Hope for multiple sclerosis cure as 23 seriously ill patients recover after 'breakthrough' stem cell treatment

[Engraved-on-His-hands]

Hope for multiple sclerosis cure as 23 seriously ill patients recover after 'breakthrough' stem cell treatment

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2016/06/09/multiple-sclerosis-patients-walking-working-and-skiing-after-gro/

by Sarah Knapton

Multiple sclerosis patients who were severely disabled are walking, working and even downhill skiing again following a breakthrough therapy which completely destroys, then rebuilds, the immune system.

The trial, which is the first in the world to show complete long-term remission from the debilitating disease has been hailed by experts as ‘exciting’ ‘unprecedented,’ and ‘close to curative.’

Although it is unclear what causes MS it is thought that the immune system attacks the protective coating which surrounds nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord leading to inflammation, pain, disability and in severe cases, early death.

The new technique, which is a treatment usually used to fight leukaemia, involves using chemotherapy to entirely eradicate the damaged immune system, before rebooting it with a transfusion of bone marrow cells.

(Read more at link)

[Engraved-on-His-hands]

I don't know how legit this is, but it seemed interesting.

[geronl]

I would bet that this is using

"adult stem-cells" and not "embryonic stem cells"

[Engraved-on-His-hands]

The article would seem to indicate that you would win that bet:

"The procedure involves giving a person medication to coax their  stem cells to migrate from their bone marrow into their blood.

These stem cells are then collected from the blood, purified and frozen."

[LadyLiberty]

Yes, these stem cells are donated by someone with a healthy immune system that is a good match for the ill person:  https://bethematch.org/

[geronl]

Yes, these stem cells are donated by someone with a healthy immune system that is a good match for the ill person:  https://bethematch.org/

Yes, but very often the patients own stem cells are used.

[LadyLiberty]

Yes, but very often the patients own stem cells are used.

Not in this case, it's from a donor.  Like leukemia, the immune system is damaged, so using your own adult stem cells isn't possible, you would just be repopulating bone marrow with the same improperly defective stem cells.

The new technique, which is a treatment usually used to fight leukaemia, involves using chemotherapy to entirely eradicate the damaged immune system, before rebooting it with a transfusion of bone marrow cells.