Mesenchymal stem cells in multiple sclerosis - translation to clinical trials

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, characterized by an aberrant activation of the immune system and combining demyelination with neurodegeneration. Studies on experimental models of multiple sclerosis revealed immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive properties of mesenchymal stem cells. Clinical trials using mesenchymal stem cells therapy in multiple sclerosis patients showed tolerability, safety on short term, some immunomodulatory properties reducing the Th1 proinflammatory response and the inflammatory MRI parameters. The author reviews the data about experimental studies and clinical trials using mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Abbreviations: MS = multiple sclerosis, RRMS = relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, PPMS = primary progressive multiple sclerosis, EAE = experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, MOG = myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, PLP = proteolipid protein, MSCs = mesenchymal stem cells, CNS = central nervous system, IT = intrathecal, ALS = amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, MSC-NPs = mesenchymal stem cell-neural progenitors, EDSS = expanded disability status score.