Transplantation of umbilical cord and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in a patient with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Abstract

There is currently great interest in the use of mesenchymal stem cells as a therapy for multiple sclerosis with potential to both ameliorate inflammatory processes as well as improve regeneration and repair. Although most clinical studies have used autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, other sources such as allogeneic umbilical cord-derived cells may provide a more accessible and practical supply of cells for transplantation. In this case report we present the treatment of aggressive multiple sclerosis with multiple allogenic human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell and autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells over a 4 y period. The treatments were tolerated well with no significant adverse events. Clinical and radiological disease appeared to be suppressed following the treatments and support the expansion of mesenchymal stem cell transplantation into clinical trials as a potential novel therapy for patients with aggressive multiple sclerosis.

Keywords: MS; axon; mesenchymal stem cell; multiple sclerosis; myelination; regeneration; stem cells; transplantation.

Figure 1. Axial (A–E) fluid attenuation inversion recovery (FLAIR) MRI Brain and sagittal T2-weighted MRI of the cervical cord (1–5) demonstrate a stable distribution of lesions from 2007 (A and 1) to 2012 (F and 6).