Japanese Researchers Use Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells to Help Paralyzed Patient Stand Independently

Further Clinical Studies Are Needed

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A study from Japan has reported that a patient paralyzed by a spinal cord injury was able to stand independently after receiving neural progenitor cells derived from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells.

iPS cells are created by reprogramming mature somatic cells using specific genes or proteins. Like embryonic stem cells, they have the ability to differentiate into virtually any type of cell in the body.

According to Nature on the 24th, a research team led by Prof. Hideyuki Okano of Keio University announced on the 21st the results of transplanting iPS cell-derived cells into the spinal cords of four patients who had completely lost motor function below the chest following injuries sustained between 2021 and 2023.

Spinal cord injury, often caused by events such as traffic accidents, can result in severe motor and sensory paralysis. Currently, there are no established treatments capable of restoring lost neurological function beyond rehabilitation.

The researchers used donor-derived iPS cells to generate neural progenitor cells. Neural stem cells differentiate into neural progenitor cells, which can subsequently develop into neurons and glial cells.

Approximately 2 million neural progenitor cells were transplanted into each patient’s spinal cord, with the aim of enabling the cells to differentiate into neurons and surrounding glial cells.

The first transplantation procedure was performed in December 2021, followed by three additional procedures between 2022 and 2023. All four participants were adult men, including two over the age of 60.

Following transplantation, the patients received immunosuppressive therapy for six months to prevent their immune systems from attacking the transplanted cells. During one year of follow-up, none of the patients experienced serious adverse events.

Of the four patients, two showed partial recovery of motor function. One regained the ability to stand independently, while another was able to move his arms and legs. The remaining two patients showed no notable improvement.

The researchers cautioned that the findings are still preliminary, stating that the study alone is not sufficient to establish the efficacy of iPS cell-based therapy for spinal cord injury.

They plan to conduct further clinical trials involving a larger number of patients to evaluate the treatment’s safety and effectiveness.