Use of Autologous Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Neural Repair

INTRODUCTION

The severe neurological disability in multiple sclerosis (MS) is a result of degeneration of neurons and myelin-producing oligodendrocytes following autoimmune attack. There is an urgent need for therapies that can reverse the disability associated with MS.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotential adult stem cells that exhibit neural differentiation potential, have an immunoregulatory function, and can promote the genesis of neurons and oligodendrocytes from neural stem cells. MSCs are extracted from bone marrow aspirates and are a particularly attractive source of cells for repair of CNS damage. This study examines whether bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a viable source of neural progenitors for autologous stem cell therapy in multiple sclerosis (MS).

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