Key to Integrating Transplanted Nerve Cells into Injured Tissue

Researchers at Harvard Medical School claim to have found a molecule (MMP-2) which is included in stem cells, that will ultimately make retinal transplantation and restoration of vision a possibile. This molecule can break down barriers known as glial scars that develope after the retina has been injured. In previous studies they demonstrated in mice the ability of these special cells to get past these barriers and with the the molecules seperated it would be possible to gain access to the injured retina without the entire stem cell. The team successfully transplanted stem cells between the degenerating mice retinas and healthy donor tissue. They found that MMP-2 removed the scar tissue and allowed the donar whole retina to make new connections with damaged retina in the mice. This lead them to the conclusion that the increase of the MMP-2 molecule is a major key to creating a permissive environment for central nervous system regeneration.