Multiple sclerosis has adversely affected more than 2 million people globally. It is a neurological disorder where the body’s immune system launches an attack on the nerve cells and degrades the myelin sheath that transmits signals within the brain. As a result, individuals suffer from paralysis in limbs, visual loss, cognitive decline, and impaired sensory abilities. The quality of life for the patients diminishes significantly.
The different types of sclerosis manifest differently. For some, relapse can occur in months or years, whereas for progressive forms of sclerosis, the condition is much worse. There is no cure for this disorder because the available therapeutic approaches are unable to heal damage. It has propelled scientists to explore the realm of regenerative medicine in order to establish a definitive treatment. This blog elaborates on the progress in stem cell therapy for multiple sclerosis.
Multiple Sclerosis Treatment
The treatment options for this neurological condition include medications that can modulate immune response, such as glatiramer acetate, interferon-β, and monoclonal antibodies. They are categorized as disease-modifying therapies. However, their abilities are restricted in terms of nerve cell repair. They fail to treat some severe forms of sclerosis. Therefore, new treatment modalities are the need of the hour. A treatment that can not only control the immune response but also regenerate nerve cells.
Stem Cell Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis
Stem cells have emerged as a groundbreaking technology with the extraordinary capacity to regenerate nerve cells. They confer therapeutic effects in the following manner:
- They migrate to brain lesions or scars present in patients to drive tissue repair.
- Immune system deficit is the primary cause of this disorder. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) reset the entire immune system. They are precursors to immune cells. The autologous HSC transplantation (aHSCT) repopulates the body with new immune cells that do not attack the myelin sheath or nerve cells.
- Another approach of the therapy is tissue regeneration and myelin sheath restoration (also known as remyelination). It slows the disease activity while recovering from the existing damage.
- The treatment also replaces the cells that produce the myelin sheath (oligodendrocytes) and the nerve cells that have been lost in the disease, thereby restoring the brain tissue.
Type of Stem Cells In Multiple Sclerosis
Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs): HSC transplantation has demonstrated considerable improvement in the disorder by developing a new immune system.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs): MSCs have already proved their effectiveness in several neurological disorders, promoting their application in multiple sclerosis.
Neural Stem Cells (NSCs): NSCs are inclined to form nerve cells and are therefore utilized in the therapy.
Clinical Evidence
Many clinical trials have analyzed the effectiveness of regenerative medicine in multiple sclerosis using different cell types.
- In 2010, Karussis injected MSCs via two different administration routes to investigate the neuroprotective and neurorestorative effects of MSCs. Results demonstrated suppression of immune attacks due to MSCs. On the other hand, another trial by Connick et al. in 2012 showed neuroprotective effects of MSCs in MS patients.
- A 2014 randomized Phase II clinical trial also exhibited the anti-inflammatory effects of MSC infusion.
- A preclinical study with NSCs documented a reduction in symptoms and an improvement in motor skills.
- Another study measured complete suppression of the disease in 70-80% of patients for 4-5 years after aHSCT.
- The International Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation Study Group (IMSCTSG) showed a reduced number and volume of brain lesions in patients within six months after receiving MSCs in a phase I/II trial.
- A double-blind randomized clinical trial reported the reduction in NF-L and CXCL13—biomarkers of sclerosis—six months after MSC treatment.
- A phase II trial with umbilical cord MSCs reported a decrease in relapse, a decline in clinical symptoms, diminished lesion intensity, and a transition towards an anti-inflammatory immune response.
Signaling Pathways behind MSCs Therapy
MSC therapy increases oligodendrocytes, promotes functional recovery, and lessens the severity of the lesion. It has demonstrated promise in treating multiple sclerosis. In order to bring about healing, it coordinates a change in the pathways underlying the illness.
Immune Response: MSCs decrease the inflammation-inducing immune cells like Th1 lymphocytes and Th17 lymphocytes, whereas they increase anti-inflammatory Th2 lymphocytes.
Myelin Sheath: MSCs alleviate myelin sheath degradation while stimulating its formation. They also secrete hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) that can improve memory and functioning by triggering remyelination.
Neuroprotection: MSCs express factors such as human brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NTF3), nerve growth factor (NGF), etc., to provide neural support.
Neuroinflammation: MSCs augment the levels of the M2 phenotype of brain immune cells involved in repair and diminish the inflammatory M1 phenotype. They also activate regulatory T (Treg) lymphocytes by releasing TGFβ1, PGE2, IL10, and sHLA-G. Treg lymphocytes curb autoimmunity and regulate immune response.
Safety of Stem Cell Treatment
All the clinical trials listed above have assessed the safety of stem cell treatment. These studies showed that the treatment is well tolerated in patients. A 14-month-long study in 48 patients also concurred with these results. Another Phase I/II trial by Danbour et al. proved the effectiveness and safety of administering stem cells. A randomized, double-blind phase II clinical trial conducted in 9 countries showed no adverse effects of the stem cell treatment except infections. These studies imply that stem cell treatment is safe to use.
Benefits of Stem Cell Treatment
The following benefits of stem cells have granted it superiority over conventional treatments.
- It can reboot or modulate the immune system.
- It can regrow nerve cells.
- It can repair the myelin sheath.
Stem cells target the three major concerns of multiple sclerosis. Collectively, these effects halt the disease progression and reverse the condition, which is especially advantageous for patients with high relapse rates. Thus, they can essentially offer a better quality of life in comparison to the already existing medications.
Multiple Sclerosis Treatment in India
Due to its affordable medical care and top-notch infrastructure, India has been steadily becoming the most popular destination for medical tourism. Innovation has found a niche owing to government and private sector investments and ground-breaking medical research. Therefore, doctors have also gained expertise in availing and administering novel, cutting-edge therapies to advance the multiple sclerosis treatment in India.
Concluding Statement
Stem cells have ushered in a new age of state-of-the-art regenerative medicine. Scientists have exploited their therapeutic properties for the treatment of various neurological diseases. Stem cells can rebuild nerve cells and regulate the mechanisms behind the disease, according to several studies and clinical trials. They effectively mitigate symptoms and cause functional recovery. In clinical trials, this therapy has also shown notable safety results. Advancells offers premium-quality stem cells to enhance the stem cell therapy for multiple sclerosis in India. Their team tests the product for its purity, potency, and viability to develop the best product.
FAQs:
Q – How does multiple sclerosis occur?
The body’s immune system attacks nerve cells and degrades the myelin sheath covering these cells, resulting in these neurological disorders.
Q – How does stem cell therapy treat multiple sclerosis?
It modulates the immune response and regenerates nerve cells to restore damage and improve function recovery.
Q – Which stem cells are preferred for multiple sclerosis treatment?
HSCs, MSCs, and NSCs are the few stem cells used in the treatment modality. They have all yielded positive results.
Q – Is stem cell therapy safe?
Numerous clinical trials have evaluated the complications arising from stem cell therapy. And the studies reported that stem cell therapy did not lead to any negative impact.
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