Science_Illustrated_Australia_-_Issue70_2019

Using the body’s own

cells to help the brain

Stem cells from the patient's own pelvis function as a private rescue service

that helps the destroyed nerve cells regenerate and also helps prevent

the stray immune cells from spreading more toxins.

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Stem cells retrieved from the bone marrow

1

Scientists extract mesenchymal stem cells from the
patients’ pelvis bone marrow with a needle. The
scientists then mix the stem cells with a fluid that
contains growth factors; the growth substances settle on
the surface of the stem cells and make them divide.

Growth factors repair damaged cells

3

Once the stem cells are inside the brain, they liberate a
series of growth factors which settle on receptors on the
outside of the auxiliary cells’ membranes. This makes the
cells divide, so there are more of them, but it also makes them
repair the damage that the immune cells have already caused.

Substances curb immune cell division

4

The stem cells also liberate other substances that

bind to the immune cells and curb the production

of the infectious agents – the toxic cytokines. The

substances also slow immune cell division, so they prevent

any further damage to the nerve and auxiliary cells.

Cells travel to the brain

2

Scientists inject the stem cells into a blood vessel

in the arm, from which they travel to the brain.

The stem cells are attracted by the toxic cytokines

from the immune cells, potentially making them pass through

the blood-brain barrier, which already has holes in it.

Stem cell

Growth factors

Blood

Receptor

Stem cell

The cell

divides. Cytokines

Growth factors Auxiliary cell

Immune cell

Imdivides.mune cell

Binding substances

Myelin sheaths

myelin sheathsDestroyed

The cellrepairs

itself.

Stem cell

Stem cell

Blood-brain barrier

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