Normal brain stem cells

Alterations in brain iron metabolism have been reported, resulting in increased iron accumulation in Huntington s disease. This was particularly the case in basal ganglia from patients with HD compared to normal controls. In studies in embryonic stem cells, huntingtin was found to be iron-regulated, essential for the function of normal nuclear and perinuclear organelles and to be involved in the regulation of iron homeostasis. 

In view of the advances in nnderstanding the canse of death in cells, it is somewhat ironic that we understand so little as to what causes death in otherwise healthy humans as they become old (i.e. death due to senescence). In fact, in the UK it is now not permissible to write old age or a similar phrase on a death certificate. The most likely cause of death in humans under most circumstances, is, as indicated above, failure of the vital centres in the brain, e.g. the cells in the brain stem. A suggestion for the cause of death in old age is the progressive decrease in cardiac output with age. Nonetheless, under normal conditions, even a lower cardiac output will not compromise the function of the brain. However, a mild trauma, mild stress or mild infection requires an increase in cardiac output (to support the biochemical changes described in Chapter 18). If this required increase can no longer be attained by the heart in an elderly person, the provision of blood to the brain could be insufficient for this organ. The part of the brain that maintains the essential functions of the body, that is, the brain stem, may be the first to be affected, so that the control of the contraction of the heart or breathing... 

StemCells, Inc. is developing a proprietary NSC product for cellular therapy, under license from NeuroSpheres Ltd., comprising well-characterized, normal human CNS stem cells (HuCNS-SCs) from brain tissue. HuCNS-SC is currently under investigation for the potential treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, particularly BD [180367], [540074]. Preclinical studies have been performed in various animal models of CNS diseases and injuries. Data from these studies has supported the therapeutic potential of HuCNS-SCs, and the therapy has recently been approved for a phase I clinical trial for the treatment of BD [629732]. 

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