How Might Stem Cells Treat Autism?
Some stem cell companies are investigating the use of regenerative medicine in the treatment of autism, including RegeneCell who are targeting the mechanisms of hypoperfusion and immune dysregulation affecting the gastrointestinal system in the pursuit of a stem cell therapy for autism. RegeneCell are using cord blood stem cells in their research along with mesenchymal stem cells to try to heal both the brain and the gut. The umbilical cord blood CD34+ stem cells are being used in an attempt to induce angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels in order to improve circulation to the brain. Improvements in blood flow should follow stem cell injections and lead to better tissue oxygenation and nervous system function but the treatments are far from straightforward.
Angiogenesis in Autism
Theoretically, the introduction of stem cells and the resulting angiogenesis in the brain should help combat hypoxia and help clear abnormal metabolite and neurotransmitter accumulations. Hypoperfusion in different areas of the brain has been seen in some studies to correlate with functional abnormalities present in autistic spectrum disorders. Examples include poor blood flow to areas of the temporal lobes which are implicated in facial recognition, social interaction, and language development.
Autism and Immune Dysfunction
Autistic children have immune dysfunction that may lead to problems with gastrointestinal health, creating symptoms such as bloating, gas, diarrhoea, and even inflammation and intestinal lesions. The immune dysfunction is also apparent in the central nervous system in some autistic children where an autoimmune response by the very cells supposed to protect brain health (the astrocytes) takes place instead causing damage to the nerve cells and contributing to chronic inflammation. CD34+ stem cells are already being tested for use in other autoimmune diseases, and those affecting the gastrointestinal system such as Crohn’s disease.
Types of Stem Cells for Autism Therapy
The cord blood stem cells used in the research so far have been, by necessity, allogeneic which prompts safety concerns over immune system rejection upon stem cell transplantation. Administering immunosuppressant drugs alongside donor stem cell treatments is not an attractive option for autistic children whose immunity may already be compromised by a variety of factors. More recent research does suggest however that such medications may not always be necessary and some patients may actually have their own cord blood stored for use in coming years.
The use of mesenchymal stem cells is explained through appeal to their apparent ability to suppress pathological inflammatory responses and stimulate the production of blood cells. As autistic children may have abnormalities in their lymphocytes it may be that such therapy has a significant role to play in their treatment. Proposals for Phase I/II clinical trials are being constructed by some biotechnology companies and US researchers, including it seems those at RegeneCell. The need for trials with sufficient participants to make the results significant has been expressed time and again, along with sound methodology to ensure that other variables are controlled for during any such trials. Above all, autistic children and their parents need to be adequately counselled as to the possible effects of any stem cell treatments for autism, especially given the possibility that therapy may actually have adverse health consequences.
Continue Reading –> Evidence of Autism ‘Cure’ with Stem Cells
