Stem cell treatment for patients with autoimmune disease by systemic infusion of culture-expanded autologous adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells.
Prolonged life expectancy, life style and environmental changes have caused a changing disease pattern in developed countries towards an increase of degenerative and autoimmune diseases. Stem cells have become a promising tool for their treatment by promoting tissue repair and protection from immune-attack associated damage. Patient-derived autologous stem cells present a safe option for this treatment since these will not induce immune rejection and thus multiple treatments are possible without any risk for allogenic sensitization, which may arise from allogenic stem cell transplantations. Here we report the outcome of treatments with culture expanded human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAdMSCs) of 10 patients with autoimmune associated tissue damage and exhausted therapeutic options, including autoimmune hearing loss, multiple sclerosis, polymyotitis, atopic dermatitis and rheumatoid arthritis. For treatment, we developed a standardized culture-expansion protocol for hAdMSCs from minimal amounts of fat tissue, providing sufficient number of cells for repetitive injections. High expansion efficiencies were routinely achieved from autoimmune patients and from elderly donors without measurable loss in safety profile, genetic stability, vitality and differentiation potency, migration and homing characteristics. Although the conclusions that can be drawn from the compassionate use treatments in terms of therapeutic efficacy are only preliminary, the data provide convincing evidence for safety and therapeutic properties of systemically administered AdMSC in human patients with no other treatment options. The authors believe that ex-vivo-expanded autologous AdMSCs provide a promising alternative for treating autoimmune diseases. Further clinical studies are needed that take into account the results obtained from case studies as those presented here.
Stem Cell Research Center, RNL BIO, Seoul, 153-768, Republic of Korea. jcra@rnl.co.kr
Jeong Chan
JC
Ra
Sung Keun
SK
Kang
Il Seob
IS
Shin
Hyeong Geun
HG
Park
Sang Aun
SA
Joo
Jeong Geun
JG
Kim
Byeong-Cheol
BC
Kang
Yong Soon
YS
Lee
Ken
K
Nakama
Min
M
Piao
Bertram
B
Sohl
Andras
A
Kurtz
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D057176:Compassionate Use Trials; D006801:Humans; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D008875:Middle Aged; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D055815:Young Adult