Stem cells are cells in the body that can mature into specialized cells that serve a specific function. They are also able to produce exact copies of themselves. There are two main types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells.
- Embryonic stem cells are found in the developing embryo and can mature into most types of cells in the body. The incredible flexibility of these stem cells highlights their usefulness for tissue healing and regeneration; however, there exists ethical debate over the use of stem cells from embryos.
- Adult stem cells are found in some adult tissues and organs including the bone marrow, skin, blood, and brain. Adult stem cells are not as flexible as embryonic stem cells and are therefore more limited in terms of the types of cells they mature into.
The unique properties of stem cells provide promise for new treatments that can slow/halt MS disease activity and repair tissue damage in the central nervous system. In addition to ethical concerns surrounding the use of stem cells, legitimate health concerns exist as well. Stem cell treatments can be invasive and risky procedures, as these cells have the potential to develop into tumours.
Types of stem cells:
Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) are found in bone marrow, blood, and umbilical cord. These stem cells are capable of developing into all cells that involve the blood and immune system. They have been used for many years to treat leukemia, lymphoma, and blood disorders. HSC transplant is a major medical procedure, and it does have some serious risks. The procedure involves collecting stem cells from an individual’s own (autologous) bone marrow. The individual is then treated with chemotherapy to deplete the immune system and stem cells are reintroduced into the body where they mature into new, healthy immune cells. Stem cells can be injected into the body in different ways. Generally, stem cells are given through an injection directly into the vein (intravenous (IV) injection) or they can be injected into the space around the spinal cord (intrathecal injection). Less commonly, stem cells are injected directly into the brain (intraparenchymal injection).
Autologous HSC transplants (or aHSCT) have been tested in people with highly active forms of MS who do not respond to other treatments and have a poor prognosis. The primary objective for this type of transplant is to reboot the immune system which is thought to be causing damage to nerve cells in MS. The goal of the procedure is to provide the person with a new, healthy immune system that will no longer attack myelin. In 2000, the MS Society of Canada and MS Scientific Research Foundation funded a clinical trial involving HSC transplants, led by Drs. Mark Freedman and Harry Atkins from the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute/University of Ottawa. For more information see Canadian Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT) Trial.
The aHSC therapy available in Canada is a treatment that uses high-dose chemotherapy, also called conditioning. There are currently several sites in Canada accepting referrals for individuals who are eligible for aHSCT. Speak to your neurologist if you are exploring this treatment option. If your neurologist believes that you might benefit from this procedure, they can send a referral to one of the following sites for consideration: The Ottawa Hospital, Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary, Le Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM), and Le Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Québec-Université Laval (CHU). If you have other questions related to the aHSCT procedure, please ask your MS health care team.
Other aHSCT trials have been completed or are currently taking place around the world. These trials include different methods, eligibility criteria, and chemotherapy regimens and each treatment protocol will bring different risks and outcomes. Together this body of research has greatly enhanced our understanding of the full risks and benefits associated with aHSCT as a treatment for MS, and paves the way for ongoing research on treatments involving stem cells for all forms of MS.
The Canadian BMT trial offers a unique perspective on the sustained effect of this treatment over the long term, reducing the need for ongoing treatment by a DMT and some patients achieved a halt in their disability progression or a return of function. While these outcomes can not be predicted for each individual, studies such as the Canadian trial, have identified that benefits of aHSCT are more likely to be seen in younger individuals (under the age of 40) with aggressive early disease despite treatment and without concerning comorbidities.
Research suggests that aHSCT procedures to date have not been effective in people who have experienced a high level of MS-related disability over a prolonged period and/or show low levels of inflammation in the brain and spinal cord.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are found in many places in the body including the bone marrow, skin, and fat. While MSCs showed promise to suppress inflammation and repair nerve tissue in animal models, results from an international phase II clinical trial, MEsenchymal StEm cells for Multiple Sclerosis (MESEMS) were unable to demonstrate that MSC treatment was effective at reducing inflammatory activity in individuals with active relapsing-remitting or progressive MS as defined by recent relapses and/or evidence of MRI activity.
MESCAMS (MEsenchymal StEm cell therapy for CAnadian MS patients) is the Canadian arm of the international MESEMS clinical trial which was performed across fifteen sites and ten countries. Unlike the aHSCT procedure, the MSC trial did not include chemotherapy.
Though these findings do not support autologous MSC for treatment of active relapsing-remitting, primary or secondary progressive MS, MSC have demonstrated neuroprotective and tissue repair properties in other studies involving animal models of MS. More evidence is needed to assess the efficacy of MSC treatment to understand whether they can repair tissue to reduce disease worsening and prevent disability progression.
Neural Stem Cells
Neural stem cells (NSC) are found in the brain and can mature into various types of brain cells including neurons, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes. NSCs may serve to repair or protect the brain and modulate the immune system. Early clinical trials in non-human primates demonstrated that treatment with NSCs benefitted the progression of MS-like disease in animal models.
Two Phase 1 trials (NSC-SPMS and STEMS) have been completed and found the delivery of human neural stem cells in people with progressive MS was safe and well-tolerated. The results from these safety studies are positive for future stem cell and regenerative medicine treatments in MS. Future clinical trials (phase 2 and 3) with larger numbers of participants and controls are necessary to assess the efficacy of this treatment for MS.
As demonstrated by the examples above, there is a vast array of research taking place that will provide additional answers about the use of stem cells to treat MS. Results published thus far are promising and will continue to build on the body of evidence making it possible to determine what kind of stem cells can be used, optimal delivery methods, and which forms of MS may benefit from the different stem cell procedures.