Australian researchers have developed the world's first stem cell model of multiple sclerosis

Prof Claude Bernard

MONASH SCIENTISTS DEVELOP FIRST HUMAN STEM CELL MODEL OF MS

For the first time scientists at Monash University’s Immunology and Stem Cell Laboratories (MISCL) have shown that they can make human stem cells from patients with the neurodegenerative disease Multiple Sclerosis (MS) without using human embryos, circumventing ethical concerns around this research. Their research has just been published in the international journal, Stem Cell Research.

This achievement will allow scientists globally to develop and test novel drugs in human cells with the disease – the first time that such a tool has been available to scientists working with MS.

MS is the most common, chronic neurologic disease of adults worldwide, affecting up to 20,000 Australians.

The work performed by the Monash team, led by Professor Claude Bernard, is the world’s first report on the genetic reprogramming of human MS patient cells to become induced pluripotent stem cells (called iPs cells) – effectively creating a limitless supply of human cells with the disease that can be used to help fast track the understanding of MS and the development of novel therapies to treat the disease.

According to Professor Bernard, “we have taken skin cells from a patient with MS and essentially wound back the clock to make cells that have the capacity to become the brain cells that are targeted in MS.”

The creation of a supply of human cells with MS for research is a major advance, according to Professor Bernard, because current analysis of MS samples have been limited to blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and either small biopsy samples or autopsy tissue from MS patients. “Much research to date has relied on animal models that – while similar to MS – have been very different to the human disease which has led to ineffective and even detrimental MS treatments,” he said.

“The production of diseased-cell lines from individuals with MS could provide exciting new opportunities for MS researchers and clinicians to study relevant human cell types, including those from the central nervous system, and may potentially shed further insight into the pathogenesis (development) of this severely debilitating disease.”

What are iPS cells?
In 2007 a significant development occurred when scientists announced they had developed a new technology to cause (via genetic manipulation) mature human cells to become pluripotent stem cells, which are similar to human embryonic stem cells. Essentially the technology now allows scientists to create large number of embryonic-like stem cells that have the potential to differentiate into any human cells type, without the ethical concerns of using human embryos.

If able to be made safely and on a large scale iPS cells have the same therapeutic potential as any form of stem cells – providing a source of cells for replacement and regeneration in a range of applications including damage due to disease, injury, birth defects or ageing.

Media Coverage:

• Sydney Morning Herald  click here
• The Melbourne Age click here
• The Canberra Times click here