![]() ![]() MSCs and cytokines (small proteins) also have a controlling influence on the immune system. MSCs are known to secrete proteins that support the growth and survival of developing and mature neurons. One cell type derived from the patient’s fat cells, mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC), has been suggested as a possible therapy to treat ALS. “The hope with this therapy is to protect the neurons that are there and to slow the disease course.” “We don’t know why nerve cells die prematurely,” says Anthony Windebank, M.D. Researchers and clinicians at Mayo Clinic are looking at the potential of cell-based therapies to promote the healing response. One medical approach is to try to keep the nerve cells alive as long as possible. For most, the disease is not inherited only a small percentage of patients carry the genes that are associated with ALS. ![]() The time frame from the onset of symptoms to the end of life can be as short as three years. It is still unknown why the symptoms begin to manifest out of the blue. ![]() According to the ALS Association, an estimated 20,000 Americans between the ages of 40 and 70 are living with the progressively paralytic disorder. These activities become increasingly difficult with the onset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease or motor neuron disease. Motor neurons work with the brain to control muscle movement such as gripping and walking. Small clinical studies in different neurological diseases have suggested that MSCs are safe.When nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord stop working normally there is a noticeable change in muscle movement and activity. Surprisingly, these effects do not require full CNS engraftment by MSCs, but rely on the capacity of MSCs to inhibit pathogenic immune responses and release neuroprotective and pro-oligodendrogenic molecules favoring tissue repair. Evidence from preclinical studies suggested that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), a subset of adult progenitor cells, are an effective therapy in preclinical animal models of neurological diseases. With these multiple capabilities, MSCs have been highly regarded as an effective transplantable cell source for regenerative medicine. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are multi-potent cells that have the capability of differentiating into adipogenic, osteogenic, chondrogenic and neural cells. The rationale for use of adult stem cells as a treatment for neurological diseases such as ALS arose from the hope that they had the capacity to foster repair of the CNS through tissue integration and differentiation into neural cells. Stem cells derived from adult source, as well as placental tissues have been successfully probed to generate tissues of the nervous system during disease conditions. Nervous system has limited regenerative potential. Currently, ALS has no available pharmacological treatment options that offer long-term efficacy. This heterogeneity of ALS makes it difficult to identify the mechanisms of disease origin and to develop successful therapies. However, familial ALS (fALS) also exists ALS patients experience upper limb, lower limb or bulbar onset, with variable involvement of upper and lower motor neurons and subsequently differing rates of disease progression. The majority of ALS cases are of unknown etiology and sporadic in nature (90–95%) with no genetic association. ![]() People may gradually loose ability to speak eat and finally breathe. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their demise. Lateral sclerosis means hardening of lateral columns of the spinal cord where the motor nerve cells are located. Amytrophic means muscles with no nourishment lack of impulses to the muscle due to dying nerve cells renders atrophy to muscle tissue. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) also known as Lou Gehrig's disease and Charcot disease is characterized by progressive degeneration of motor neurons in the cortex, brainstem and spinal cord resulting in paralysis and death within an average of 3 to 5 years from disease onset. ![]()
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