Cell Therapy: A Therapeutic Option for Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that can cause demyelination and axonal damage. There are different therapeutic approaches for MS, including administration of interferon-β, Glatiramer Acetate, Natalizumab, Fingolimod, and other immune-modulating agents. Currently approved MS treatments primarily decrease CNS inflammation. Noticeably, the unsolved challenge in the MS field is to advance neuroprotective and remyelinating approaches for the treatment of MS patients. Treatment strategies to prevent tissue damage and/or enhance remyelination and axonal regeneration are seriously needed.
Recently application of stem cell therapy for MS therapy has created a lot of hopes to treat MS patients. Several studies have been shown that stem cell therapy has immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects in brain tissue. In this review, we have explained the properties of different types of stem cells and their role in the treatment of MS.