Multiple sclerosis patients improve after treatment with stem cells from umbilical cord tissue

This article has previously been published in the blog section of the Crioestaminal website.

Multiple sclerosis is the demyelinating disease (i.e. affecting the transmission of nerve impulses) that most affects the central nervous system, and it is, in the Occident, the pathology most frequently associated with non-traumatic disabilities in young adults. The most recent data on multiple sclerosis in Portugal indicates that there are more than 8.000 people with the disease and, worldwide, it is estimated that there are more than 1.8 million patients with the condition (data from the World Health Organization).

Although the correlation between the development of multiple sclerosis and factors such as lifestyle (smoking, low levels of sun exposure, high body mass index), exposure to certain infectious agents such as viruses or bacteria, or even genetic factors has already been described, a direct cause for its onset and progression has not been established. However, it is quite clear that the prevalence increases in populations further away from the equator, and there seems to be a genetic predisposition which, together with the risk factors mentioned, can lead to the development of multiple sclerosis as early as in the adolescence. The most common symptoms of this disease are: changes in skin sensitivity, less motor coordination, chronic fatigue and difficulties in verbal articulation. Medical diagnosis also includes an analysis of inflammation and damage to the central nervous system (using magnetic resonance imaging) and the presence of certain autoantibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid (fluid circulating in the brain and spinal cord). Assessing the progression of these changes is essential for counselling and treating patients with multiple sclerosis.

As an autoimmune disease, multiple sclerosis is treated with a variety of drugs and therapies common to other autoimmune diseases. These agents have a suppressive effect on the immune system and have been shown to slow down the progression of the disease or the reappearance of acute episodes. However, in an attempt to broaden the spectrum of treatments and improve patients' quality of life, the scientific and medical communities have been looking for new therapeutic approaches. Thus, in place of less personalized pharmacological therapies aimed at modulating the immune response of patients with multiple sclerosis, the use of mesenchymal stem cells has been tested for the same purpose. Several scientific publications have demonstrated the safety and potency of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) obtained from different sources, such as bone marrow, adipose tissue or umbilical cord tissue, in different pathologies, and several clinical trials have already been completed, with others in the development phase.

Recently, a study involving 35 people with multiple sclerosis was published in the journal Cell Transplantation. The aim was, on one hand, to demonstrate the effectiveness of treating these patients with MSCs from umbilical cord tissue and, on the other, to determine the results of administering these cells at more than one point over time. These patients were divided into two groups: one group was given a single dose of MSCs from umbilical cord tissue, while the other group was infused with two doses of these cells. The patients were followed up before and during administration, and three, six and 12 months after these treatments. To determine the effectiveness of these procedures, different parameters were assessed, such as motor capacity (balance, flexibility, strength and physical endurance) and non-motor capacity (fatigue, sleep quality), but also cognitive capacity, pain and perceived quality of life. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid tests were also carried out, as well as magnetic resonance imaging. The general disability scale improved significantly in both groups six months after treatment, and when examining specific aspects of the disease, it was found that patients given two doses showed improvements in more parameters than patients given a single dose. With these results, the researchers concluded that both treatment types with mesenchymal stem cells from umbilical cord tissue were not only well tolerated by the patients, but that there is potential in these treatments to halt the progression of the disease and improve cognitive function, immune response and quality of life for those affected. Even so, according to the authors of the scientific article, more studies are needed, involving a larger number of patients, in order to better determine the most suitable cell doses for treating patients with this pathology.

#MultipleSclerosis #MSAwareness #StemCellTherapy #UmbilicalCordStemCells

References

• Alghwiri AA, et al., The effect of stem cell therapy and comprehensive physical therapy in motor and non-motor symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis: a comparative study. Medicine 2020; 99:34(e21646).

• https://www.anem.life/2023/10/13/o-que-e-a-em/ acedido em 21 de maio de 2024.

• https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/multiple-sclerosis acedido a 21 de maio de 2024.

• Jamali F, et al., Human Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis Patients: Phase I/II Dose-Finding Clinical Study. Cell Transplant. 2024 Jan-Dec; 33:9636897241233045. doi: 10.1177/09636897241233045.

• Kobelt G, et al., The long-term cost of multiple sclerosis in France and potential changes with disease-modifying interventions. Mult Scler. 2009 Jun;15(6):741-51. doi: 10.1177/1352458509102771. Epub 2009 Apr 21. PMID: 19383645.