Regeneration of neurons
Stem cells may be able to help replace lost sensory neurons
Sensory neurons of the peripheral nervous system, thanks to which we perceive touch, temperature and pain, can be irretrievably lost as a result of infections, injuries, in response to the use of certain medications, as well as in patients with peripheral neuropathy developed due to diabetes, multiple myeloma or other reasons. Currently practiced methods of treating peripheral neuropathy and similar conditions are mainly supportive and symptomatic and cannot restore lost sensory neurons, which are believed to have a very limited ability to regenerate after injury or disease.
A recent study conducted by French scientists and published in the journal Stem Cell Reports (Maniglier et al., Satellite glia of the adult dorsal root ganglia harbor stem cells that yield glia under physiological conditions and neurons in response to injury) shows that there are stem cells with the potential to regenerate lost neurons and glia in sensory nervous system. So far — in the sensory nervous system of mice.
The cell bodies of sensory neurons are grouped in the so-called dorsal root ganglion (DRG), located close to the spinal cord. These nerve nodes transmit sensory signals from various receptors (for example, from thermal and pain) to the central nervous system. In addition to sensory neurons, DRGs also contain auxiliary cells known as satellite glia and Schwann cells that help neurons function normally.
A study by French neurophysiologists has demonstrated that spinal ganglia contain stem cells with the potential to regenerate lost neurons. After conducting many experiments with live transgenic mice, in which various cells were labeled for tracking and mapping, and with cell cultures, scientists found that after damage, dying spinal ganglion cells can be replaced by a subpopulation of stem cells contained in satellite glia, which are activated and generate new glia and, to a lesser extent, new neurons.
The identification of these spinal ganglia stem cells in mice demonstrates a potential source of regeneration of lost neurons, but more research will be needed to find out if cells with similar potential exist in humans, and if so, how they can be used to enhance the regeneration of sensory neurons in patients with neuropathy.
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