Stem Cell Therapy Treatment for ALS and MND: Hope for a Cure

Motor neurone disease (MND) is a disorder that affects the motor nerves. The role of motor nerve is to aid in transfer of signals from the brain to the body. However, since there is damage in the motor nerve, the transmission of brain signals is altered. 

Generally, this disorder affects the nerves that aid in talking, movement, breathing, and swallowing. Thus, the resultant effect is difficulty in breathing, moving, talking, and swallowing. 

The factors that contribute to MND are a combination of lifestyle changes, genetic abnormalities, and environmental factors. 

Motor neurone disease is an umbrella term and there are about 6 different categories of MND. The classification is on the basis of neuron it affects and disease progression. They are: 

1. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): ALS is the most common type of MND and the one that progresses very quickly.
2. Primary lateral sclerosis (PLS): PLS affects upper motor neurons.
3. Progressive muscular atrophy (PMA): PMA affects lower motor neurons and progression is slightly slower.
4. Progressive bulbar palsy (PBP): It affects the upper motor neuron and simultaneously the lower motor neuron. It mainly affects functions like swallowing and speech, for instance.
5. Kennedy disease: It is hereditary type of disease and affects lower motor neuron. It causes weakness and loss of muscles.
6. Monomelic amyotrophy (MMA): It is also known as Hirayama disease. It is a type of cervical myelopathy. Generally, it leads to weakness in both forearms and hands in an atrophic manner.

Clinical presentation and symptoms of ALS and MND

Symptoms of ALS and MND usually begin with general weakness but later progress to paralysis and severe breathing problems. The symptoms that a person with ALS and motor neurone disease might report are Firstly, Difficulty in swallowing and reduced food consumption. Then, cognitive symptoms, altered mood, and behaviour and inability to walk due to weakness. Then, difficulty in breathing normally. Difficulty in speaking or talking leads to slurred speech. Extreme fatigue. And finally, loss of senses – smell, touch, taste, hear. 

Stages of Motor Neurone Disease

STAGES OF MND
INITIAL	ADVANCED	END
The symptoms begin to show in this phase.	The progression of disease occurs and all the functions that associate with upper and lower motor neuron are affected.	Problems such as paralysis show up and patient experiences breathing difficulties.

ALS and motor neurone disease (MND) Treatment interventions 

The underlying main goal in managing ALS and MND is to prevent the progression of the disease and manage the symptoms. Apart from these, supportive therapies can be employed to manage the ALS and MND disorder. Therefore, the existing and supportive MND and ALS treatment options are: 

1. Medicines such as Riluzole is effective in MND as it not only delays the disease progression but also improves quality of life.
2. Physiotherapy: In order to ensure mobility and provide support for proper posture, physiotherapy is important.
3. Speech therapy: This kind of therapy ensures that difficulty of breathing, swallowing and language eases out.
4. Medications: To relieve symptoms, clinicians prescribe drugs such as NSAIDs, anti-convulsant and muscle relaxants to relieve contractions.
5. Lifestyle modifications: Appropriate diet according to the patient condition and appropriate exercises help in improving symptoms and 

6.Doctors also suggest use of wheelchairs, braces and speech synthesizers in order to support the other treatments and movement in ALS.  

Regenerative medicine – Stem cells  therapy treatment

Stem cell therapy for ALS and MND plays a key role in improving the outcomes of the disease and abrupting the progression of disease. The various mechanisms through which stem cells treatment is effective in ALS are- 

1. Proliferation: Stem cells initiate replacement of the lost neuronal cells and differentiate into specialized cells and repair of the damaged neuronal cells.

After proliferation, the neuroprotective mechanism is as follows. 

2. Neuroprotection: the release of factors lead to neuroprotective effects and the factors are nerve growth factor-β, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, ciliary neurotrophic factor, angiopoietin 1 (ANG-1), and glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF).
3. Immunomodulatory effect: stem cells modulate immune response by releasing TGF-β, T helper cells and Treg cells. Additionally, it also exerts anti-inflammation by increasing levels of IL-10 and decreasing levels of TNF-α and IL-6.
4. Additionally, stem cells also stimulate the release of vascular endothelial growth factor, along with insulin growth factor, and hepatic growth factor (HGF) which provides neuroprotection.
5. Oligodendrogenesis: Stem cells also differentiate and proliferate into oligodendrocytes which repair the process of demyelination.
6. Stem cells not only releases growth factors, but the release stimulates the process of formation of blood vessels and improves flow of blood and regenerates tissues. This cascade of events in turn slows and delays the disease progression.

