. Stem Cell Foundation Grows Brain Immune Cells in a Dish, Offerings Clues into MS Research Researchers from the New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF)Ā have developed a method to produce brain immune cells, called microglia, from human stem cells. ThatĀ can help scientists uncover biological mechanisms involved in multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurological conditions. “NYSCF’s mission is to bring cures to patients faster,” Susan L.
January 23, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Astrocytes Can Turn Aggressive and Kill Neurons, Potentially Groundbreaking Study Says In what may be one of the most significant discoveries in neurodegenerative disease, researchersĀ have found that brain cells, called astrocytes, contribute to killing neurons and myelin-forming oligodendrocyte cells, which may drive neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Experiments indicate an aggressive astrocyte type kills cells by secreting a yet-unidentified…
December 13, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Brain’s Defense System Against Viruses May Offer Clues as to What Goes Wrong in MS The brain has a system for orchestrating a defense against viral infections, scientists report in a finding that may advance the understanding of disease processes in multiple sclerosis (MS). The newly discovered system is run by brain immune cells called microglia, and researchers will now focus on understanding how these…
August 22, 2016 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD Umbilical Cord Blood-derived Cell Therapy Promotes Remyelination in Mice A cell therapy product derived from human umbilical cord blood cells may be a promising treatment approach for patients with demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) or leukodystrophy, according to a recent study developed at theĀ Duke University Medical Center. The study, “A cord blood monocyteāderived cell…
March 16, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Immune Cells in Brain Seen to Promote Cognitive Impairment In MS Mouse Model Microglial cells in the hippocampus, a brain region crucial for memory processing, mayĀ contribute to brain damage associated with cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis (MS). The finding, published in the journal Scientific Reports, implies that targeting microglia could beĀ a promising strategy to improve cognition in MS. While cognitive…
February 1, 2016 News by Margarida Azevedo, MSc MS Cognitive Impairment Traced to Synapse Damage in Hippocampus Researchers identified a new mechanism in the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS) that might explain the cognitive impairment and decline observed in theseĀ patients ā a decline not directly associated with disease’s hallmarks of motor control loss, and oneĀ not currently addressed by the immunosuppressive drugs usedĀ to treat MS. The study, published…
October 29, 2015 News by admin Microchips May Be New Standard in Multiple Sclerosis Studies In a new article published in the journal Trends in Biotechnology, Korean researchers suggest that diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) might be better studied using compact, accessible chip technology than in current methods. The report, titled “Central Nervous System and its Disease…
October 14, 2015 News by Margarida Azevedo, MSc Study Identifies Blood Coagulation Protein Fibrinogen as Cause of Brain Autoimmunity Researchers from the Gladstone Institutes have shown in a new study that fibrinogen, an important blood coagulation protein, can induce an autoimmune response in the central nervous system when the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is disrupted and blood proteins enter the brain. The study, entitled āBlood coagulation protein fibrinogen promotes…