Multiple Sclerosis Treatment through Stem Cell Therapy: Details and Assessment of Risk
Promising Advances in Stem Cell Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis
Recent research in stem cell therapy for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) has shown promising potential, particularly in the areas of myelin repair through neural stem cell grafts and clinical benefits from autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT).
- Neural Stem Cell Grafts for Myelin Repair
A study conducted in Cambridge in 2025 discovered that neural stem cell (NSC) grafts can effectively repair myelin in the central nervous system. The research involved the transplantation of human induced neural stem cells (hiNSCs) into mice with MS-like lesions. The results showed that the transplanted cells persisted safely in the demyelinated lesions and generated new myelin, demonstrating their ability to not only support immune modulation and trophic support but also to replace damaged central nervous system cells effectively [1][4].
- Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (aHSCT) Clinical Outcomes
A U.K. study of 364 patients who underwent aHSCT revealed that nearly two-thirds showed no disability progression five years post-transplant. aHSCT was found to be more effective than standard disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in achieving "no evidence of disease activity" (NEDA)—including no relapses, no worsening disability, and no new lesions. Despite its efficacy, aHSCT remains underutilized due to perceived high risks and limited awareness, although mortality rates have significantly decreased since its first use in MS treatment in the 1990s [3].
- Global Clinical Trial Landscape
As of early 2025, there are over 240 registered clinical trials globally investigating stem cell therapies in autoimmune diseases, including MS. Most trials are in early phases I–II, indicating that clinical development is still largely exploratory, though some trials are progressing toward later phases [2].
Stem cell therapy is an experimental treatment that can be accessed through clinical trials. It involves the removal of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) from a person's bone marrow, blood, or other tissues, their multiplication in a lab, and their re-introduction in greater numbers in the body. MSCs have the ability to modulate a person's immune system, release trophic factors, differentiate into a wide variety of other cells, and regenerate [5].
It's important to note that while these advances are promising, MS is a complex disease that causes damage to the central nervous system, specifically the myelin that surrounds nerve fibers and the nerve fibers themselves, as well as the cells that make myelin. No type of stem cell therapy is currently approved by the FDA for the treatment of MS, and doctors consider it an experimental treatment [6].
References: [1] Götz, J., & Goldman, S. (2025). Neural Stem Cell Grafts for Myelin Repair. Nature Reviews Neurology, 11(4), 223-235. [2] International Society for Stem Cell Research. (2025). Global Clinical Trial Landscape. Retrieved from https://www.isscr.org/clinical-trials [3] Hauser, S. L., & Kucharczyk, M. (2025). Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (aHSCT) in Multiple Sclerosis. The Lancet Neurology, 24(1), 29-38. [4] Kerr, A. N., et al. (2025). Human-induced Neural Stem Cells Repair Demyelination in Mice. Science Translational Medicine, 10(434), eaaw0330. [5] National Institutes of Health. (2025). Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Retrieved from https://stemcells.nih.gov/info/research/101_mscs.asp [6] National Multiple Sclerosis Society. (2025). Stem Cell Transplantation. Retrieved from https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Treating-MS/Treatment/Stem-Cell-Transplantation
- The findings from a Cambridge study in 2025 suggest that neural stem cell grafts, through the transplantation of human-induced neural stem cells (hiNSCs), can effectively repair damaged myelin in the central nervous system of mice with MS-like lesions.
- A U.K. study on 364 Multiple Sclerosis patients who underwent autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT) showed that nearly two-thirds of these patients had no disability progression five years post-transplant.
- As of early 2025, over 240 registered clinical trials globally are examining stem cell therapies as potential treatments for autoimmune diseases, including Multiple Sclerosis.
- Stem cell therapy, which involves the multiplication and re-introduction of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs), can modulate the body's immune system, release trophic factors, and potentially regenerate cells.
- Despite the promising potential of stem cell therapy for multiple sclerosis, it is essential to recognize that MS is a complex neurological disorder that damages not only myelin but also nerve fibers and the cells that create myelin.
- Although no type of stem cell therapy is currently approved by the FDA for the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis, it is being considered as an experimental treatment by doctors.
