(Johns Hopkins) Olfactory bulb stem cells and Lou Gehrig's disease

golanbenoni · 10-24-2004, 03:13 PM

Public release date: 24-Oct-2004

Contact: Joanna Downer
jdowner1@jhmi.edu
410-614-5105
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions

Olfactory bulb stem cells and Lou Gehrig's disease

Johns Hopkins researchers have found that transplants of mouse stem cells taken from the adult brain's olfactory bulb can delay symptoms and death in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease. They are scheduled to present their findings Oct. 24 at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in San Diego.
The olfactory bulb, the center of smell detection, houses numerous primitive stem cells that normally feed the constant, life-long regeneration of odor-detecting nerves. Because they are found in a fairly accessible region of the brain and could conceivably be removed from a person's olfactory bulb without causing permanent damage, adult olfactory bulb stem cells are a potential non-embryonic source for cells that could prove useful in replacing nerve cells lost due to injury or diseases like ALS and Parkinson's.

Researchers Zhiping Liu, Ph.D., and Lee Martin, Ph.D., who have carefully characterized cells from the olfactory bulb in people, rats and mice, grew clusters of neuronal stem cells taken from the olfactory bulb of normal mice and froze them. Retrieved cells were then transplanted into the spinal cords of genetically engineered mice that develop the equivalent of ALS.

Animals that got the transplanted cells did develop disease symptoms, but did so about a month and a half later than non-transplanted animals (137 days versus 90 days of age, on average). Treated mice also lived about two months longer than untreated mice, who were euthanized at roughly 137 days because of their disease.

"These transplants significantly prolonged the animals' lives by becoming neurons and probably also by influencing existing nerve cells," says Martin, an associate professor of pathology and neuroscience at Johns Hopkins. "The transplants definitely provided a functional improvement, and we're hopeful about the potential of these adult neuronal stem cells in treating ALS some day. But there is a great deal of laboratory work to do before clinical trials would be appropriate."

###
The research was funded by the ALS Association.

On the Web:

Read the abstract at:
http://sfn.scholarone.com/itin2004/...134.6&is_tech=0

Wise Young · 10-24-2004, 03:25 PM

Yes, the olfactory bulb contains neural stem cells. If the cells from the olfactory bulb were isolated into serum-free media containing fibroblast growth factor, olfactory ensheathing glial cells die and the remaining cells are neural stem cells. If the cells are isolated into serum-containing media, the cells will be mostly olfactory ensheathing glia. Wise.

golanbenoni · 10-24-2004, 03:38 PM

Wise,
Do you feel this may be the first step in bringing these trials here to the U.S, or has there already been some effort in the states to replicate Dr. Huang's findings?

Of particular interest their findings seem to show that the mice eventually did develop disease symptoms, but at 137 days vs. 90 days on average.

If I recall from our conversation, you mentioned that rats metabolism is roughly 4 x that of humans -- these findings are in mice -- is there a difference, and does this add further suspicion that humans receiving OEG treatment may fall back to an eventual regression by 6 months?

Golan.

Wise Young · 10-25-2004, 03:45 PM

Golan, there is a possibility that Dr. Huang's OEG preparations contain some fetal neural stem cells. I know that such stem cells are present in the olfactory bulb. In the experiments that we do in rats, we are fairly careful to get our cultures so that they are 90-95% pure OEGs. I think that Dr. Huang has been using a similar procedure but he is also using fetal olfactory bulbs whereas we use neonatal (newborn) olfactory bulbs which are more mature.

I keep hearing of clinicians who are interested. In fact, I thought that Doug Kerr from Johns Hopkins is interested in olfactory ensheathing glial cell transplants. Have you talked to him and asked him what he thinks?

Wise.

Max · 10-26-2004, 07:45 AM

Olfactory Bulb Stem Cells and Lou Gehrig's Disease
Libraries
Medical News Keywords
LOU GEHRIG'S DISEASE OLFACTORY STEM CELLS ALS
Contact Information

Available for logged-in reporters only
Description

Johns Hopkins researchers have found that transplants of mouse stem cells taken from the adult brain's olfactory bulb can delay symptoms and death in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease.

Newswise - Johns Hopkins researchers have found that transplants of mouse stem cells taken from the adult brain's olfactory bulb can delay symptoms and death in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease. They are scheduled to present their findings Oct. 24 at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in San Diego.

