Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Nowadays, available therapies for MS can help to manage MS course and symptoms, but new therapeutic approaches are required. Stem cell therapy using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) appeared promising in different neurodegenerative conditions, thanks to their beneficial capacities, including the immunomodulation ability, and to their secretome. The secretome is represented by growth factors, cytokines, and extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by MSCs. In this review, we focused on studies performed on in vivo MS models involving the administration of MSCs and on clinical trials evaluating MSCs administration. Experimental models of MS evidenced that MSCs were able to reduce inflammatory cell infiltration and disease score. Moreover, MSCs engineered to express different genes, preconditioned with different compounds, differentiated or in combination with other compounds also exerted beneficial actions in MS models, in some cases also superior to native MSCs. Secretome, both conditioned medium and EVs, also showed protective effects in MS models and appeared promising to develop new approaches. Clinical trials highlighted the safety and feasibility of MSC administration and reported some improvements, but other trials using larger cohorts of patients are needed.
Highlights
Multiple sclerosis (MS) represents a chronic inflammatory, demyelinating, neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS)
mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) seem promising in MS treatment due to their immunomodulatory capacity, release of trophic factors, differentiation ability, and regenerative potential
Experimental results suggested that MSCs from different sources, and transplanted through different routes, decreased demyelination and inflammatory cell infiltration leading to an amelioration of clinical scores and symptoms
Summary
Multiple sclerosis (MS) represents a chronic inflammatory, demyelinating, neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Disease-modifying therapies can modulate the immune system, exerting anti-inflammatory activity and reducing the rate of relapses. They can stabilize, delay or, only in some cases, slightly improve disability [8]. In order to select the studies, we performed a PubMed search, using the keywords “mesenchymal stem cell” and “multiple sclerosis”, collecting the works published in the last five years that evaluated the efficacy or the safety of MSCs transplantation in MS models and in MS patients. We considered the studies that compared MSCs obtained from MS patients with those of healthy controls, in order to compare their characteristics with the aim to evaluate whether MS patients derived MSCs showed equal therapeutic potential
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
