Potential for Stem Cell treatment of MS

> The potential use of adult stem cells for the treatment of multiple
> sclerosis (MS) and other neurodegenerative disorders.
>
>
> No specific treatment exists for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who
> fail to respond to conventional immunosuppressive and immunomodulating
> modalities.
>
> Furthermore, no method is available for regeneration of existing defect in
> the central nervous system (CNS).
>
> The ultimate goals of MS treatment, similarly to other autoimmune
> diseases, are twofold:
>
> First, to eliminate self-reactive lymphocytes and to prevent de novo
> development of self-reactivity by induction of self-tolerance.
>
> Second, attempting regeneration and repair of existing damage.
>
> In the case of MS, there is a need to stop the ongoing process of
> inflammation against the CNS by self-reactive lymphocytes thus
> facilitating spontaneous re-myelinization while in parallel attempt to
> recover existing neurological deficits caused by the autoimmune process
> resulting in demyelinization.
>
> Cell therapy stands out as the most rationale approach for neurological
> regeneration. In the absence of clinically applicable approaches involving
> the use of embryonic stem cells, we are investigating the feasibility and
> efficacy of enriched autologous mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) injected
> intrathecally and intravenously to induce in situ immunomodulation and
> neuroprotection and possibly facilitate repair of the CNS in patients with
> MS and other neurodegenerative disorders.
>
> Our preclinical results suggest that bone marrow cells may provide a
> source of stem cells with a potential for migration into inflamed CNS and
> differentiate into cells expressing neuronal and glial cell markers. Based
> on the preclinical data, we are currently evaluating the safety of a
> similar therapeutic approach in a small group of patients with MS and
> other neurodegenerative diseases.
>
> Slavin S, Kurkalli BG, Karussis D.
>
> International Center for Cell Therapy & Cancer (ICTC), Tel Aviv Medical
> Center, 6 Weizman Street, Tel Aviv 64239, Israel.
>
> Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2008 Mar 5 [Epubahead of print]
>
> PMID: 18325660 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
>
 http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/PaperFrameSetOpenForm&refid=2191&specid=105&id=C6067883A4540D978525692600819ED4&newsid=852571020057CCF685257407003F6E95&prevpage=0&u=GOTO//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=18325660&ref=

* * *

Based on the similarities between CFS and MS, this may be a chance to piggyback on their research.  CDC seems more inclined to fund research into physical problems in MS than to fund the same research of the same problems in CFS.