New brain cell tech advances ethical treatment for memory loss

‘To forgive and forget’ is not exactly the case with Alzheimer’s disease. As one of the most researched illnesses, scientists have long been on a quest to unlock its mysteries.

Recently, Swiss scientists from the ETH Zurich have successfully created over 400 types of neurons or brain cells. Using laboratory stem cells, this achievement far exceeds previous efforts that yielded only a few dozen types. 

It also offers the possibility of creating cell cultures without relying on animal testing.

By successfully producing these neurons, the researchers have taken a step towards more precise, basic neurological research through lab-grown cell cultures.

Using stem cells procured from human blood cells, the researchers activated specific genes and treated the cells with various morphogens, or chemical signals that guide how cells grow and form different body parts.

By using seven types of these morphogens in differing amounts and combinations, they managed to make up to 200 different sets of experimental conditions.

Their culture yielded 400 types of nerve cells.

“Neurons derived from stem cells are frequently used to study diseases. But up to now, researchers have often ignored which precise types of neuron they are working with,” says Barbara Treutlein, Professor at the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering at ETH Zurich. 

Treutlein explained that to create effective cell culture models for conditions like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and depression, it is important to consider the specific type of nerve cell involved.

Still, the number remains modest next to the vast diversity of neurons, as noted by the research team.

By comparing their results with existing brain cell databases, the researchers were able to identify the precise types of nerve cells produced, including their brain region of origin and sensory functions such as detecting pain, cold, or movement.

As a result, current experiments often yield a mix of multiple cell types, which can limit the precision of disease modeling.

According to a 2020 article by Cetin et al. published in Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, cell models are lab-grown brain cells used to study how diseases like Alzheimer’s damage the brain. These models help scientists observe brain cell behavior and test treatments.

In Treutlein and her team’s study, the lab-grown neurons can also be used in pharmaceutical research, allowing scientists to test potential drug compounds without animal testing. 

However, the researchers often ended up with a mix of nerve cell types. Currently, they are improving their method to produce just one type at a time.

Ultimately, the study aims to open the door to the cures of these neurological conditions.

While the time to forgive and forget conditions like Alzheimer’s has yet to come, breakthroughs like this bring the world closer to that long-awaited cure.