Cell-based therapy success could be boosted by new antioxidant
Lab tests found that the human-made molecule -- a type of antioxidant -- helps to shield healthy cells from damage such as would be caused when they are transplanted into a patient during cell therapy. Such procedures are already used to treat people with blood disorders as well as to grow skin grafts for patients with severe burns. The newly tested compound is 10 times more effective at protecting cells from damage than the most powerful antioxidant found in nature, the study found. As many as 90 per cent of cells can be damaged or killed during the transplantation process . This can affect the likelihood of the treatment's success. Experts say that pre-treating cells before they are transplanted into patients could help to improve success rates of cell-based therapies. Researchers are seeking to develop such approaches to treat conditions including Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis. Scientists at the University of Edinburgh exposed cells to a toxic subs...