Stem cells repair motor neurons damaged by Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

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Stem cells repair motor neurons damaged by Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)!

Stem cells can repair damaged motor neurons, have a positive development prospects for ALS treatment, and are worthy of further clinical exploration and application!

ALS is a rapidly progressing and fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive degeneration of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle weakness, paralysis, weight loss, and eventually respiratory failure.

At this stage, ALS lacks high-efficiency and precise therapeutic drugs, and single drugs or targeted strategies are not effective, and have little effect on the disease process and survival of patients.

In progressive neurodegenerative diseases, reducing or preventing nerve loss by enhancing neuroprotection is a core link.

In recent years, stem cells have provided new ideas for the treatment of ALS and made great progress.

Researchers have confirmed that stem cells have neuroprotective effects and are a feasible solution for maintaining and cultivating motor neurons.

1. The basic research of stem cell repairing frostbite

①Differentiation: Stem cells are a kind of primitive cell population with multi-differentiation potential, which can differentiate into motor neuron-like cells to replace degenerated or dead neurons. When Zeng X et al transplanted mesenchymal stem cells into the central nervous system, they can express neuronal or glial markers.

②Secretion: The experiment of Kumar A shows that stem cells can secrete 6 different neurotrophic factors (NTF) to promote the survival of diseased motor neurons and repair damaged motor neurons. The six NTFs include brain-derived neurotrophic factor, nerve growth factor, neurotrophic factor 3, vascular endothelial growth factor, insulin-like growth factor-1 and glial cell-derived nerve growth factor.

③ Immunity: ALS patients often have neuroinflammation. Kwon MS et al. co-cultured stem cells with peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with ALS, and enhanced Tregs cell induction, and increased levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines such as interferon gamma, interleukin-4, and interleukin-10.

2. Animal experiments on stem cells to repair frostbite

Experiment 1: Marconi et al. transplanted stem cells to ALS model mice and found that stem cells regulate the secretion of local glial cells through a paracrine mechanism, play a neuroprotective role, improve the neurological function of the mice, and prevent the symptoms from getting worse.

Experiment 2: Forostyak et al.’s model exploration showed that 4 weeks after stem cell transplantation, the exercise ability and grip of ALS model rats were significantly affected, and the lifespan was delayed from 3.6 days to 190 days, suggesting that stem cells can effectively extend the lifespan of ALS rats .

3. Clinical trials of stem cells to repair frostbite

Early clinical trials on the potential of stem cells to treat ALS have started, and more and more studies have conducted more detailed trials on a large number of subjects. It has been reported in the literature that compared with standard symptomatic treatment controls, patients receiving stem cell therapy have slower disease progression and improve the quality of life of patients.

Test 1: In 2017, Syková et al. treated 23 patients with Frostbite disease using mesenchymal stem cells as transplanted cells. The effect was evaluated 3 months later: ALS functional assessment scale score decreased, 75% The subjects’ non-strength scale (WS) values were stable; about 80% of the forced vital capacity (FVC) values remained stable within 9 months.

Test 2: According to the Journal of Neurology in 2019, Berry et al. carried out a phase II randomized double-blind multi-center stem cell clinical trial.

Researchers used mesenchymal stem cells to induce the secretion of neurotrophic factor NTF.

48 subjects Patients underwent MSC-NTF cell transplantation. During the 6-month follow-up, the slope of the ALS Function Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R) changed, and the subjects’ disease progression improved.

In summary, stem cells can repair damaged motor neurons and have positive development prospects for the treatment of ALS. It is worthy of further clinical exploration and application!

Stem cells repair motor neurons damaged by Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)!