Cells From Umbilical Cord May Boost Cognition in Alzheimer’s

the Psychiatry Advisor take:

Cells transplanted from human umbilical cord blood cells may help to improve cognition in people with Alzheimer’s disease, based on animal models.

Donna Darlington, PhD, of the Rashid Laboratory for Developmental Neurobiology at the Silver Child Development Center, University of South Florida, Tampa and colleagues, conducted experiments on mice modeled with Alzheimer’s. Over several months, the mice were treated with human umbilical cord blood cells (HUCBCs)-treated monocytes, which are peripheral blood mononuclear cells critical in the immune system for fighting infection. Their behavior was monitored, and biochemical analyses were performed.

The HUCBC-derived monocytes lead to a decline in toxic amyloid-beta protein in the mice, as well as improved hippocampal-dependent learning, memory, and motor function, the researchers reported in the journal Cell Transplantation.

“We believe that phagocytosis (a process by which cells internalize solid particles) is a possible mechanism by which MNCs mediate Aβ clearance,” the researchers wrote. “Most importantly, we found that aged monocytes were less effective against Aβ and that soluble amyloid precursor protein (sAPPa) could restore the phagocytic capabilities of these endogenous aged cells.”