Stem Cell Therapy Showsโค Promise in Restoring Brain Function After Stroke
new researchโข from the University of Zurich โฃ(UZH) demonstrates that โtransplantingโ neural stem cells into the brains of mice experiencingโข stroke can lead to meaningful functional recovery โand evidence of brain regeneration.The findings, published inโ Nature Communications, suggest a potential pathway towards effective stroke treatment in humans.
Researchers induced stroke inโข mice, mimicking the condition asโ it manifests in humans, and genetically โmodified โthe animals to accept human stem cells. One week post-stroke,theyโฃ transplanted neural stem cellsโ derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) – created from normal human somatic cells – into the damaged brain region.
Over a five-week observation period, the team utilized imaging and biochemical analyses to โคtrack the stem cells’ progress. โThey discovered the cells survived and largely โขdifferentiated into functional neurons, successfully integrating and communicating withโค existing brain cells. Importantly, the โคtransplantation also triggered regenerative processes, including the formation of new blood vessels, a reduction โin inflammation, and improved integrity of the blood-brain barrier.
The therapy demonstrablyโ reversed motor impairments causedโ by the stroke, as confirmed by AI-assisted analysis โof the โฃmice’s gait. โฃ A key finding was that delaying stem cell transplantation by one week after the stroke actually yielded better results, potentially simplifying therapy preparation in a clinical setting.
The research โteam proactively addressed potential hurdles for human request.โ The stem cells were manufactured without โanimal-derived reagents,โข utilizing a protocol โdeveloped in collaborationโ with the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) at Kyoto โคUniversity.
While acknowledging the encouraging results, lead researcher tackenberg emphasizes the need for further development.Current efforts focus on creating a “safety switch” to prevent uncontrolled stem cell growth and exploring endovascular injection – aโข less โฃinvasive delivery methodโ than direct brain grafting. Clinical โฃtrials utilizing iPSC-derived cells are โalready โunderwayโ in Japan forโ Parkinson’s disease,and Tackenberg believes stroke could be a future target for similar clinical inquiry.
Source: โUniversity of Zurich (UZH). “Stroke: Stem cell therapy restores brain function.” news.uzh.ch, https://www.news.uzh.ch/en/articles/media/2025/stroke.html. Accessed May 16, 2024.
Journal Reference: Weber, R. โZ.,et al. (2025). Neural โคxenografts contributeโ to long-termโ recovery in strokeโข via molecular graft-host crosstalk. โฃ nature Communications. doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-63725-3.