Neural Stem Cells in Clinical Trials

A long-term study carried out on those with aggressive rapidly progressing MS published results in March 2011 showing that stem cell therapy had a significant impact on disease progression in such patients and could improve quality of life (Kimiskidis, et al, 2011). These patients underwent chemotherapy to kill their own blood-producing cells and stem cells and then had an infusion of bone marrow-derived stem cells to rebuild their own immune system which was suspected of attacking CNS tissue and causing the MS. Thirty-five patients were enrolled and treated, with at least sixteen finding that their symptoms reduced on the standard disability scale used prior to the treatment. Unfortunately however, two patients died from transplant complications, demonstrating that this is not a treatment to be recommended to all, but a possible option for those who have tried all other current treatment modalities with little success.

Many clinics have been carrying out stem cell treatments claiming to treat neurological disease for a number of years but there has, until now, been little to support such action. However, the method of introduction of the stem cells, the culturing of the stem cells and their origin, along with the conditions of transplant (including manipulation of the blood-brain barrier) remain extremely important factors influencing the outcome of stem cell treatment. Many of these careful controls are not yet fully understood, making an infusion of adult stem cells into the peripheral blood at an unregulated overseas clinic highly questionable for any condition, neurological or otherwise.

Adult Neural Stem Cell Activity and Repair

Adult neural stem cells pass through several stages prior to becoming full-fledged granule cells or olfactory interneurons. These multipotent cells divide slowly and become neural progenitor cells before progressing to immature neurons and then mature cells (Ma, et al, 2009). This slow pace is thought to be deliberate in order to gradually incorporate new cells into the system and allow the careful integration of such new material. This adaptive process may not respond well to a sudden influx of highly active stem cells or new neural tissue which is a difficulty faced by those investigating the use of neural stem cells to treat pathological conditions of the CNS such as MS, Parkinson’s Disease, and spinal cord injury.

Genetic expression, stimulatory and inhibitory chemicals in the developing embryo and neural tissue, and environmental factors are responsible for the controlled and careful development of the CNS. Faulty regulation of these factors may then result in abnormal expansion in different cortical areas, making the field of neural stem cell research extremely complicated, but potentially very rewarding once the mechanisms of action are more clearly understood.

Another exciting development in the field of adult stem cell research is the finding that bone marrow stem cells have the ability to travel to the brain post-transplant and can aid neuroregeneration. Scientists have conducted animal experiments using gender-mismatched bone marrow transplants and then isolated neural cells which contained Y chromosomes in the brains of those (female rodents) receiving the transplants. The possibility of using peripheral blood stem cells to form new neural tissue or regenerate damaged tissue is extremely exciting for those suffering with a degenerative brain illness, stroke patients, those with spinal cord injury, and many others.

Continue Reading –> Neural Stem Cell Abnormalities and Mental Illness