The olfactory bulb, the center of smell detection, houses numerous primitive stem cells that normally feed the constant, life-long regeneration of odor-detecting nerves. Because they are found in a fairly accessible region of the brain and could conceivably be removed from a person's olfactory bulb without causing permanent damage, adult olfactory bulb stem cells are a potential non-embryonic source for cells that could prove useful in replacing nerve cells lost due to injury or diseases like ALS and Parkinson's.
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/507823/

10-24-2004, 03:13 PM	#1
golanbenoni Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY, U.S.A. Posts: 215	(Johns Hopkins) Olfactory bulb stem cells and Lou Gehrig's disease Public release date: 24-Oct-2004 Contact: Joanna Downer jdowner1@jhmi.edu 410-614-5105 Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions Olfactory bulb stem cells and Lou Gehrig's disease Johns Hopkins researchers have found that transplants of mouse stem cells taken from the adult brain's olfactory bulb can delay symptoms and death in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease. They are scheduled to present their findings Oct. 24 at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in San Diego. The olfactory bulb, the center of smell detection, houses numerous primitive stem cells that normally feed the constant, life-long regeneration of odor-detecting nerves. Because they are found in a fairly accessible region of the brain and could conceivably be removed from a person's olfactory bulb without causing permanent damage, adult olfactory bulb stem cells are a potential non-embryonic source for cells that could prove useful in replacing nerve cells lost due to injury or diseases like ALS and Parkinson's. Researchers Zhiping Liu, Ph.D., and Lee Martin, Ph.D., who have carefully characterized cells from the olfactory bulb in people, rats and mice, grew clusters of neuronal stem cells taken from the olfactory bulb of normal mice and froze them. Retrieved cells were then transplanted into the spinal cords of genetically engineered mice that develop the equivalent of ALS. Animals that got the transplanted cells did develop disease symptoms, but did so about a month and a half later than non-transplanted animals (137 days versus 90 days of age, on average). Treated mice also lived about two months longer than untreated mice, who were euthanized at roughly 137 days because of their disease. "These transplants significantly prolonged the animals' lives by becoming neurons and probably also by influencing existing nerve cells," says Martin, an associate professor of pathology and neuroscience at Johns Hopkins. "The transplants definitely provided a functional improvement, and we're hopeful about the potential of these adult neuronal stem cells in treating ALS some day. But there is a great deal of laboratory work to do before clinical trials would be appropriate." ### The research was funded by the ALS Association. On the Web: Read the abstract at: http://sfn.scholarone.com/itin2004/...134.6&is_tech=0

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

10-24-2004, 03:25 PM	#2
Wise Young Administrator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: New Brunswick, NJ, USA Posts: 37,975	Yes, the olfactory bulb contains neural stem cells. If the cells from the olfactory bulb were isolated into serum-free media containing fibroblast growth factor, olfactory ensheathing glial cells die and the remaining cells are neural stem cells. If the cells are isolated into serum-containing media, the cells will be mostly olfactory ensheathing glia. Wise.

10-24-2004, 03:38 PM	#3
golanbenoni Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY, U.S.A. Posts: 215	Wise, Do you feel this may be the first step in bringing these trials here to the U.S, or has there already been some effort in the states to replicate Dr. Huang's findings? Of particular interest their findings seem to show that the mice eventually did develop disease symptoms, but at 137 days vs. 90 days on average. If I recall from our conversation, you mentioned that rats metabolism is roughly 4 x that of humans -- these findings are in mice -- is there a difference, and does this add further suspicion that humans receiving OEG treatment may fall back to an eventual regression by 6 months? Golan.

10-25-2004, 03:45 PM	#4
Wise Young Administrator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: New Brunswick, NJ, USA Posts: 37,975	Golan, there is a possibility that Dr. Huang's OEG preparations contain some fetal neural stem cells. I know that such stem cells are present in the olfactory bulb. In the experiments that we do in rats, we are fairly careful to get our cultures so that they are 90-95% pure OEGs. I think that Dr. Huang has been using a similar procedure but he is also using fetal olfactory bulbs whereas we use neonatal (newborn) olfactory bulbs which are more mature. I keep hearing of clinicians who are interested. In fact, I thought that Doug Kerr from Johns Hopkins is interested in olfactory ensheathing glial cell transplants. Have you talked to him and asked him what he thinks? Wise.

10-26-2004, 07:45 AM	#5
Max Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Montreal,Province of Quebec, CANADA Posts: 15,036	Olfactory Bulb Stem Cells and Lou Gehrig's Disease Libraries Medical News Keywords LOU GEHRIG'S DISEASE OLFACTORY STEM CELLS ALS Contact Information Available for logged-in reporters only Description Johns Hopkins researchers have found that transplants of mouse stem cells taken from the adult brain's olfactory bulb can delay symptoms and death in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease. Newswise - Johns Hopkins researchers have found that transplants of mouse stem cells taken from the adult brain's olfactory bulb can delay symptoms and death in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease. They are scheduled to present their findings Oct. 24 at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in San Diego. The olfactory bulb, the center of smell detection, houses numerous primitive stem cells that normally feed the constant, life-long regeneration of odor-detecting nerves. Because they are found in a fairly accessible region of the brain and could conceivably be removed from a person's olfactory bulb without causing permanent damage, adult olfactory bulb stem cells are a potential non-embryonic source for cells that could prove useful in replacing nerve cells lost due to injury or diseases like ALS and Parkinson's. http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/507823/