Drug Combo Increases Stem Cell Production In Mice
Scientists have discovered a new drug combo that may help the body to produce more stem cells.
An increased number of stem cells in a person’s blood may help speed up recovery from traumatic events such as broken bones or heart attacks.
Scientists gave mice a combination of Genzyme’s stem-cell transplantation drug Mozobil and a type of naturally occuring protein called VEGF and G-CSF growth factor.
The result was that bone marrow in the mice produced more stem cells that were then circulated through the body via the bloodstream.
“We hope that by releasing extra stem cells, as we were able to do in mice in our new study, we could potentially call up extra numbers of whichever stem cells the body needs,” said Sara Rankin of Imperial College London.
The scientists hope to one day be able to offer treatments for autoimmune diseases using this technique.
The study can be found in the journal Cell Stem Cell.