Characterized by scaly white or erythematous plaques, psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune dermatological disease most often appearing on the scalp, genitalia, lumbosacral area, and extensor surfaces of the limbs.
Affecting an estimated 125 million people worldwide, the condition most commonly is observed in those between the ages of 15 and 25 years of age.
The most recent advancements in the development of biological treatment have revolutionized the treatment of the condition for those with moderate to severe psoriasis, achieving clear or nearly clear skin with long-term success.
However, these treatments in their current form have not been proven to cure psoriasis completely. Additionally, a growing number of those suffering from severe psoriasis are not responding to these current therapeutic treatment options.
Recently, stem cell therapy, including regulatory T-cells, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been used in patients with recalcitrant psoriasis. In this review, Naik discusses stem cell treatment options available for psoriasis.
Regulatory T-cells, or Tregs, regulate or suppress other immunocytes by modulating their responses to the endogenous environment and antigens, which helps to avoid autoimmune reactions and chronic inflammation. Several treatments for psoriasis, including many biologics currently being used, appear to increase the number of Tregs and their performance in patients with psoriasis. This finding led Naik to conclude that, despite their high cost, Treg-based therapies may have the ability to interfere with the pathogenesis of psoriasis.
MSCs have been found to have a significant role in adaptive immunity. This immune-enhancing activity typically occurs in partnership with a number of immune cells, including neutrophils, dendritic cells, monocytes, natural killer cells, macrophages, B-cells, and T-cells. While several Phase I and II studies have not demonstrated significant toxicity, the author calls for more extensive controlled trials to better understand the efficacy and long-term safety of MSCs in this application.
The favorable results observed when using hematopoietic stem cells (HSCT) in a wide range of autoimmune conditions, including lymphoma, leukemia, lupus, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis, led to interest in using these cells in patients with psoriasis. Interestingly, improvements in psoriasis have been observed in patients who have undergone allogeneic (rather than autologous) HSCT, suggesting that hematopoietic stem cells could contribute as a primary cause of psoriasis.
Naik concludes that the application of stem cells in the treatment of psoriasis raises hope for the development of a safe and effective therapy for those suffering from severe forms of the condition. While more data is required before clinical application, MSCs could be a promising therapy for the treatment of psoriasis.
Source: Naik PP. Stem cell therapy as a potential treatment option for psoriasis. An Bras Dermatol. 2022;97(4):471-477. doi:10.1016/j.abd.2021.10.002
Acute and chronic pancreatitis are associated with local and systemic inflammation that is linked to a host of serious health issues. A result of the digestive juices and enzymes attacking the pancreas, pancreatitis currently has no definite treatment.
Currently, it is estimated that over 6 million people worldwide are afflicted by acute or chronic pancreatitis with the number of diagnoses appearing to be steadily increasing.
The rising interest in stem cell therapy being used to potentially treat a wide variety of other diseases has led to interest in exploring it as a way to aid in the treatment of both acute and chronic pancreatitis.
As part of this review, Chela et al. examine numerous studies using commonly used stem cells to explore their promise in the treatment of pancreatitis.
A number of studies are utilizing stem cells to repair and replace tissue damaged as a result of numerous gastrointestinal diseases, including acute and chronic pancreatitis. In the case of using stem cells, and specifically mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), to treat pancreatitis, researchers are interested in the ability of these stem cells to regenerate damaged cells and to influence the immunological and inflammatory response resulting from this condition.
A significant issue that has stymied progress in the ability of the pancreas to self-repair and regenerate when affected by pancreatitis is the perceived lack of stem cells found specifically in the tissue of the pancreas. While there has been conflicting research into whether or not stem cells exist in pancreatic tissue, the research reviewed by the authors indicates that there appears to be a tiny amount of stem cells located within pancreatic tissue.
Considering this and considering that additional research indicates that other stem cells found in the pancreas appear to originate from bone marrow (BM), the authors believe the ability of MSCs’ ability to differentiate will support the healing of the pancreas; these include stem cell sources from BM, adipose tissue, umbilical cord, and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
Spinal cord injury is a global term used to capture damage to the spinal cord resulting from trauma (typically in the form of car accidents, falls, or work-related injuries) or from disease or degenerative conditions.
Worldwide, it is estimated that up to 500,000 people suffer some type of spinal cord injury (SCI), with most resulting from car accidents, falls, or violence. The World Health Organization reports that people suffering from SCI are between two and five times more likely to die prematurely as a result of this injury.
To date, there have been limited advances in therapeutic treatment or correction related to SCI, with any therapeutic development focused on treatment of SCI-related symptoms as opposed to the condition itself.
In this study, Muthu et al. analyze evidence of the efficacy and safety of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy in human subjects with traumatic SCI and identify the therapy’s potential for the future management of SCI.
To analyze this evidence, the authors identified and reviewed studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of stem cell therapy for SCI. Specifically, Muthu et al. screened 321 research articles before narrowing this study down to 66 full-text reviews and finally identifying 19 studies that fit the criteria for this review.
