Introduction
Stem cell transplantation has been a major area of interest for researchers and scientists for years as it seems like the answer to many incurable diseases. Depending on the conditions and factors provided, stem cells can reproduce and replicate into any cell type.
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune condition where the body’s white blood cells attack its neurons, leading to recurring neurological deficits. While there are disease-modifying drugs that reduce the number of attacks, there is still no definitive treatment. Hence, stem cells are now being looked at as a potential treatment.
While there are various types of stem cell therapies, the one we will be discussing is allogeneic stem cell treatment. So, what is allogeneic stem cell transplantation?
Allogeneic stem cell transplantation refers to a process in which an individual receives stem cells from a donor. The donor does not necessarily have to be related to the recipient; all that matters is that their cells match so that there is no rejection of the cells later on.
The idea is to transplant hematopoietic or blood/bone marrow-derived stem cells from a healthy individual to one with multiple sclerosis to reproduce new white blood cells that do not attack the recipient’s neurons.
Eligibility for Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation
The eligibility assessment for individuals opting for allogeneic stem cell transplant is an essential part of the process, but no set things or criteria are followed. But certain things are taken into consideration.
These things include but are not exclusive to current health, age, disease status, previous therapies used to control multiple sclerosis, the response to previous treatment, socioeconomic status of the patient, etc.
The process of stem cell transplantation is a complex one, and the treatment is relatively new, so there is an in-depth evaluation of the patient to ensure that the patient gets satisfactory results and follows through with the treatment.
The Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation Process
The process of stem cell transplantation is not simple as it requires extensive cell matching before it, and then the donor’s bone marrow cells are extracted.
Cell markers known as human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) on all cell surfaces are matched initially. You can only proceed with the transplant if the donor and recipient’s cells match. However, multiple HLAs are cross-matched to reduce any chance of graft vs host reaction. Once the cells have matched, you can proceed with the process.
First, cells are extracted from the host’s blood or bone marrow. After that, they are processed to separate the stem cells from the others. During this period, the recipient receives therapies to reduce their immune response so that there is no severe reaction when external stem cells are transplanted into their body.
Once the processing of the cells is over and the patient has received substantial therapy, the stem cells are transfused into the recipient’s bloodstream, through which they travel to their bone marrow, where they proliferate to create more such cells.
Success and Risks of Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation
Multiple sclerosis treatment with stem cells is still a relatively new concept that is not widely available. Although there are quite a few studies on autologous stem cell treatment for multiple sclerosis where the stem cells are taken from the patients themselves, allogeneic stem cell transplantation needs to be researched more.
Even the studies on autologous stem cell therapies have shown promising results. One study in Brazil reported that 79% of patients saw neurological improvements in 1 year from their transplants. It also reported that 81% of patients with secondary progressive MS did not show any worsening in 3 years, and 67% of those with primary progressive MS remained stable after 3 years.
Although the treatment is very promising, it does not come without risks. The most worrisome stem cell transplant complication is rejection by the recipient’s body. Like any other transplant, stem cell transplants also include the risk of a host vs graft reaction, but if the HLA types are closely matched, this lowers significantly.
Patients receiving stem cells are also immunocompromised due to their treatments, so they are also at an increased risk of developing infections.
Final thoughts
With the increasing interest and research into stem cells, a new treatment may be on the horizon.
Since autologous stem cell treatment is already being used and has shown promising results, allogeneic stem cell treatment might be the next big thing. Hopefully, this discussion helped you understand what is allogeneic stem cell transplantation and what it entails.
In case you want to check out additional information regarding this topic and speak to some of the leading scientists in this field, you can contact Swiss Medica and receive the answers to all questions you might have.