Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that affects the central nervous system. This condition causes severe issues for patients, including limb paralysis, loss of sensation, loss of bladder control, and more. This condition can quickly lead to a rapid decrease in patient quality of life and potentially more serious conditions that can result in death.
Developing more effective MS treatments has been the focus of the medical community for some time. Sadly, current methods only focus on treating associated symptoms and chronic inflammation. These treatments also may have side effects. Stem cell therapy has been proposed as a treatment method for a variety of conditions, including multiple sclerosis.
Stem cells have regenerative properties, immune regulation properties, and other attributes that make them ideal for treating multiple sclerosis. These properties can treat the underlying conditions of multiple sclerosis. In multiple studies, stem cell therapy has proven to be a safe treatment.
A study, Safety and efficacy of stem cell therapy for treatment of neural damage in patients with multiple sclerosis, outlined the effectiveness of stem cell therapy for multiple sclerosis patients by reviewing clinical trials.
A Review of Clinical Trials
Recent advances in technology have improved access to stem cells in all parts of the world. Medical professionals can easily isolate stem cells from various sources for use in patient treatments. The researchers in this study looked at the various sources of stem cells and clinical studies that were associated with them. This overview can help the medical community understand the current outlook for stem cell therapy and multiple sclerosis.
Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells are derived from parts of the umbilical cord, such as Wharton’s jelly. A few clinical trial studies found that these stem cells can improve the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores of MS patients. One study by Riordan et al. found that allogeneic umbilical cord stem cells are safe and effective when injected into MS patients. The researchers found that MS patients showed improvements in EDSS scores, 25-foot walking time, the nine-hole peg test, and the Scripps neurological rating scale.
Human Fetal-Derived Neural Stem Cells
These stem cells are obtained from human fetal donors from miscarriages after the 8th week of conception. A study found that these stem cells are able to migrate and differentiate into glial and neuronal subtypes. The study showed that transplanting human fetal-derived stem cells can improve cognitive function. A clinical trial by Shin et al. injected these stem cells into the spinal cord of patients with traumatic spinal cord injuries. The study found that stem cells are safe for patients and improves neurological function after a one-year follow-up.
Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Stem cells derived from bone marrow are a common source of stem cells. These stem cells have neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties that can improve MS patient outcomes. There are a number of clinical studies that have investigated the use of these stem cells. Multiple studies have shown that bone marrow stem cells improve disease severity, cognitive function, and quality of life for MS patients. Patients showed improvements in EDDS scores.
Autologous Stem Cells
Stem cells have the ability to differentiate into many different types of cells, such as neurons. Patient safety must be ensured for stem cell therapy to become a viable treatment. The studies that the researchers evaluated found that stem cells are safe for MS patients. There were no serious adverse events from stem cell treatment. A few of the studies also found that stem cells improve patient quality of life.
Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Adipose-derived stem cells are isolated from adipose tissue that can be taken from multiple places in the human body, such as the hip area. Studies found that these stem cells can differentiate into myelin-producing cells that can help replace the damaged myelin sheaths from multiple sclerosis. Multiple studies have found that adipose-derived stem cells are safe for patients without any adverse effects. The researchers evaluated other clinical studies that found adipose-derived stem cells can improve MS symptoms, such as sexual dysfunction and social activities.
Overall, the study found that stem cells are a potential treatment for MS patients. The clinical trials have shown that stem cells have both safety and efficacy when it comes to MS treatment. Several different sources of stem cells can be used for treatment. There are positives and negatives to each source of stem cells. The medical community needs to conduct more research to understand which stem cell source is viable for MS treatment.
