Mesenchymal Stem Cells (continued)
15. Multiple Sclerosis and neurotrophins
Neurotrophins are polypeptides that include nerve growth factor (NGF), glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and neuropoietic cytokines. These neurotrophins play an important role in neural regeneration, remyelination and by intracellular signaling regulation of the peripheral and central nervous systems. Mesenchymal stem cells, by the release of neurotrophic factors, are able to protect the neuronal population and suppress new lesion formation.
Razavi S, Nazem G, Mardani M, Esfandiari E, Salehi H, Esfahani SH. Neurotrophic factors and their effects in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Adv Biomed Res 2015;4:53. on-line reference
16. Multiple System Atrophy and Neural Protection
Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a sporadic, adult onset, progressive neurodegenerative disease. The condition is defined by the presence of alpha-synuclein-containing inclusions that are associated with neurodegeneration. Some of the treatments suggested by the authors include lithium which interfers with alpha-synuclein aggregation and its inclusion in oligodendrocytes, mesenchymal stem cells that provide neuroprotection and intravenous immunoglobulins that reduce neuroinflammation and miccroglial activation.
Palma JA, Kaufmann H. Novel therapeutic approaches in multiple System Atrophy. Clin Auton Res 2014 Jun 14 [Epub ahead of print] on-line reference
17. Muscular Dystrophy
Both mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and mesoangioblasts (MABs) differentiate into skeletal muscle. The author discusses the results of preclinical animal studies that used these treatments and their future direction in helping muscular dystrophy.
Berry SE. Concise review: Mesoangioblast and mesenchymal stem cell therapy for muscular dystrophy: progress, challenges, and future directions. Stem Cells Transl Med 2015;4(1):91-8. on-line reference
18. Osteoarthritis and the knee
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been used and refined to provide greater healing to the knee, including the bone, ligaments, cartilage and meniscal tissue. The authors evaluate the outcomes and provide new recommendations for treating the knee with biologics.
LaPrade CM, James EW, LaPrade RF, Engebretsen L. How should we evaluate outcomes for use of biologics in the knee? J Knee Surg 2015;28(1):35-44. on-line reference
19. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Stem Cells
The most commonly utilized stem cells for plastic and reconstructive surgery include bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and adipose-derived stem cells. These are mainly used in tissue loss and chronic wounds. They also promote blood vessel development (angiogenesis) and bone support. As costs for stem cells are reduced, their use will become a viable alternative to traditional surgical procedures.
Kozlik M, Wójcicki P. The use of stem cells in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Adv Clin Med 2014;23(6):1011-7. on-line reference
20. Sepsis and Immune Regulation
Sepsis is an extensive infection that overwhelms the immune system. In animal studies, mesenchymal stem cells reduce mortality through reprogramming macrophages and neutrophils (immune cells) towards being anti-inflammatory, promoting the release of anti-microbial peptides, and regulating the inflammatory matrix. The authors discuss previous results and provide future directions for human clinical trials.
Lombardo E, van der Poll T, DelaRosa O, Dalemans W. Mesenchymal stem cells as a therapeutic tool to treat sepsis. World J Stem Cells 2015; 7(2):368-79. on-line reference
21. Spinal Cord Injury
About 90% of people over 60 years of age have degeenrative changes in the lumbar spine on imaging. A small number of these people require surgery and even with successful surgery, there can still be pain and disability. Advances in regenerative medicine have led to numerous clinical trials for treating degenerative spinal conditions. Mesenchymal stem cells have helped with cartilage formation and disc regeneration that provides greater benefit to the practice of spinal surgery.
Oehme D, Goldschlager T, Rosenfeld JV, Ghosh P, Jenkin G. The role of stem cell therapies in degenerative lumbar spine disease: a review. Neurosurg Rev 2015 Mar 7 [Epub ahead of print] on-line reference
22. Spinocerebellar Ataxia
Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) is a devastating progressive neurodegenerative disorder, for which no treatments have been effective. Some studies have shown that an intracerebellar or intrathecal injection of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) was partially effective in some mouse models of cerebellar ataxia such as SCA1 and Lurcher mutant. Mesenchymal stem cells may be beneficial in this condition because of their induction of growth factors that induce neuronal growth and synaptic connections and reduce programmed cell death (apoptosis). The authors discuss the use of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells for this disease as well as the safety and effectivenss of mesenchymal stem cells from human umbilical cord. Nakamura K, Mieda T, Suto N, Matsuura S, Hirai H. Mesenchymal stem cells as a potential therapeutic tool for spinocerebellar ataxia. Cerebellum 2015; 14(2):165-70. on-line reference
23. Stroke
Stroke often occurs in elderly patients who have accumulated an unfavorable internal environment of oxidative stress, infections, and tissue degeneration. The use of stem cell therapies, such as neural progenitors and mesenchymal stem cells, in aging animal models of stroke show that the aging brain can be renewed to support neural plasticity and remodeling. The authors discuss these issues in regard to patient programs that treat diabetes and heart disease as well as stroke.
Popa-Wagner A, Buga AM, Doeppner TR, Hermann DM. Stem cell therapies in preclinical models of stroke associated with aging. Front Cell Neurosci 2014;8:347. on-line reference
24. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is a multi-organ autoimmune disorder. While corticosteroids and immunosuppressive medications can relieve some of the inflammation and pain, they can also cause considerable adverse effects. Cell-based therapies have the potential of providing long term suppression of the symptoms of the disease. Treatments that include regulatory T cells in addition to B cells, natural killer cells and mesenchymal stromal/stem cells are of increasing interest to researchers and physicians.
Liao J, Chang C, Wu H, Lu Q. Cell-based therapies for systemic lupus erythematosus. Autoimmun Rev 2015;14(1):43-8. on-line reference
25. Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence can be a detrimental impact to millions of men and women with this condition. While treatments can provide relief from symptoms, there need to be treatments that reverse the underlying pathology and restore normal voiding function. Stem cells such as mesenchymal stem cells and adipose-derived stem cells provide immunomodulatory, anti-apoptotic (inhibit cell death), anti-scarring, and angiogenic (blood vessel renewal) benefits to the therapy.
Tran C, Damaser MS. The potential role of stem cells in the treatment of urinary incontinence. Ther Adv Urol 2015;7(1):22-40. on-line reference
26. Wound Healing
The repair and restoration of blood vessels (angiogenesis) to a wound plays a critical role in healing. Non healing wounds are often caused by vascular deficiencies. Adult stem cells that include mesenchymal stem cells, induced-pluripotent stem cells and endothelial progenitor cells show great promise in promoting angiogeneis and wound repair. These stem and progenitor cells may also help those with chronic non-healing wounds.
King A, Balaji S, Keswani SG, Crombleholme TM. The Role of Stem Cells in Would Angiogenesis. Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle) 2014; 3(10):614-625. on-line reference
