Science Questions

Could stem cells treat MS?

Do you believe a stem cell producing Myelin could one day be used to treat MS? Santa Bennett

I do because we know about a stem cell, which is called the O2A cell which is a stem cell which we think is in the brain already and whenever anyone has a flare up of MS and the nervous system gets attacked by the immune system which destroys the myelin, that surround nerve cells, we think the reason they get better afterwards, at least for a time, is because these stem cells reawaken and produce new myelin-producing cells. Do you think that’s reasonable Roger?

In fact, there's a team of scientists at Cambridge University working on that very problem!

October 2007