A new study has determined bone marrow stem cell transplants improved the motor skills and nervous system of mice with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by repairing damage to the blood-spinal cord barrier.

ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects neuronal cells in the brain and the spinal cord, which send signals to control muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of motor neuron cells leads to death. It is estimated more than 6,000 Americans are diagnosed with the ALS yearly.

The University of South Floridas Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair study findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports, determining results of their experiment are an early step in pursuing stem cells for potential repair of the blood-spinal cord barrier, which has been identified as key in the development of ALS.

Previous studies in development of various therapeutic approaches for ALS typically used pre-symptomatic mice, Svitlana Garbuzova-Davis, leader of the research project and University of South Florida health professor, said. This is the first study advancing barrier repair that treats symptomatic mice, which more closely mirrors conditions for human patients.

Using stem cells harvested from human bone marrow, researchers transplanted cells into mice modeling ALS and already showing disease symptoms. The transplanted stem cells differentiated and attached to vascular walls of many capillaries, beginning the process of blood-spinal cord barrier repair delaying progression of the disease and improving motor function in the mice, as well as increased motor neuron cell survival the study reported.

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Stem cell transplants beneficial to mice with ALS - Life Science Daily

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