A groundbreaking trial in Japan has demonstrated potential in the treatment of spinal cord injuries using reprogrammed neural stem cells. Among four participants, one paralysed man can now stand unassisted, and another has regained movement in limbs, although two participants saw minimal changes. Conducted by Hideyuki Okano and his team, the trial suggests the treatment's safety but lacks peer review. Experts emphasize that larger studies are essential to confirm efficacy since previous stem cell therapies yielded mixed results.
Reprogrammed or induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are created by reverting adult cells to an embryonic-like state, from which they can be coaxed to develop into other cell types.
The results suggest that the treatment is safe, say researchers, with two patients showing significant improvements while two others did not.
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