Successfully cultured neurons from fresh blood

For the first time in medical history, McMaster University scientists can use adult blood cells and convert it into neurons (both central and peripheral).

Successfully cultured neurons from fresh blood for the first time

This breakthrough success will provide a more accurate diagnosis, while opening up the opportunity to develop specific painkillers, targeting precisely the source of pain without being addictive or addictive. Other unwanted side effects. The research is published in the latest issue of Cell magazine.

Mick Bhatia, who led the study, said: "In the process of diagnosing diseases, we can take blood, skin or even biopsies for testing but cannot completely take" brain samples ". Now we have an easier way of using blood samples and cultivating the main types of cells in the nervous system, and of course, each patient will have a petri dish containing the nerve cell of their own. "

Until now, doctors still could not know the pain of patients, since then, it is difficult to determine the source of pain and treatment properly.

Basically, the peripheral nervous system is responsible for human pain, temperature and itching. If the patient's peripheral nervous system unfortunately fails for some reason, the diagnosis will become more difficult. However, if doctors can grow nerve cells, then " read the information " and answer the question why the person feels numb while others feel pain, .

In particular, researchers at McMaster University can use adult blood cells and convert it into a cell form that can differentiate into many specific cell types in the nervous system. called progenitor - head cell. From here, they will be directly differentiated into central or peripheral neurons in vitro (in vitro) or implant them into mice to differentiate depending on the signal received from the environment.

Success this time not only facilitates more accurate diagnosis but also opens up the opportunity to develop specific medicines. Bhatia researcher said: " If I am a patient and I feel physically or psychologically ill, I desperately need a special treatment, targeting the source of pain is the system. Peripheral neurons, this drug will target precisely to the target, without affecting the central nervous system, so it will not cause side effects or be addictive. "

In other words, if you relieve pain with the new drug mentioned above, you will no longer face unwanted side effects after taking the medicine (such as sleepiness, insomnia, loss of consciousness, .). Bhatia explains: "You just want your pain to go away. However, we still do not have the technology to check the side effects of painkillers for the nervous system. Therefore, we hope that this success will open hope to make it a reality. "

Immediately, Bhatia said that patients with type 2 diabetes will benefit from this study. By cultivating the neurons of each patient in the laboratory, doctors can perform several tests to more accurately predict the location of pain in patients who rely on the peripheral nervous system. . Since then there is a more effective treatment. On the other hand, researchers hope that soon, they will not only generate nerve cells from fresh blood but also from blood clots. If they can do that, they will create the most dynamic clinical data archive.