Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine used porcine extracellular matrix (ECM) to induce stem cells into muscle cells. The study found that transplanting these cells can regenerate muscles lost due to accidental injury and muscle damage.
According to a new study of five patients, muscle loss caused by traumatic accidents and military injuries may increase significantly. After injury, skeletal muscle may regenerate, but it cannot be regenerated under extreme conditions. Extreme conditions can destroy a large amount of skeletal muscle (this condition is called volumetric muscle loss or VML). The treatment of VML is so limited that it is difficult for patients to perform daily activities. It has been proven that stem cells can help regenerate damaged tissues. Most stem cell therapies follow the same pattern. Researchers isolate the stem cells, grow them into cells of interest, and then reinject them into the patient's body. Steven Badilak and Brian Chikari and their colleagues have developed another stem cell technology that does not involve the addition of stem cells, but uses porcine extracellular matrix (ECM) Induce stem cells into muscle cells. In the first proof
After the ECM method is effective in rodents with severe hindlimb injuries, the researchers applied the method to patients who lost 58 to 90% of their limb muscles. done. They tested this technology on 5 male patients, who were at least 6 months away from the point of injury, and their surgery and physical therapy failed. Three of the patients were from the armed forces, two were injured by an improvised explosive device (IED) explosion, and the other was injured by sports. The other two patients were civilians who were injured in the leg muscles caused by the skiing accident.
Before the operation, due to dysfunction, all patients completed a 12-16 week physical therapy plan. When these therapies stagnated, there was no sign of any further improvement, and all patients are currently undergoing ECM stent placement. The researchers surgically removed scar tissue from these patients and added ECM material. Then, each patient immediately resumed their preoperative physical therapy plan and received physical therapy for 5-23 weeks. The indicator of successful treatment is that the capacity of these patients has at least increased compared to the maximum capacity of daily activity before surgery. 25% (lift one foot while walking, stand up from the chair, lift one foot to a sitting position, etc.). For each patient, their muscles are regenerated, and this regeneration can partially restore normal muscle appearance. When MRI and computed tomography image analysis were performed on the treated muscles, the researchers found that dense tissue formed at the implant site 6 months after the operation. After implantation, the matrix scaffold material degrades and acts as an induction and recovery device to attract stem cells to the injured site. These stem cells then grow into muscle cells, thereby promoting the development of new healthy muscle tissue. The quality of life of all patients improved, but the researchers determined that 3 out of 5 patients improved their function by 25%. The author of the article stated that post-treatment physical therapy is very important for the effectiveness of treatment. Physical therapy triggers the production of signals that direct stem cells to become muscle cells, rather than certain other cell types. For newly wounded soldiers, such as newly wounded patients, the treatment is more effective. Buddy Lak said: "The ability to treat patients quickly will be the benefit of this technology."