Date of Presentation
5-4-2023 12:00 AM
College
School of Osteopathic Medicine
Poster Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig disease, is a fatal neurodegenerative disease affecting motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Progressive muscle weakness, atrophy, and spasticity characterize the condition, which eventually leads to paralysis and respiratory failure. There is currently no cure for ALS, and the standard of care is supportive, with riluzole being the only approved medication that has been shown to slightly slow disease progression (1).
However, the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the treatment of ALS is a new area of research in regenerative medicine. MSCs are multipotent stem cells that have the ability to differentiate into a variety of cell types, including neurons, and have immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties, making them an appealing therapy for neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS (2).
This review examines the safety and efficacy of MSC therapy for ALS in four randomized controlled trials. The trials involved administering MSCs via various routes, including intrathecal and intravenous, and assessing outcomes such as survival, disease progression, and quality of life. The findings of these trials shed light on the potential of MSC therapy as a novel approach to treating ALS.
Keywords
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Regenerative Medicine, Treatment Outcome
Disciplines
Investigative Techniques | Medicine and Health Sciences | Nervous System Diseases | Neurology | Therapeutics
Document Type
Poster
Included in
Investigative Techniques Commons, Nervous System Diseases Commons, Neurology Commons, Therapeutics Commons
Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig disease, is a fatal neurodegenerative disease affecting motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Progressive muscle weakness, atrophy, and spasticity characterize the condition, which eventually leads to paralysis and respiratory failure. There is currently no cure for ALS, and the standard of care is supportive, with riluzole being the only approved medication that has been shown to slightly slow disease progression (1).
However, the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the treatment of ALS is a new area of research in regenerative medicine. MSCs are multipotent stem cells that have the ability to differentiate into a variety of cell types, including neurons, and have immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties, making them an appealing therapy for neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS (2).
This review examines the safety and efficacy of MSC therapy for ALS in four randomized controlled trials. The trials involved administering MSCs via various routes, including intrathecal and intravenous, and assessing outcomes such as survival, disease progression, and quality of life. The findings of these trials shed light on the potential of MSC therapy as a novel approach to treating ALS.