Cynata’s stem cells show promise in treating critical limb ischemia

An animal trial has shown Cynata’s mesenchymoangioblasts (MCA) cells can help improve blood flow in mice with induced critical limb ischemia.

Cynata’s mesenchymoangioblasts (MCA) cells have offered a hint of their therapeutic potential in an animal trial, the results of which have just been released by the company.

MCA cells are stem cells that are precursors to the better-known mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and are the precursor to fully differentiated vascular cells.

The trial, which was conducted by the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, looked at the potential of these MCA cells to treat critical limb ischemia (CLI), which is a disease caused by poor blood supply and is commonly found in diabetic patients.

Mice first had critical limb ischemia induced and then they were either injected with MSCs grown from MCAs or with a saline solution.

The study found that mice injected with the stem cells demonstrated significantly improved blood flow and thus a substantially diminished impact from the ischemia.

Cell-treated mice lost significantly fewer nails and toes than did saline-treated control animals.

In fact, while the worst that happened to any of the treated mice was a lost toenail, some of the saline-treated animals lost their entire foot.

Gastrocnemius muscle injected with the stem cells were also found to be larger, heavier and healthier looking.

“This experiment is an excellent demonstration of the potential effectiveness of Cynata’s cellular therapeutics platform,” said Professor Igor Slukvin, who discovered the MCA cells.

“The mouse high limb ischemia model is widely used as a test for therapies for CLI, and here we have seen that Cynata’s MCA derived MSCs preserved limb form and function. Since prevention of amputation is a key goal of physicians treating CLI, we find these data extremely encouraging.”

“These results give us great confidence to press on with our development program,” said Cynata CEO Dr Allen Bollands.

The company is now looking to conduct further research into the potential for MCA cells to stimulate blood vessel formation.

Cynata received a $250,000 funding injection from Eco Quest (ASX:ECQ) in November last year, and the company has since more than doubled that investment in Cynata.