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Stem Cells in MS

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Overview of Stem Cell Therapy for MS

Stem cell therapy is any treatment that uses or targets stem cells, which are the types of cells that differentiate into many different specialized cells in our bodies. Stem cells are found in both embryos and adults. Learn what they are and how they may be used to treat multiple sclerosis.

What Are Stem Cells & Stem Cell Therapy

Dr. Michael Kornberg, a researcher at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, provides an overview on the types of stem cells and talks about the potential of stem cells and talk about the potential of stem cells to slow disease activity and repair damage to the nervous system, including aHSCT.
Dr. Michael Kornberg, a researcher at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, provides an overview on the types of stem cells and talks about the potential of stem cells to slow disease activity and repair damage to the nervous system, including aHSCT (types of stem cells are discussed at 30 minutes into the video).
Jeffrey Cohen, a neurologist at the Mellen Center for MS Treatment and Research, discusses stem cells, and the research and possibilities of stem cell therapies to treat MS.
Jeffrey Cohen, a neurologist at the Mellen Center for MS Treatment and Research, discusses stem cells, and the research and possibilities of stem cell therapies to treat MS (stem cell research is discussed at 14 minutes, 50 seconds into the video).
To get closer to our vision of a world free of MS, we believe that all potential types of cell therapies must be explored. Although cell-based therapy has generated a great deal of interest and holds promise, the field is still developing and continued research will determine its effectiveness and safety in treating MS.

Learn more about aHSCT, a type of stem cell therapy, for treating relapsing MS.

Different Types of Stem Cells

Stem cell diagram - a stem cell is a single cell that can replicate itself or differentiate into many cell types
  • HSCs (haematopoietic stem cells) – adult stem cells that are found in bone marrow and blood. HSCs are capable of producing all of the cells that make up the blood and the immune system.
  • MSCs (mesenchymal stem cells) – adult stem cells found in several places in the body, including the bone marrow, skin and fat tissue. They produce cells which help other stem cells function properly.
  • NSCs (neural stem cells) – specialized stem cells responsible for repairing nerve-insulating myelin in the brain. These can be derived from other types of stem cells such as mesenchymal cells.
  • hESCs (human embryonic stem cells) – stem cells derived from donated embryos. They can naturally produce every type of cell in the body. One concern about their potential therapeutic use is that they have been found to cause tumors.
  • iPSCs (induced pluripotent stem cells) – engineered from adult cells to produce many types of cells. One concern about their potential therapeutic use is that they have been found to cause tumors.

More Information and Research News

Updates: Bone Marrow Stem Cell Transplant – HSCT

HSCT (Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation) attempts to “reboot” the immune system, which is responsible for damaging the brain and spinal cord in MS.

Read Updates and News

Read Updates and News

Mesenchymal Stem Cells and iPSCs

Adult mesenchymal stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells are being tested in clinical trials in MS.

Learn More

Learn More

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