According to diabetes researchers, transplanting the cells that replenish blood vessels could help to restore the function of nerves amongst people with diabetic neuropathy . The research has so far been tested in animal models, and are published online in the journal Circulation.
EurekAlert issued a press release that showed the majority of people with diabetes suffer from neuropathy. This damages nerves in the extremities, including the hands, arms and particularly the feet.
The scientists have experimented with cultured cells grown from bone marrow. These could promote growth of blood vessels and protective nerve linings. Team leader professor Yoon reportedly commented: "We were surprised to find that in this specific environment, they engraft and survive longer than in other tissues. These cells appear to home to peripheral nerves."
Neuropathy healing from bone marrow cells
Fri, 06 Feb 2009
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