Medistem Fat Stem Cells Help Multiple Sclerosis Patients

San Diego, CA -

Above is a video describing a recent publication, (Riordan et al, Non-expanded adipose stromal vascular fraction cell therapy for multiple sclerosis Journal of Translational Medicine 2009, 7:29 (24 April 2009) in which the rationale and practical application of using autologous fat derived cells for treatment of multiple sclerosis was put forth. 

Essentially, the argument was made that within the stromal vascular fraction, not only mesenchymal stem cells, but also alternatively activated (M2) macrophages, as well as T regulatory cells are found in high concentration. 

Given that mesenchymal stem cells produce numerous neurotrophic growth factors and inhibit pathological inflammation, the arguement for using these cells was made.  Additionally, alternatively activated macrophages, and T regulatory cells are speculated to have ability to modify the innate and adaptive immune responses, respectively.

The paper was concluded by describing three patients with multiple sclerosis who went into remission following adiministration of autologous, non-expanded fat derived cells.

We previously discussed the ability of various stem cell components to modulate multiple sclerosis using mechanisms such as induction of indolamine 2,3 deoxygenase, as well as generally inhibiting Th1 and Th17 responses.