Amnion-Derived Multipotent Progenitor Cells Suppress Experimental Optic Neuritis and Myelitis

Neurotherapeutics, 2021 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-020-00949-9 · Published: October 16, 2020

Regenerative Medicine Immunology Neurology

Simple Explanation

This research explores a new way to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) using cells from the human amnion, called amnion-derived multipotent progenitor (AMP) cells. These AMP cells can release substances that help regenerate tissues and reduce inflammation. The study investigates whether giving these cells intravenously or intraperitoneally can reduce optic neuritis and myelitis in mice with EAE. The study found that AMP cell treatment reduced paralysis and improved visual function in EAE mice. It also increased the survival of retinal ganglion cells and reduced inflammation in the optic nerve and spinal cord.

Study Duration

42 days

Participants

Female C57BL/6J mice

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Systemic administration of AMP cells significantly reduced ascending paralysis in EAE mice.
2
AMP cell treatment attenuated visual dysfunction and promoted retinal ganglion cell (RGC) survival in EAE mice.
3
AMP cells decreased optic nerve inflammation and showed variable improvement in optic nerve and spinal cord demyelination.

Research Summary

This study investigates the neuroprotective ability of systemic administration of AMP cells on clinical disease progression and histopathology of optic neuritis and myelitis in EAE mice. The results demonstrate that peripheral injection of AMP cells at varying IP and IV doses significantly attenuates the visual dysfunction, RGC loss, and optic nerve inflammation and demyelination that occurs during EAE optic neuritis, and similarly suppresses spinal cord demyelination and associated paralysis. Overall, potent disease suppression and improvement in neurologic function in both optic nerve and spinal cord suggest that AMP cells are a potential novel therapy for MS that warrant continued study.

Practical Implications

Potential MS Therapy

AMP cells show promise as a novel therapeutic approach for multiple sclerosis by attenuating both optic neuritis and transverse myelitis.

Clinical Translation

The fact that AMP cells are produced under cGMP conditions and are used to produce ST266 secretome currently in clinical trials, provides a potential translational pathway for treating human MS patients.

Safe Cell Therapy

Scientific studies suggest that systemic administration of AMP cells is likely a safe cell therapy strategy for MS, delivering anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective benefits.

Study Limitations

1
The study was not tailored to determine whether AMP cells exert effects by modulating peripheral immune responses early in the EAE disease.
2
Immunohistochemical staining of spinal cord sections revealed only rare instances of AMP cells integrated into the CNS of treated mice.
3
The precise dosing regimens for optimal neuroprotective effects require further investigation.

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