By Zohara Lam
In a novel attempt to cure paralysis, Israel is preparing to perform the first ever spinal cord transplant using the patient’s own cells. The effort is led by Professor Tal Dvir, who serves as the head of the Sagol Center for Regenerative Biology and as the head of Tel Aviv University’s Nanotechnology Center and Chief Scientist at the biotechnology company Matricelf. If successful, this procedure could drastically improve the quality of life of individuals who have suffered traumatic spinal cord injuries. The plan is to transplant 3D-engineered tissue into the injured portion of the spinal cord with the expectation that the new tissue will fuse to the rest of the spine and heal the affected area.
The spinal cord is housed in the spine’s vertebral column and acts as the direct line of communication between the brain and the rest of the body. It is responsible for relaying nerve impulses, which facilitate motor function and sensory perception. Distinct spinal nerves send and receive messages between the brain and specific parts of the body, so the area that is affected by paralysis is dependent on the location of the injury. Injuries to the spinal cord can interrupt communication and prevent signals from being properly perpetuated, resulting in a loss of controlled muscle movement and feeling in corresponding areas of the body. As a result of this blockage, spinal cord injuries typically affect parts anterior to the actual damaged tissue as well.
There are 30 pairs of spinal nerves responsible for various regions of the body: eight for the head and neck (cervical), 12 for the chest and abdomen (thoracic), five for the lower back (lumbar), five for the end of your spine and pelvis (sacral) and one for the lower limbs (cauda equina). While the body is typically efficient in recuperating itself, spinal nerves have a limited regenerative capacity due to the nature of neurons, essentially meaning that they cannot make new cells to heal on their own. Instead, the injured area will eventually develop scar tissue which cannot carry nerve signals. It can be compared to someone cutting the wire on a pair of headphones; since the line has been severed, the sound cannot travel from the phone port to the earpiece.
The 3D-engineered tissue aiming to solve this problem will consist of the patient’s blood cells and fatty tissue. These blood cells are genetically altered to act like embryonic cells, which can differentiate into any kind of cell in the body. The reprogrammed cells will then be inserted into a gel made up of nutrients from fatty tissue to support growth, and the scar tissue will be removed and replaced with this specialized gel. Essentially, this procedure aims to “reconnect” the areas of the spinal cord above and below the injury in order to restore the line of communication. This would allow individuals to regain strength and control of the affected areas of the body.
This development is part of a longer string of experiments performed by Dr. Dvir’s team at Matricelf. The procedure was tested on paralyzed mice who were immobilized as a result of a traumatic spinal cord injury. Researchers at Matricelf found that a majority of the mice that received this cutting edge transplant regained their ability to walk. The procedure proved most effective on less intense injuries but was still outstandingly effective in mice with more severe spinal cord injuries. Due to the early success in the laboratory experiments, researchers are hoping for a similar outcome in the clinical trial patients.
The possibility that a cure for paralysis is on the horizon leaves many feeling optimistic toward a future where affected individuals can regain their ability to walk. This innovation has the potential to restore mobility to millions globally, with the World Health Organization estimating that about 15 million people are currently living with a spinal cord injury. If found effective, spinal cord transplants may one day become a viable treatment for those who have been involved in car accidents and those who have suffered from falls and sports injuries. In Israel, where this technology is being developed, this new procedure could be a source of hope for soldiers who sustained debilitating spinal cord injuries in combat.
Israel’s Ministry of Health has already approved the transplant for trials on real patients. So what’s next? The research team is currently searching for their first batch of eligible patients in order to conduct what they hope will be a life-changing procedure. Hopefully, there will soon be good news out of Israel that the procedures were overwhelmingly successful.
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