Paralyzed Man Stands Again After Experimental Stem Cell Therapy

A man with complete paralysis has regained the ability to stand following an experimental treatment using reprogrammable stem cells. The case is part of a clinical trial in Japan, which uses induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) to treat severe spinal cord injuries. The study, led by Professor Hideyuki Okano from Keio University in Tokyo, involved four completely paralyzed men with acute spinal injuries. Two showed significant improvements; one regained movement in arms and legs, and another can now stand independently and is in gait training. The therapy involves using iPS cells, adult cells reprogrammed to an embryonic-like state, which can then be directed to become nerve or glial cells, essential for spinal cord regeneration. Researchers injected approximately two million neural precursor cells derived from iPS cells directly into the injured area of each patient. While two patients showed no notable improvement, the others exhibited clear signs of neurological regeneration. No severe side effects were observed a year after the intervention. Researchers plan to expand the study with larger clinical trials to demonstrate the treatment's effectiveness. Other teams worldwide are testing alternative therapies, but iPS cells remain promising due to their potential for personalized treatments.