Stem cells restore blood vessels: research

    Mesenchymal stem cells in bone marrow have proven helpful in restoring damaged blood vessels, paving the way for a new therapy for stroke, myocardial infarction and avascular necrosis, orthopedists at Taipei Veterans General Hospital (TVGH) reported Wednesday.

    Hung Shih-chieh, the project leader and a physician at TVGH's Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, explained that they found that mesenchymal stem cells can survive oxygen deprivation by emitting anti-cell death and new blood vessel formation factors and that the results inspired them to explore if the effects can also work on endothelial cell regeneration.

    During subsequent experiments, Hung said, they proved these factors can inhibit cell death and stimulate the growth of new vessels among endothelial cells -- which are susceptible to vascular diseases -- to restore the undermined blood vessels.

    Hung further said these factors should be helpful in treating patients suffering from stroke, myocardial infarction, or avascular necrosis if they can be produced in quantity in the laboratory.

    The team is also working on a series of animal experiments to test if mesenchymal stem cell factors can also facilitate liver cell regeneration and neural system repair.

    The project is a collaboration between TVGH and Tulane University, Louisiana. The results have been published by the renowned journal "Stem Cells" in its Sept. 9 issue.