Multiple Sclerosis Treatment with Stem Cells

Studies show that these types of cells have the power to repair and rebuild myelin within the nervous system (in the case of intrathecal administration). When multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MMSCs) enter the body, they find a place of damage and work on repairing it, while they also create new, healthy cells. In multiple sclerosis patients, they recover myelin, which leads to reforming on the patient’s nervous system and to reducing of symptoms.

Until recently, it was believed that damaged brain tissue could not be repaired and would result in permanent, irreversible symptoms. However, recent medical findings have proven that the re-growth of brain cells and improvements in neurological function are possible. Cell therapy based on MMSCs leads to the replacement of damaged cells and the restoration of the brain function. A growing number of reports indicate that adult stem cells have the ability to stimulate the generation of new neurons, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes. A clinical trial showed that treatment protocol with the use of stem cell-based products was safe, showed promise in improving lives, and the treatment protocol was well tolerated by patients. Regenerative medicine as a method of treatment of multiple sclerosis gives hope for partial recovery, with some improvement of symptoms observed in virtually every case.

For the treatment of multiple sclerosis, especially some of its types, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is sometimes used as a multi-stage therapy that seeks to breakdown the patient’s immune system and then restore it using hematopoietic stem cells isolated from the patient’s or donated bone marrow. Such therapy allows to reviver the patient’s immune system so that it stops attacking its own myelin. Unlike treatment using hematopoietic stem cells in conjunction with chemotherapy, the use of only mesenchymal stem cells gives a more sparing effect. While HSCT may be more effective in some cases, it also carries a large number of side effects associated with serious health risks, including graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), cytomegalovirus disease (CMV), endotheliitis, and other undesirable consequences. In contrast to the above, using only mesenchymal stem cells without including immunosuppressive therapy in the treatment protocol is the most sparing option for treating MS using cell products. In this case, the patient receives intravenous and local injections of cells without damaging the immune system. MSCs are not related to the risk of rejection, and do not provoke the development of side effects, while the same as HSCT, having sufficient effectiveness to improve the condition in MS for most patients.

Most commonly used cell product at Swiss Medica is based on multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MMSCs). During the therapy, a patient receives tens of millions of these cells. The quantity of restored plain cells not only covers daily losses but also exceeds them by thousands of times, renewing almost 10–15 years worth. This causes symptoms of a disease to improve and often makes the whole body and all organs healthier and rejuvenated because of the new and active cells which have replaced the old and damaged ones. Treatment of multiple sclerosis with own (autologous) stem cells includes four basic procedures. First is harvesting; Fat or bone marrow is extracted through a simple process. Second is separation; Stem cells are separated in a centrifuge. The third is activation; The patient’s cells are photoactivated. Fourth is treatment; Cells are delivered to the body via standard IV drip or another route of administration. In the case of donated tissues, cell products are already prepared and can be introduced immediately with no need to perform the harvesting procedure or to wait for the preparation of the cells.

Due to its benefits, therapy with stem cells can be promising in the absence or insufficiency of the effect of the main therapy, and also in the presence of side effects from the medical drugs. Contraindications are: • previous bad experience with cell products; • any type of cancer or a precancerous condition; • any life-threatening or terminal health conditions; • infectious disease in the acute stage; • stroke or transient ischemic attack in the last 3 months; • deviations of some indicators in blood tests; • pregnancy and lactation; • mental disorders and addictions; • contraindications to anesthesia and/or high risk of bleeding and/or pathological processes in the area of the proposed biopsy (does not exclude the possibility of using donor cell products), and some others.

The procedure of mesenchymal stem cell therapy for multiple sclerosis is very quick and simple. It does not require general anesthesia. In most cases there are no any side effects. Sometimes there may be a short-term increase in temperature and as an individual reaction of the body, but not more than 2% of cases. And it passes independently and does not entail negative consequences for the patient’s health. Stem cell therapy does not cause any allergic and immune reactions (due to the immunoprivilege status of multipotent MMSCs). Good tolerability of the therapy is also proven.