1. Review Article
Stem cells used for the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis
Lysander Borrero Romero
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a degenerative disease caused by the immune system. In MS the T cell
attacks the myelin sheath around the axon making it very difficult for a patient to move his
appendages. The type of MS that causes fewer problems, in long-term conditions, is the Benign
multiple sclerosis. The deadliest type of MS is called Marburg Variant that can cause even death.
Embryonic stem cells are found in mammal embryos and adult stem cells are present in various
organs of a mammal. Stem cell treatments are mostly autologous. It is usually done by extracting
stem cells from the bone marrow and injecting them into the affected area. The purpose of this
paper is to identify how the stem cells can be used for the improvement of this disease. The
outcome of this investigation is expected to be that stem cells can reduce the effects of multiple
sclerosis, but not cure it completely.
Introduction cell is none other than a lymphocyte, also
called white blood cell, from the immune
Multiple sclerosis is a degenerative disorder
system that matures in the thymus. The
in the nervous system. This is an
infiltration of these cells causes the
autoimmune disease meaning that your own
destruction of myelin. Myelin is present in
immune system is attacking itself. This
the neuron and it is a kind of lipid-
disease is caused by the infiltration of T
containing fiber wrapped around the axon. It
cells into the central nervous system. A T
acts like an insulator and facilitates the
1

2. transmission of nerve signals. This review and Marburg Variant. Benign multiple
paper will be about how multiple sclerosis sclerosis is when a patient can expect little
can be treated with stem cells, reducing the or no progress since its first attack, and
effects of demyelination. generally they can remain fully functional.
Relapsing Remitting Multiple sclerosis
There have been many studies showing
(RRMS) is the most common form of the
that women are more affected by multiple
disease; the patient can suffer a series of
sclerosis than men. For example, studies
attacks and then there is a complete or
published in the Campbell Biology book
partial remission stage. Secondary
indicate that gender, genetics, and the
Progressive Multiple sclerosis can start as
environment could influence the
the RRMS but has no complete or partial
susceptibility to autoimmune diseases. In
remission stage, with just a break in the
addition, women are two to three times more
duration of the attacks. Primary Progressive
likely to suffer from multiple sclerosis and
Multiple sclerosis is mostly found in men
other diseases than men. They also mention
and it has no distinct or real periods of
that there is still no concrete evidence of
remission. Progressive Relapsing Multiple
why do women develop more autoimmune
sclerosis is a very rare form of MS, and it
diseases than men, and why there is more
produces acute attacks with no relief.
frequency of autoimmune diseases in
Marburg Variant, or Malignant Multiple
industrialized countries (Reece et al 2011).
sclerosis, is the rarest form of MS and after
Types of MS
the initial attack can usually kill in months
There are various types of MS like or even weeks.
Benign MS, RRMS, SPMS, PPMS, PRMS,
2

3. Stem Cells high-dose immunosuppression with
peripheral blood stem cell transplantation
There are two types of stem cells,
(SCT) in selected patients (Openshaw 2000).
embryonic and adult stem cells. Embryonic
In this investigation they are trying to see
stem cells are the stem cells found in the
how the body will react to the
developing embryo of a mammal. Adult
immunosuppressive drugs. They need to use
stem cells, also called somatic stem cells,
immunosuppression, which is lowering the
are present in different organs like bone
intensity of protection of the immune
marrow, liver, peripheral blood, brain, and
system, in order for the body to accept the
heart. Stem cells help repair the body of any
stem cells. They are autologous stem cells,
kind of disease. There has been treatment
meaning from your own body, but since they
even for cancer using stem cells. In recent
are extracted and preserved the immune
studies scientists have extracted stem cells
system could mistake them for a pathogen
from the bone marrow as a treatment for
and destroy them.
multiple sclerosis. They are trying to use
Eighty-five patients with progressive
autologous stem cells. Autologous stem cells
Multiple sclerosis were treated with
are stem cells from your body but they are
autologous HSCT (hematopoietic stem cell
extracted and preserved in a laboratory.
transplantation) in 20 centers and reported to
They are preserved in a laboratory with the
the autoimmune disease working party of
objective that they can be taken out when
the European Group for Blood and Marrow
you need a stem cell transplant.
Transplantation (Fassas et al 2002). Fifty-
Stem Cell Treatment
two of these patients representing 61% of
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-
the subjects in the study were females
mediated disease that may be amenable to
3

4. between the ages of 20 and 58 years old. achieve immunosuppression even if it is an
The outcome of the study was 7 deaths, 5 autologous stem cell transplantation. The
due to toxicity and 2 of neurological use of intensive stem cell transplantation
deterioration. Neurological deterioration was offers an opportunity to deliver maximally
observed in 22 patients during the tolerated immunosuppression (Nash et al
transplant. The study showed that there was 2003).Once the immunosuppression is done,
more progression in patients with primary they can proceed with the insertion of stem
progressive MS than patients with secondary cells in the brain and spinal cord. The stem
progressive or relapsing-remitting MS. cells would be used for the regeneration of
myelin sheath around the axon. This
Conclusion
regeneration will help the patient have a
Among patients with multiple sclerosis,
better movement of his appendages. The
relapses do not significantly influence the
stem cells would even slow down the
progression of irreversible disability
process of multiple sclerosis.
(Confavreux 2000). The scientists must
4

5. References
Confavreux C, Vukusic S, Moreau T, and others. High-dose immunosuppressive
Adeleine P. 2000. Relapses and Progression therapy and autologous peripheral blood
of Disability in Multiple Sclerosis [Internet]. stem cell transplantation for severe multiple
N Engl J. [16 Nov 2000]. Volume 343(20). sclerosis. Journal Of The American Society
Available at: of Hematology[Internet]; [2003 October 1].
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJ Doi:10.1182/blood-2002-12-3908 .Vol.
M200011163432001#t=abstract 102:[approximately 10 p.] Available at:
http://bloodjournal.hematologylibrary.org/co
Fassa AS, Passweg JR, Anagnostopoulos A,
ntent/102/7/2364.full.pdf+html
Kazis A, Kozak T, Havrdova E, Carreras E,
Graus F, Kashyap A, Openshaw H, and Openshaw H, Lund BT, Kashyap A,
others. 2002. Hemapoietic stem cell Atkinson R, Sniecinski I, Weiner LP,
transplantation for multiple sclerosis A Forman S. 2000. Peripheral Blood Stem
retrospective multicenter study(Abstract). Cell Transplantation in Multiple Sclerosis
Journal of Neurology [Internet]; [2002 Feb With Busulfan and Cyclophosphamide
4; 2002 Feb 6]. DOI: 10.1007/s00415-002- Conditioning: Report of Toxicity and
0800-7. Volume 249(8). Available at Immunological Monitoring. American
http://www.springerlink.com/content/1b19ld Society for Blood and Marrow
gyecqvny3w/ Transplantation [Internet]; [2000 Jun 13].
Available at:
Nash RA, Bowen JD, McSweeney PA,
http://mmserver.cjp.com/gems/bbmt/6.5a.Op
Pavletic SZ, Maravilla KR, Park M, Storek
enshaw.pdf.
J, Sullivan KM, Al-Omaishi J, Corboy JR,
5

6. Reece JB, Urry LA, Cain ML, Wasserman
SA, Minorsky PV, Jackson RB. 2011.
Biology. 9th Ed. San Francisco (CA):
Pearson Benjamin Cummings. 947 p.
6