Multiple sclerosis, a disorder that compromises the central nervous system, affects roughly 400,000 people in the US and 2.5 million people globally. The cause of this potentially debilitating condition is not fully understood, and there is no known cure. A new stem cell treatment may be bringing researchers closer to a cure for MS, however.
The treatment, called autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant, has been tested on over 100 patients with multiple sclerosis, between 2003 and 2014, and so far, 64% of trial participants have reported a reduction in disability.
How MS Affects the Central Nervous System
Multiple sclerosis occurs when the immune system responds abnormally to the central nervous system. The immune system attacks myelin, a fatty substance that insulates the nerve fibers of the CNS. When the myelin is damaged, the nerve fibers become susceptible to damage, and nerve impulses to and from the brain are disrupted. The symptoms of this neurological condition vary from person to person but may include fatigue, difficulty walking, muscle weakness, numbness of extremities, bowel and bladder control problems, muscle spasticity, or blurred vision.
Nerve Cell Multiple Sclerosis Comparison Diagram
In most cases, treatment for MS involves managing symptoms and disrupting the course of the disorder in order to slow its progression as much as possible. This treatment may include certain medications used for MS management, such as Avonex or Gilenya, and ongoing physical therapy.
How Stem Cell Treatment Can Help
Autologous hematopoietic stem cell treatment, which is being studied at hospitals in both the US and the UK, may do more than just control MS symptoms—it may actually “reset” the immune system to a pre-MS state. Many of the patients who have undergone this treatment have already experienced improvements in their symptoms, and several patients who were wheelchair bound can now walk again.
Patients participating in clinical trials to test this new treatment have undergone high-dose chemotherapy, which kills the immune cells responsible for damaging myelin and nerve fibers. After completing chemotherapy treatment, patients received bone marrow transplants containing their own stem cells. These stem cells were at an early stage of development and didn’t have the flaw that triggered MS. Essentially, the cellular memory responsible for CNS damage was erased and patients’ immune system cells were rebuilt.
There are some drawbacks to this treatment. Chemotherapy can cause unpleasant side effects, including fatigue, nausea, and hair loss. And so far, stem cell transplant treatments have only been proven effective in patients with relapsing-remitting MS (the most common form of multiple sclerosis) who have had the condition for fewer than 10 years. There is also a relapse rate of about 10% within five years. However, considering that 64% of patients have reported improved functioning and 80% have reported no MS relapse after four years, it’s a form of treatment that many people with MS may find well worth pursuing.