These 19 studies involving 670 subjects demonstrated that those in the identified intervention groups showed statistically significant improvement in key measurement criteria, including the American Spine Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale grade improvement, ASIA sensorimotor score, activities of daily living score, residual urine volume, bladder function, light touch, and pinprick response.
The authors also found that while no significant difference was noted in motor score or activities of daily living scores, and that the intervention group has significant increase in complications, no serious or permanent adverse events were reported.
Considering these findings, Muthu et al.’s analysis establishes the efficacy and safety of MSC transplantation in the specific areas highlighted above (improvements in AIS grade, ASIA sensory score, and bladder function) without major adverse events. The authors also call for further research to better understand standardized dosing, time, route of administration, and source of MSCs used for transplantation.
Source: Muthu S, Jeyaraman M, Gulati A, Arora A. Current evidence on mesenchymal stem cell therapy for traumatic spinal cord injury: systematic review and meta-analysis. Cytotherapy. 2021 Mar;23(3):186-197. doi: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2020.09.007. Epub 2020 Nov 9. PMID: 33183980.
Neuropathic pain (NP) occurs when the nerves located either inside or outside of the brain and spinal cord are damaged by a lesion or a condition. To date, pharmacological and surgical treatments to address NP have focused on providing symptomatic relief without treating the underlying cause of the condition. These treatment approaches have not been overwhelmingly successful with over 50% of NP patients attaining adequate pain relief.
Recently, an increasing amount of pre-clinical and clinical research has demonstrated cell transplantation-based therapy for NP to be a promising treatment alternative.
In this review, Yin et al. summarize the use of cell grafts for the treatment of NP, synthesize the latest advances and adverse effects, and discuss possible mechanisms to further the development of cell transplant-based therapies for NP.
Neural stem cells (NSCs) demonstrate the ability to divide, self-renew, and differentiate into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes; they are also present in a wide array of tissues throughout the body. Considering they are capable of differentiating into neurons and glial, NSCs are considered an ideal candidate cell for replacing damaged nerve cells and delivering trophic factors to the site of lesions contributing to NP. Additional studies have demonstrated NSCs ability to regenerate nerves, offer neuroprotective effects, and secrete a number of factors that enhance the survival of motor and sensory neurons. NSCs transplantation coils also ease NP caused by peripheral nerve injury, a potential benefit that has been observed in animal models.
Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) are glial cells that surround and enclose the olfactory nerve bundle and possess the unique ability to transgress the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and central nervous system (CNS). Considering OECs have been shown to have neuro-regenerative functions, they are also considered to be a good choice for treating nerve injury and NP. Studies using animal models have confirmed that OECs transplantation could promote motor recovery and mitigate pain. Although OECs have good prospects of being used for treating NP, the authors call for additional research with longer observation time to verify their long-term effects and safety.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be obtained from a wide variety of sources and can be induced to differentiate into endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm cell lines. MSCs are often used for the treatment of diseases involving neuroinflammatory components and have been shown in animal studies to potentially alleviate NP symptoms.
Other cell therapies currently being evaluated for use as a treatment for NP include bone marrow mononuclear cells, GABAergic cells, and genetically modified cells.
The authors conclude that, despite the small number of clinical studies and the lack of systematic evidence, cell therapy as a treatment alternative for NP should be further explored. Specifically, further research should examine the optimal transplantation route, transplantation timing, number of transplanted cells, and transplantation survival rate.
Regenerative medicine options like stem cell treatments are growing in popularity both because of their potential effectiveness and because they can help you avoid invasive procedures like surgeries. Stem cell therapies focus on helping your body improve what it already does naturally — heal injuries.
Stem cells are the cells from which all differentiated cells form. They can come from your bone marrow or fat, with some people also turning to umbilical cord stem cells for treatment. But how do you know if you could benefit from stem cell therapy?
Those With Sports Injuries
If you play sports, you know that injuries can occur at any moment. You can twist your body in an unnatural way or suffer an impact that damages joints or ligaments. Minor injuries usually benefit from ice packs and rest, but healing can take time.
Healing is also a delicate process that can be disrupted. If that occurs, the injury might not heal completely and could lead to chronic issues that impact your mobility and even cause lasting pain.
When you turn to stem cell therapies, you can speed up the healing process. This type of regenerative medicine helps reduce inflammation, making it easier for nutrients and oxygen to get to the site of the injury.
Increased oxygen and nutrients are particularly important when dealing with ligaments and cartilage, which naturally don’t receive much blood flow.
Those With Arthritis
Arthritis is a debilitating condition in which your joints’ cartilage starts to deteriorate. The cartilage is what cushions your joints, preventing the bones from rubbing against one another. Once the cartilage breaks down, you can experience pain, stiffness, and mobility issues. In some cases, it can even cause joint deformity.
Stem cells, especially mesenchymal stem cells, release anti-inflammatory factors that help with pain and encourage your body to heal the damaged areas. Stem cells injected into the affected joint can reduce swelling, helping reduce pain and also restoring some mobility to stiff joints.
One of the best things about stem cell therapies for arthritis is that this kind of treatment is minimally invasive.
Those With Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries may severely impact your quality of life. You may struggle to perform everyday tasks and could face mobility issues that leave you dependent on others.
