The potentials of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Stem cell therapy has indicated a promising treatment capacity for tissue regeneration. Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune-based chronic disease, in which the myelin sheath of the central nervous system is destructed. Scientists have not discovered any cure for multiple sclerosis, and most of the treatments are rather palliative. The pursuit of a versatile treatment option, therefore, seems essential. The immunoregulatory and non-chronic rejection characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells, as well as their homing properties, recommend them as a prospective treatment option for multiple sclerosis. Different sources of mesenchymal stem cells have distinct characteristics and functional properties; in this regard, choosing the most suitable cell therapy approach seems to be challenging. In this review, we will discuss umbilical cord/blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells, their identified exclusive properties compared to another adult mesenchymal stem cells, and the expectations of their potential roles in the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Recent Advances in Nanomedicines for Multiple Sclerosis Therapy

“…Although current treatment strategies for MS are mainly devoted to the development of DMTs since the efficacy of DMTs in the clinical practice is relatively low, the side effects are high and some of the DMT immunomodulatory agents are not able to prevent progressive neurodegeneration; a new modality, stem cell-based therapy, has been developed for the treatment of MS. Different types of stem cells, including induced pluripotent stem cells (iPCSs), neural stem cells (NSCs), , and embryonic stem cells (ESCs), have been explored for the treatment of MS, among which the most studied are hematopoietic stem cells (HPSCs) , and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). , The mechanisms for stem cell-based therapy include replacing/repairing the multifunctioning immune system by HPSCs, altering release of cytokines and trophic factors so as to regulate neurological immune responses and induce reparation of remyelination by MSCs, replacing the damaged myelin sheath directly through differentiation of NSCs and iPSCs, and invoking immunosuppressive and neuroprotective effects by ESCs (Figure ). Although effectiveness of stem cells-based therapy has been demonstrated for the treatment of MS, Genc et al suggested several challenges should be addressed before stem cells are clinically managed for MS treatment.…”