Multiple Sclerosis: safety established ? and an early hint of benefit - using adult stem cells
More solid work from Prof Neil Scolding of the UK, published last week in the Journal Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (part of the Nature group or journals). Here is the link to the abstract: http://www.nature.com/clpt/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/clpt201044a.html
It describes a phase I trial (that means establishing that it can be done safely, but not yet establishing effectiveness) of mobilising marrow stem cells from MS patients. Take the marrow sample, and reinject a mix of stem cells into the circulation, to home in on damaged MS plaques in the brain and do some good?
This phase I research should now lead to bigger trials, and refinement of the protocol to maximise benefit.
It does not quite justify the excitement of the newspaper report below, but is still a solid first step in establishing safety and a hint of benefit. And like ASC treatment in diabetes, the key appears to be catching the illness in the early stages, before most of the damage is done.
Stem cells raise hope for treatment for multiple sclerosis patients Thousands of MS sufferers could benefit from a revolutionary treatment that injects them with stem cells taken from their own bone marrow.
By Richard Alleyne, Science Correspondent 05 May 2010
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7682055/Stem-cells-raise-hope-for-treatment-for-multiple-sclerosis-patients.html
More solid work from Prof Neil Scolding of the UK, published last week in the Journal Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (part of the Nature group or journals). Here is the link to the abstract: http://www.nature.com/clpt/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/clpt201044a.html
It describes a phase I trial (that means establishing that it can be done safely, but not yet establishing effectiveness) of mobilising marrow stem cells from MS patients. Take the marrow sample, and reinject a mix of stem cells into the circulation, to home in on damaged MS plaques in the brain and do some good?
This phase I research should now lead to bigger trials, and refinement of the protocol to maximise benefit.
It does not quite justify the excitement of the newspaper report below, but is still a solid first step in establishing safety and a hint of benefit. And like ASC treatment in diabetes, the key appears to be catching the illness in the early stages, before most of the damage is done.
Stem cells raise hope for treatment for multiple sclerosis patients Thousands of MS sufferers could benefit from a revolutionary treatment that injects them with stem cells taken from their own bone marrow.
By Richard Alleyne, Science Correspondent 05 May 2010
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7682055/Stem-cells-raise-hope-for-treatment-for-multiple-sclerosis-patients.html