Stem cell therapy may have the ability to slow the progression of ALS. This is conducted through stem cells’ ability to differentiate into unique types of supportive cells such as astrocytes and microglia (cells within the central nervous system). These supportive cells may have the ability to slow the degeneration of motor neurons within the Central Nervous System (CNS).
Introduction to ALS
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS, is a relatively tricky disease to understand and treat. It affects approximately one to two per 100,000 people in the United States every year.
Nearly 95% of ALS cases are caused by unknown factors, with only around 5% being genetically inherited from parents. Although ALS usually strikes around age 50-60, it can affect people of any age.
Is there a cure for ALS?
Unfortunately, there is no known cure for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and the current prognosis is two to four years from onset. Recent advances in stem cell technology have provided both new tools for researchers to fight ALS, as well as possible new treatments for patients themselves. Stem cell therapy may be able to delay the progression of the disease state. However, more long term research studies should be conducted to establish treatment efficacy.
Stem cell therapy for ALS
Mesenchymal stem cell therapy has already shown a strong therapeutic potential in different clinical fields. In particular, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may exert their action differentiating toward a specific cell type or through the releasing of different growth and trophic factors.
Clinical models have shown evidence that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may represent a promising approach to treat ALS; MSC transplantation may delay the disease onset and progression and therefore increase lifespan. Furthermore, also the loss of motor neurons may be reduced, resulting in a delay in motor function loss. The results obtained from preclinical studies have encouraged the administration of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in ALS patients.
Stem cells adopt a supportive role by providing a nurturing and neuroprotective microenvironment that improves detrimental conditions for diseased motor nueurons, thereby slowing neurodegeneration and neuronal death.
Transplanted stem cells in this capacity secrete neurotrophic factors, differentiate into non-diseased, non-neuronal cells, such as astrocytes and microglia, or into modulatory neurons that synapse with diseased motor neurons (MN). Preclinical studies are encouraging and have demonstrated the potential applicability of stem cells to treat ALS.
There is no cure for ALS despite numerous clinical trials; current therapies are palliative and only extend survival a few months. This makes stem cell therapy is an attractive approach for ALS because it addresses the complex disease development through multiple mechanisms.
The premise of stem cell therapy for ALS is based on improving the diseased microenvironment. Transplanted stem cells secrete neurotrophic factors and differentiate into supportive cells, such as astrocytes and microglia, generating a neuroprotective milieu that can slow degeneration of motor neurons.
Stem cells adopt a supportive role by providing a nurturing and neuroprotective microenvironment that improves detrimental conditions for diseased motor nueurons, thereby slowing neurodegeneration and neuronal death.
Transplanted stem cells in this capacity secrete neurotrophic factors, differentiate into non-diseased, non-neuronal cells, such as astrocytes and microglia, or into modulatory neurons that synapse with diseased motor neurons (MN). Preclinical studies are encouraging and have demonstrated the potential applicability of stem cells to treat ALS.
There is no cure for ALS despite numerous clinical trials; current therapies are palliative and only extend survival a few months. This makes stem cell therapy is an attractive approach for ALS because it addresses the complex disease development through multiple mechanisms.
The premise of stem cell therapy for ALS is based on improving the diseased microenvironment. Transplanted stem cells secrete neurotrophic factors and differentiate into supportive cells, such as astrocytes and microglia, generating a neuroprotective milieu that can slow degeneration of motor neurons.
