New discovery of stem cells in the spine — new hope for back pain?
Helena Barreto Henriksson, Biomedical Analyst at Sahlgrenska Academy
At Sahlgrenska Academy work is progressing intensively on practical applications of an entirely new discovery — that the cartilage cells of the discs located between the vertebrae in the spine also have the ability to reproduce, that even the cartilage has stem cells. This discovery was recently detailed in a doctoral thesis by researcher Helena Barreto Henriksson, biomedical analyst at Sahlgrenska Academy.
It is now hoped that the patient´s own stem cells will be able to be used to treat back pain. Finding better ways of treating lower back pain could lead to simpler, safer and cheaper medical care for a very large patient category.Source: Göteborgs-Posten, 2011-01-23