Subscribe now

Marrow cells offer hope for nerves ravaged by disease

By Emma Young

1 February 2003

BONE marrow cells have been transformed into the cells that produce the vital insulation around nerves that is destroyed by multiple sclerosis. So could stem cells taken from a patient’s own bone marrow help repair at least some of the damage caused by this debilitating disease?

People with MS suffer from progressive weakness, and vision and memory problems as a result of the destruction of myelin, a protein that insulates nerves and is essential for the conduction of nerve impulses. It is myelin that gives the white matter in the brain its characteristic colour.

A team led by Bruce Brew…

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up

To continue reading, subscribe today with our introductory offers

Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop