Reviewing Stem Cell Therapies for Neurodegenerative Diseases
A recent review in Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy has provided a comprehensive view of for how different types of stem cells can be used to treat a variety of neurodegenerative disorders and what the science now tells us about why these particular therapies are showing promise for their ability to help patients suffering from diseases that do not have other effective treatment options.
The review covers 5 main types of stem cells: mesenchymal stem cells, embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, perinatal stem cells, and neural stem cells. Mesenchymal stem cells are adult stem cells that are often found in bone marrow and that can differentiate into a number of different cell types, including bone cells, cartilage cells, muscle cells, and fat cells. Embryonic stem cells, on the other hand, come from human embryos. Given that they come from undifferentiated inner mass cells, these cells are also able to differentiate into a wide array of cell types. Induced pluripotent stem cells derived from skin or blood cells that have been reprogrammed such that they are much like embryonic stem cells.
Perinatal stem cells refer to stem cells that have come from the umbilical cord, the placenta, or the amniotic fluid. While perinatal stem cells also have the potential to differentiate into many cell types, they are often touted as valuable cells because they are taken from tissue that would otherwise be discarded. This process for collecting perinatal stem cells has the benefit of avoiding any ethical concerns that may be raised about the harm or pain inflicted when stem cells are collected by other means. Neural stem cells, unlike the other stem cell types, tend to generate into cells of the nervous system, including neurons and glia.
In addition to the characteristics of these 5 stem cell types and the relative advantages and disadvantages of these cells in regenerative medicine, the authors of this review also cover the implications of cell-based therapies for 4 specific neurodegenerative diseases: Alzheimer’s disease, ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and Parkinson’s disease. While the research is still relatively new, there is a lot of evidence to suggest that stem cells can help patients with neurodegenerative disease.
How to Prevent and Treat Multiple Sclerosis Flare-Ups
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients can experience exacerbations, also known as flare-ups, and they can vary for each person. Some can be intense while others are mild. Some bring on new symptoms while others may worsen old ones. A true flare-up lasts at least 24 hours and has been 30 days from the previous attack.
These exacerbations are caused by inflammation in the central nervous system which damages the myelin causing disruption in the transmission of nerve impulses resulting in symptoms of MS. Common symptoms experienced during a flare-up may include dizziness, balance problems, numbness, pain, blurred vision, fatigue, and pins and needle sensations. MS patients can treat symptoms which can shorten flare-ups and recover faster, but how can you avoid flare-ups? WebMD offers some helpful tips on how to prevent but each person is an individual who has their own triggers to relapsing attacks.
Take Your Medicines
Ensure you take the prescription medicines given by your physician. These medicines will help prevent you from a possible relapse and from your symptoms from getting worse. If some side effects are seen due to the medicine, talk to your physician for other options.
Maintain Your Health
A bladder infection or a flu are trigger examples to a flare-up. It is important to maintain healthy habits so you can avoid these triggers. Some suggestions are to diligently wash your hands, avoid anyone who is sick, get a flu-shot, and stay hydrated while maintaining a routine to avoid bladder infections.
Quit Smoking
In general, smoking is not good for overall health and it can make MS symptoms worse. Studies have shown that by quitting smoking, you can slow the progression while also preserving cognitive functions. One study conducted by the Menzies Research Institute in Australia showed that persons who smoked the equivalent of two packs per day accumulated three times as much disability as those who smoked less than a pack per day. It is best to consult with your doctor to discuss the best options for you to quit.
Relax
For some, stress can also be a cause for a flare-up. Keep down stress levels by practicing methods such as yoga, meditation, or activities that help you feel relaxed and help you unwind.
Rest
Sleep deprivation is common in people with MS due to symptoms like muscle spasms and pain that can keep one up at night. Some medications can also disrupt the sleep patterns. Consult with your physician to help manage symptoms and discuss changes in medication to help allow for a restful night’s sleep.
These tips will hopefully help you in prevention of flare-ups. However, when they do present themselves, it is important to keep your physician updated so they can help treat for faster recovery while also reducing the inflammation. Your doctor may prescribe a steroid to tone down the inflammation, but some patients can be overly sensitive to steroids. They may have side effects like mood changes, weight gain, stomach issues and sleep deprivation. In these cases, your doctor can help with alternatives such as Achtar gel which is injected into muscles to decrease the inflammation.
A Case for Mesenchymal Stem Cell Use in Inflammatory Skin Disorders
There is no effective cure currently available for inflammatory skin disorders. Because of their ability to impact the immune system and thereby modify inflammatory processes, mesenchymal stem cells offer a promising foundation for developing a treatment for inflammatory skin disorders. A recent review published in the International Journal of Molecular Science described the evidence to date that supports the use of mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of these skin disorders.
According to the authors of the review, their previous work in both clinical and preclinical settings has shown that mesenchymal stem cells are effective in the treatment of one specific major inflammatory skin disease, atopic dermatitis. The authors note that other researchers have also found similar results and argue that these consistent findings suggest that mesenchymal stem cells would likely be useful in treating other types of inflammatory dermatosis.
One of the most promising observations related to mesenchymal stem cells and inflammatory skin disorders are the anti-inflammatory effect that mesenchymal stem cells tend to have when implanted. Given that implantation of foreign substances tends to itself enhance inflammation, the reduction in inflammation that is seen following the transplant of mesenchymal stem cells is an impressive illustration of the power of these cells’ anti-inflammatory impact. Based on the research, these cells are able to combat inflammation by modifying activity in the cells of the immune system that cause inflammation.
The authors also point to other ways that mesenchymal stem cells could be used to treat inflammatory skin disorders, such as cell priming. Cell priming refers to the introduction of cells of the immune system to specific antigens so that an immune response will later occur when those cells are re-exposed to the same antigens. This process happens organically within the immune system but can also be used strategically in medicine to modify immune responses.
Based on the evidence put forth in this review, there is substantial evidence to support further exploration of the use of mesenchymal stem cells to treat inflammatory skin conditions. Future research will help scientists and clinicians determine how best to use these cells to improve quality of life for patients with each of these types of skin conditions.
Stem Cells Looking Promising for the Treatment of Psoriasis
A recent review in the International Journal of Molecular Science has outlined the role that stem cells play in psoriasis. The first clinical trials using stem cells to address psoriasis are currently underway. The idea to use stem cells to treat psoriasis came serendipitously when researchers observed that, when patients with other conditions were treated with stem cells, their skin lesions underwent remission.
The specific stem cells that have proven useful in healing these skin lesions are mesenchymal stem cells and hematopoietic stem cells. However, there is potential for other stem cell types to help with psoriasis as well. Indeed, according to the researchers, psoriasis patients who have undergone bone marrow stem cells transplants have also gone into remission.
A major challenge in treating psoriasis is the complexity of the condition, which involves relationships between skin cells, immune cells, and the vascular endothelium. However, dysfunction of certain stem cells has been identified as a potential contributor to psoriasis and provides theoretical credence to the value of stem cells in a treatment against the condition.
Based on research into the mechanisms by which stem cells may be able to help patients with psoriasis, there are a number of effects of stem cells that are advantageous. For instance, the stem cells impact both cells of the skin, affecting the proliferation and differentiation of those cells, as well as cells of the immune system. The multiple ways that stem cells can affect psoriasis support the view of psoriasis as a multi-system condition.
Given that psoriasis appears to be not only a condition of the skin, but one of the immune system, developing an effective therapy can be challenging. Treatments to help patients with psoriasis would ideally address both the skin symptoms that plague these patients, as well as the underlying physiological processes that lead to the skin condition. Future research will need to address how specific types of stem cells can help those with psoriasis and how these different stem cells impact specific aspects of the condition.
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