Somatic effects are also seen with stem cells therapy in ALS. 

Therefore, Lastly, Stem cells also have the ability to home, integrate into cells are respond according to the appropriate signals which is known as somatic effect. 

Outcomes post stem cells therapy in ALS and motor neurone disease

1. Improvement in stamina and motor functions.
2. Enhanced balance and coordination.
3. Enhanced mood and body balance. 
4. Greater voluntary control.
5. Increased strength and decreased rigidity of muscles.
6. Enhanced reflexes and functions of limb and
7. Increased appetite and food consumption.

Therefore, the above table outlines the outcomes that one can experience. 

Benefits of Stem Cell Therapy in MND

The following are the benefits that one can gain post stem cell treatment for ALS and MND. 

1. Replacement of lost motor neurons and regeneration of damaged motor neurons.
2. Slowing and delaying of disease progression.
3. Reduction of reactive oxygen radicals which in turn reduces oxidative stress.
4. Enhancement of neuroprotective effects.
5. Increased motor functions and mobility and

6.Enhancement of quality of life of patients suffering from MND. 

Insights into the Neurofilament light chain (NfL) in MND cure research

Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a protein, and neurons release this protein into the blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) whenever there is any damage or trauma. Moreover, this protein also acts as a marker for various neurological disorders. 

According to research by researchers from Japan on Life Science Institute’s CL2020, a Muse cell-based product isolated from bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells; the levels of Neurofilament light chain (NfL) were comparatively lower in patients treated with CL2020 than ALS patients. It indicates that the CL2020 might slow down and delay progression of disease in patient with motor neurone disease. Hence, the research study provides positive hope that CL2020 is delays disease progression. 

in conclusion, we can see the key takeaways from the blog below. 

ALS & MND Patient Success Stories

Key takeaways

Stem cells therapy in motor neurone disease is highly effective and provides a glimmer of hope. Moreover, the stem cells for motor neurone disease offer benefits like improvement of muscle strength, improvement of voluntary control, improvement of coordination, and reduction of neuroinflammation.  

Therefore, choose stem cell therapy for MND to elevate the experience of cutting-edge regenerative solutions and to obtain superior outcomes. 

Stem cell therapy aims to improve quality of life and provide patients with best quality treatment care 

FAQs 

Q: Explain how stem cell exerts immunomodulatory action?

Stem cells modulate immune response by releasing TGF-β, T helper cells and Treg cells. Additionally, it also exerts anti-inflammation by increasing levels of IL-10 and decreasing levels of TNF-α and IL-6. 

Q: List out the different categories of motor neurone disease?

Motor neurone disease is a broader term and has 5 types of disease included. The classification is on the basis of neuron it affects and disease progression. They are: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), Progressive muscular atrophy (PMA), Progressive bulbar palsy (PBP), Kennedy disease and Monomelic amyotrophy (MMA). 

Q: Define motor neurone disease?

A disorder that affects the motor nerves is known as motor neurone disease. The role of motor nerve is to aid in transfer of signals from the brain to the body. However, since the damage of motor nerve takes place, so the transmission of brain signals is altered. Generally, this disorder affects the nerves that aid in talking, movement, breathing, and swallowing. Thus, the resultant effect is difficulty in breathing, moving, talking, and swallowing. 

Q: What are the benefits post stem cell therapy?

The following are the benefits that one can gain post stem cell therapy in MND: Firstly, Replacement of lost motor neurons and regeneration of damaged motor neurons. Then, slowing and delaying of disease progression. Next, Reduction of reactive oxygen radicals which in turn reduces oxidative stress, Enhancement of neuroprotective effects, increased motor functions and mobility and Lastly, Enhancement of quality of life of patients suffering from MND.