Stroke Foundation: Stroke is one of Australia’s biggest killers and a leading cause of
disability. Stroke is treatable, however treatments are time critical
and currently only a limited number of Australians have access. Some of
the most recent advancements in ischemic stroke treatment – strokes
caused by a clot – can only be delivered within the first few hours of a
stroke. The seven-year research project led by La Trobe’s Professor Chris Sobey
and with researchers from Monash University and Monash Health found that
when human amnion epithelial cells – the cells lining the human
amniotic sac during pregnancy and discarded after birth – were injected
after stroke, impact was less severe and recovery was significantly
improved.
“If we administered human amnion epithelial cells 90 minutes after
stroke, the cells quickly homed in on the affected area of the brain,
greatly reducing inflammation and nerve cell death,” Professor Sobey
said.
“But what is particularly exciting about these new findings is that when
the amniotic cells were administered as late as one or three days after
stroke, there was accelerated healing and long term functional recovery
was still greatly improved.”
Professor Sobey said why human amnion epithelial cells were particularly effective in cell therapy.
“These cells are abundant, they are discarded after birth and they don’t
require any treatment before being used,” Professor Sobey said.
“They already contain natural immune-suppressants which means the
patient’s body won’t reject them and they don’t form tumours – both
issues with other forms of cell therapy,” Professor Sobey said.
A Monash Health team led by Director of Neurology at Monash Health and
Associate Professor at Monash University, Dr Henry Ma, will soon
commence a first-in-human trial in acute stroke patients to assess its
feasibility and safety profile.
“The trial will be a great opportunity to translate this exciting
research finding into clinical practice which may benefit stroke
patients in the future,” Dr Ma said.
The findings were published in the high impact journal, Stroke.
The research was part-funded by the Heart Foundation, CASS Foundation and National Health and Medical Research Council.
*Time critical stroke treatments
Thrombolysis – The 2017 Acute Stroke Audit found 36 per cent of patients
reached hospital in a 4.5 hour time window from stroke onset for
thrombolysis. 13 percent of appropriate patients received it.
Endovascular thrombectomy (mechanical removal of clot). Time frame is
generally 6 hours. Endovascular thrombectomy services are delivered in
21 locations nationally – 12 of those are 24 hours, seven days a week.