Stem Cells

[Sandra]

Hi everyone, been doing some reading about stem cells. There is a woman who lives near that has MS. The paper has done an article, as she is going to Costa Rica for a second chance via stem cell. No alarm bells, they use the patients own stem cells. Bothe the article and stem cell site are here. http://northumberlandnews.com/news/article/123732
What do you think? I have went over the cell medicine site and find it vague but intreaging.

I have many auto immune processes going on so how would this affect this type of tretment? How would the stem cell repair response know what to fix?
The number 1 thing I hear loud and clear is that it shuts down the autoimmune response without immuno- suppresants that cannot differentiate between other organ processes an dhave some pretty bad side effects.
The second is that it not only shuts the response down and "teaches" it to shut down thereafter but that stem cells can actually repair damage caused by the auto immune response. www.cellmedicine.com
I'll keep watch regarding any new news of this young womans experiance. I'll sure be cheering for her.
Sandra

[Linda196]

This is essentially what's called an autologulous stem cell process, and is done regularly in Canada to treat various forms of cancer (most of the so-called "bone marrow transplants" in recent years have been ASC). The most common method of obtaining them in Canada is via stem cell separation or harvesting using plasmapheresis techniques. There has been research into the use of these cells in autoimmune disease, primarily MS, but to date nothing very promising.

There have been isolated instances of immune systems being "rebuilt" by bone marrow, donated stem cell and autologulous stem cell transplants, but as far as I can tell from my reading, they are not consistant. Most of the "success stories" follow donated cells, and the ones using a patient's own cells require much longer periods of observation to determine if they are as successful as they look, because the stem cells are "programmed" and there's always the possibility that they will follow exactly the same path as the first stem cells did, and the patient will again develop autoimmunity.

Thanks for sharing, and if you hear any more about this young woman, I'm sure I'm not the only one who would like to hear about it.

[Nathan]

The article did not even mention how exactly the process worked. How did she get the transplant without first killing her old marrow, or depleting her T and B-cells?
As far as I know (and correct me if I'm wrong), but autoimmunity is caused by T and B-cells programmed to attack the body itself, that is why a BMT (used in life and death circumstances sometimes, as far as I can tell) can be used to "reset" the immune system, and "cure" autoimmunity.

Am I completely off here, or is this somewhat how it goes?

[JannaLee]

Nathan,

What you said is how it was described to me too.  My rheumatologist told me about it.

He said there is reason to hope for a cure for MS and other autoimmunes in the next 10 years or so because of this process.

Janna

[Sandra]

Yes, although it is not done in this case or at this clinic what you describe is exactly how I thought it is done in North America for cancer currently. And how they are working on offering help with MS or other autoimmune disease, same format, kind of killing off the autoimmune issue and starting over.
But from what I get out of this article this clinic sidesteps the killing of the affected immune system.... if you look at the video's from the clinic, especially the one for MS it states that there are two types of stem cells, one that will stop the autoimmune process and one that "retrains" the T cells by restoring the damage done. Sort of reversing the problem instead of starting over.
I would wonder that however good it made one feel short term would the potential for the immune system to revert back to it's old ways still be in the cells? But if the immune system was/is rebuilt and now controlled properly by newly repaired T cells maybe it would take care of the autoimmune problem?
Expensive little experiment if it turns out to be a short term fix, cruel too. But what if it turns out to be the answer of all answers? Imagine the population affected by autoimmune disease! Except the pharmacutical companies would probably not like that much and end up owning the rights and none of us could afford the treatment. Sandra

[lynnmarie219]

Except the pharmaceutical companies would probably not like that much and end up owning the rights and none of us could afford the treatment. Sandra

Sandra....How true your statement is!

I find this whole thing with stem cell research fascinating, although I have to admit I also find it hard to understand and a little confusing.

I would also like to hear how this woman is doing if you see any follow up..thanks for sharing with us!