Stem Cell Therapy: Modern Medicine’s Promising Future For MS Treatment

                                                                  

MS research shows that adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell therapy may potentially repair the damage and inflammation seen in the nervous system of patients with MS.  During an autoimmune reaction, the myelin sheath coating which is formed around the axons of neurons slowly deteriorates, thus causing physical and cognitive impairments.  By calming down the autoimmune attack and attenuating inflammation, adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell therapy may halt the progression, and potentially reverse the damage of MS.

Numerous studies have demonstrated the potential of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in treating the different types of MS. In Saudi Arabia, a group of researchers published the literature review, “The Immunomodulatory and Neuroprotective Effects of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE): A Model of Multiple Sclerosis (MS),” describing how MSCs prevent progressive damage in mice induced with MS. The cells secrete soluble factors that inhibit the T-cells contributing to the autoimmune attack, thus protecting neurons from further damage.

In the study, “Mesenchymal Properties of SJL Mice-Stem Cells and Their Efficacy as Autologous Therapy in a Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Model,” researchers in Spain isolated MSCs from one mouse and transplanted the cells into another mouse with an experimental model of relapse-remitting multiple sclerosis. The mice receiving cells rather than saline as a control exhibited lower clinical scores and slower disease progression. These results were confirmed with another mouse strain, demonstrating the robustness of treatment.

Additional evidence comes from a group of researchers and clinicians from the United Kingdom who treated MS patients in the study, “Autologous Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the Treatment of Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: An Open-Label Phase 2a Proof-of-Concept Study.”

Research findings show that intravenous administration of autologous mesenchymal stem cells to patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis is feasible and safe and suggests structural, functional, and physiological improvement in patients after receiving treatment with autologous mesenchymal stem cells which is consistent with remyelination. In addition, patients experienced enhanced visual acuity.

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