Photo Credit: Yutthana Gaetgeaw

Select patients with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) may benefit from mesenchymal stem cell-neural progenitors (MSC-NPs), according to a study published in Stem Cell Research & Therapy. The study authors conducted a randomized, double-blind trial with a compassionate crossover design at a single site. Participants were stratified according to the baseline Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS, 3.0 to 6.5) and disease subtype (secondary or primary progressive MS) and were randomly allocated to treatment (six intrathecal [IT] injections of autologous MSC-NPs) or placebo (saline) every two months (27 in each group). The researchers found no differences between the MSC-NP and saline groups in the EDSS Plus, defined by improvement in EDSS, timed 25-foot walk (T25FW), or nine-hole peg test (33 and 37 percent, respectively). A significantly higher percentage of improvement in the T25FW and six-minute walk test was seen in the MSC-NP group than the saline group in an exploratory subgroup analysis involving participants who required assistance for ambulation (EDSS, 6.0 to 6.5). Improved bladder function and reduced rate of grey matter atrophy on brain magnetic resonance imaging was also seen with IT MSC-NP treatment. Following treatment, there was increased MMP9 and decreased CCL2 levels in the cerebrospinal fluid.