Spinal cord injuries are particularly difficult to treat because healing tends to plateau as a result of microenvironmental changes like inflammation, glial scar formation, and more. Stem cells can help because of their power to reduce inflammation, allowing the healing process to continue.
Ongoing treatment with stem cells could offer an improvement in mobility and a reduction in pain levels.
Those With Traumatic Injuries
After a major injury, like one that results from a car accident, healing can seem impossible. You may experience significant pain and could be dealing with mobility concerns that require physical therapy and even surgery.
Stem cell therapy works well in conjunction with physical therapy and other treatments because it utilizes cells from your body gathered in a minimally invasive way. You can continue other therapeutic programs while giving your body the chance to reduce inflammation so that blood can reach the injury site.
A better level of blood flow to the area not only brings nutrients and oxygen but also helps flush out toxins at the injury site that could make the symptoms worse.
Those Who’ve Gone Through Surgery
Going through surgery can put a lot of strain on your body. That is one of the reasons why the recovery process is often so long. If you’ve been through a surgical procedure, consider stem cell therapy.
Stem cell therapy can help reduce the recovery time so that you can start feeling more like yourself again. Inflammation is a huge concern. Think of the kinds of bruising you may have after a surgical procedure. Although stem cell therapy can’t prevent all inflammation and bruising, its use after surgery can reduce how much you experience.
If there’s less inflammation, the area can receive more nutrients and experience faster healing.
Those Who Need Joint Replacements
Replacing a joint is a surgical procedure that requires the implantation of an artificial joint and the removal of the damaged one. The recovery process for this type of procedure tends to be difficult, with many people experiencing mobility issues even as they heal because the artificial part hasn’t really integrated into the rest of the tissue.
If this type of surgery is something that you have to go through, adding stem cell therapy to the recovery process makes a difference. Stem cell therapies encourage the growth of new tissues around the artificial replacement that can make mobility easier and decrease pain, helping you get back to your life more rapidly.
Those With Degenerative Diseases
Degenerative diseases are chronic conditions that progressively get worse. They include diseases like:
For these conditions, a combination of treatments is usually most effective. They can include medications, physical therapy, and even surgery. By also turning to stem cell therapy, you have the chance to tackle the underlying cause of the problem so that you can get relief from symptoms.
Stem cell therapy for Parkinson’s disease, for example, focuses on helping restore the failing neurons that are in charge of producing dopamine. This could help with the management of dopamine levels and could even restore some function. In many instances, stem cell therapy for Parkinson’s can even slow down the disease.
Is Stem Cell Therapy Right for You?
Stem cell therapy might be able to offer the help you need with managing degenerative conditions, healing injuries, and providing pain relief that doesn’t rely on narcotics. You don’t have to worry about suffering allergic reactions or rejections because stem cell therapies usually rely on cells from your body.
If you’re considering stem cell treatments or want to know more about what the process involves and what you can expect, talk with a regenerative medicine specialist about the options available.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive autoimmune disease that affects the brain, spinal cord, and central nervous system (CNS). Affecting an estimated 3 million people worldwide, MS is typically characterized by an autoimmune response that results in inflammation, demyelination, and degeneration of axons.
Most patients who are diagnosed with MS demonstrate a disease progression characterized by periods of relapse and remission that can last for an extended duration.
There is no treatment that can yet address the various rates of MS progression. Additionally, current therapeutic approaches are designed to address the shortening of the duration of recovery following an attack, mitigating the progression of the disease, and attenuating the symptoms associated with MS.
Recently, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown various ranges of effectiveness when used for treatment of autoimmune diseases in clinical trials. However, most of the trials utilizing MSCs for this purpose have been reported for a variety of reasons, including a low number of treated subjects, different doses used in the studies, the feasibility of autologous or allogeneic transplantation, and the unclear therapeutic window after the treatment effect.
Considering this, the purpose of Islam et al.’s systematic review and meta-analysis (SRMA) was to provide a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness and safety of MSC therapy in individuals diagnosed with MS. To achieve this, the authors identified studies that reported on the efficacy and safety of MSC therapy in human patients with MS based on the changes in the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score from baseline to follow-up period. This screening process resulted in a total of 30 studies being incorporated into the systematic review and 22 studies being included in the subsequent meta-analysis.
Islam et al. reported that, following MSC therapy, it was observed that 40.4% of the patients with MS experienced improvement; 32.8% of patients remained stable while 18.1% experienced a worsening of their condition. In terms of the safety of MSC therapy, the authors reported that while no major complications were observed, headaches (57.6%), fever (53.1%), urinary tract infections (23.9%), and respiratory tract infections (7.9%) were the most commonly reported adverse events.
While further research, the development of new technology, optimization of MSC doses, and larger clinical trials are needed to fully evaluate the use of MSC therapy in the treatment of MS, the authors conclude that the results of this SRMA indicate that MSC therapy seems to be an efficacious therapeutic strategy for treating patients with MS.
Source: Islam MA, Alam SS, Kundu S, Ahmed S, Sultana S, Patar A, Hossan T. Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy in Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2023; 12(19):6311. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12196311
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