Use of stem cells for heatstroke

Tainan, Taiwan -

The use of stem cells for induction of antiinflammatory response in chronic conditions is feasible at face value. However, the possibility of harnessing antiinflammatory activities of stem cells in acute situations is very intriguing.

In a recent study (Chen et al. Human umbilical cord blood-derived CD34+ cells cause attenuation of multiorgan dysfunction during experimental heatstroke. Shock. 2007 Jun;27(6):663-71) it was demonstrated that stem cells from human cord blood (CD34) were capable of inhibiting experimental heatstroke.

Rats were exposed to 43 Celsius to induce heatstroke and administered 100,000-500,000 cells/kg intravenously.

CD34 administration inhibited heatstroke induced hypotension, hepatic and renal failure, hypercoagulable state, activated inflammation, and cerebral ischemia and injury. IMPORTANTLY, while control cell treated rats had a survival time of 19 to 23 min, animals recieving CD34+ cells survived significantly longer (63-291 min).

This may be the first description of stem cells being used to treat an inflammatory situation in an acute setting.