Implant of Human Brain Cells Amaze Researchers

Recently a study was conducted by the Imperial College London in collaboration with a group from the University of Cambridge using the human brain cells. During the research, human brain cells were transplanted into a mouse brain. The researchers observed the growth and inter connection of these brain cells with each other.

The team studied that exactly how the cells grew and connected to each other. This was indeed one good opportunity for the team to examine the interaction of the human brain cells in a more natural environment than possible. The study was funded by the Medical Research Council. The human brain cells that were used during this process were derived from brain cells donated by patients of human Down syndrome. The researchers intricately studied the cells and chalked out the differences between cells of a person suffering from Down syndrome and another one without that condition. The connections that were formed by the cells of the patients suffering from Down syndrome were comparatively more stable. Dr. Vincenzo De Paola, lead author of the research from Imperial's Institute of Clinical Sciences, expressed his happiness concerning the conduct of the research. He expressed his gratitude towards the entire team, the donors and everyone else involved. He further stated that the reason behind the reduced coordinated activity and increased stability of connections in cells of persons suffering from Down syndrome relates to cognitive function. Professor Rick Livesey, joint co-corresponding author from the University of Cambridge's Wellcome/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute stated that by working with the Imperial team they have been provided with a great chance to extend the scope of their previous research on stem cells. He stated that this has helped them to understand that how the nerve cells are functioning in a living brain. Further, Dr. Raquel Real, a neurologist from Dr. De Paola's group at Imperial College London and joint first author of this study added that the study has been immensely useful in understanding the maturation of human brain cells over time. The researchers explained about the connections between the cells inside the human brain. They stated that the cells inside a healthy brain communicate with each other. When a person is caught by a brain disorder such as dementia and Parkinson's, this communication gets hampered and eventually the brain cells start to die. Scanning procedures such as MRI or PET scans are unsuccessful at monitoring these communications. Therefore, the researchers used a revolutionary microscopy technique -- called in vivo 2-photon microscopy. The technique allowed them to see not only individual live brain cells, but also the connections between them. During the study, the brain cells were generated by reverse-engineering skin cells. Some cells were taken from doners which were then re programmed. These were then implanted into the brain of living mice. The growth, communication and development of these cells were monitored and examined by the research team overtime. The researchers observed that the implanted cells not only behaved as normal as the human brain cells but indeed thrived inside the brain of the living mice. The cells soon formed complex networks and started communicating effectively with each other. The team is still to find this out. The team has planned to refine this technique and use it to study other neurological conditions. This research work also received immense support from the Rosetrees Trust, the Wellcome Trust and Alzheimer's Research UK.

By: Anuja Arora

Content: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/10/181011143140.htm