New study concludes that stem cells can help induce MS remission

MS is a common autoimmune condition that affects the nervous system. While the specifics remain unknown, scientists believe it could be due to an immune system dysfunction that destroys the protective insulation (called myelin), which is coating nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord. Researchers in Italy now suggest that hematopoietic stem cells (the same kind of cells found in cord blood), can help prevent increased dysfunction in patients with MS.

Why Stem Cells Could Be The Solution

For over twenty years, researchers have been testing and evaluating the use of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from bone marrow, to treat MS. There is an ongoing clinical trial in Italy, that’s testing whether a HSC transplant could help reset the patient’s immune system and stop or conquer further damage.

What The Study Says

The study includes 210 individuals who underwent a HSC transplant for MS between 1997 and 2019. The majority were diagnosed with a relapsing form of multiple sclerosis and had a moderate-to-high level of disability. 65.5% of the patients showed no signs of their disability worsening, 10 years after they received their transplant. This suggests that HSC can prevent the worsening of disabilities in patients with MS.

Another Reason To Preserve Newborn Stem Cells

HSCs are not only found in bone marrow, but also in cord blood, which is the blood left in the umbilical cord after a baby is born. Only at birth, you have the possibility to save these unique stem cells. It is possible that cord blood could be used to reset the immune systems of patients with multiple sclerosis or other autoimmune diseases in the future. Expecting families now have another reason to consider?preserving?their baby’s?newborn stem cells.

Please note that these therapies are only in their research stages, so it is not currently feasible to treat these conditions with HSCs yet. However, we at Cellsave believe in the future of these trials.