For the first time in medical history, stem cell therapy has restored its activity in a once-paralyzed primates because of a spinal injury.
Squirrel-tailed monkeys are used for stem cell therapy. (Artwork: internet)
Japanese researchers have just announced a groundbreaking experiment: they used stem cells to restore a part of a small monkey's activity that had been paralyzed from the neck down due to spinal injury. .
"This is the first case in the world for primates ," AFP quoted Professor Hideyuki Okano of Keio University in Tokyo.
After successful treatment of rats, Okano's team turned to the same treatment for primates, this time with squirrel-tailed monkeys.
Experts injected artificial multipurpose cells (iPS) into the paralyzed monkey. iPS are special cells that are made to be versatile, which means that all other types of cells can be created regardless of the type of tissue.
Keio University scientists planted four genes into human skin cells to make these iPS cells, according to Kyodo News .
The injection of iPS into the monkey body was done on the 9th day after he was injured. This is determined to be the perfect time to do this.
The results were very impressive, the monkey could once again move the limb within 2 to 3 weeks after being treated, Okano said.
" After 6 weeks, the animal has recovered to the point where it can jump everywhere," he told AFP. "It almost completely recovered ," Okano continued, and the front limb's force also recovered. 80%.
Professor Okano called this research project a turning point, paving the way for similar medical treatments to be applied to humans.