Stem Cells for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Stem cell therapy is a highly sophisticated treatment for autoimmune disease management as it modulates the immune system, shifts the autoimmune process from pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory, and naturally heals and regenerates’ tissue. In autoimmune diseases, the Th1 and Th2 immune responses are often imbalanced. Stem cells, also known as medicinal signaling cells, signal the immune system to achieve balance through an increase of Th3, Th17, and T-regulatory cells. Mesenchymal stem cells are specialized cells designed to improve the immune system and restore damaged tissue. Stem cell therapy with human umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) corrects the inflammatory process by modulating the immune system from a pro-inflammatory attacking state to an anti-inflammatory healthy state. They also have the ability to regenerate damage caused by autoimmune attacks.
Autoimmune diseases are conditions where the patient’s immune system generates cellular and antibody responses to substances and tissues normally present in the body. This can be restricted to one organ or involve a particular tissue in different places, leading to damage in various organs. Examples of autoimmune diseases that have responded to stem cell therapy include rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and lupus. Currently, autoimmune conditions are treated with immunosuppressive agents such as steroids, methotrexate, cyclosporine, gold, and infliximab (Remicade). Despite inducing temporary improvement, these approaches carry the possibility of long-term adverse effects and often require lifelong treatment. Stem cells, specifically mesenchymal stem cells, direct restoration to inflamed tissue and produce anti-inflammatory agents. Additionally, mesenchymal stem cells induce the production of T regulatory cells, a type of immune cell whose function is to protect the body against immunological self-attack.
