Células madre mesenquimales y la enfermedad de Alzheimer: explorando enfoques terapéuticos
Despite advances in medical research, Alzheimer's is a neurodegenerative disease that remains incurable, representing a major challenge for modern medicine. However, recently mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) based therapies have shown promising results in slowing its progression and even reversing some of its most acute symptoms.
MSCs, known for their regenerative capacity and low immunological risk, offer renewed hope for improving patients' quality of life. Today we will explore how these cells are being applied in current therapeutic protocols.
What is Alzheimer's disease?
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, a fatal neurodegenerative condition characterized by chronic inflammation and neuronal loss that leads to symptoms such as amnesia, progressive cognitive impairment, and disorientation. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 50 million people worldwide suffer from some form of dementia, and this figure is expected to double every 20 years until 2050. Of all dementia cases, Alzheimer's accounts for 60% to 70% of diagnoses.
In the United States, more than 5 million people live with Alzheimer's, making it the sixth leading cause of death, surpassing even prostate and breast cancer combined. Despite advances in research, the exact cause of Alzheimer's disease remains unknown, but four key characteristics are identified in its development (Hernández & García 2021):
Neuroinflammation: This inflammatory process is caused by the activation of microglia, the brain's immune cells. When activated, microglia produce cytokines that increase inflammation in brain tissue.
Beta-amyloid (Aß) plaques: These are sticky clusters of protein fragments that accumulate in the brain, forming plaques that attack and destroy brain cells.
Neurofibrillary tangles: These are twisted fibers of Tau protein that accumulate inside neurons, damaging their internal structures and hindering the transport of essential nutrients.
Massive neuronal and synaptic loss: As a result of plaques, tangles, and inflammation, there is a significant loss of neurons and synapses, causing atrophy or shrinkage of the cerebral cortex, affecting memory, judgment, and the ability to carry out daily tasks.
These factors contribute to the devastating symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, which include progressive memory loss and other cognitive functions, severely impacting the quality of life of those who suffer from it.
What are mesenchymal stem cells?
Mesenchymal stem cells are a type of adult stem cell with the ability to self-renew, proliferate, and differentiate into various cell and tissue types. They are part of a broader group of stem cells, which are classified into four main categories based on their origin: embryonic stem cells (ESCs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), fetal stem cells, and adult stem cells. MSCs are an example of adult stem cells and can be extracted from various tissues such as bone marrow, adipose tissue, bone, and umbilical cord blood.
One of the most notable characteristics of MSCs is their ability to migrate to injured sites and participate actively in tissue repair and regeneration processes. Compared to other types of stem cells, MSCs possess a broader differentiation potential, as they can transform into neuronal cells, osteocytes (bone cells), chondrocytes (cartilage cells), or adipocytes (fat cells) when exposed to certain growth factors (Meirelles et al., 2009).
In particular, human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) are especially promising due to their low risk of rejection, high differentiation capacity, and beneficial paracrine activity. Furthermore, these cells can promote acetylcholine release, support synaptic formation, and reduce oxidative stress and cell death, making them a preferable option over other stem cells.
Mesenchymal stem cell therapy and Alzheimer's
Although there is currently no cure for Alzheimer's disease, various studies suggest that MSCs could have multiple benefits in treating the disease, including (Hernández & García 2021):
Decreased inflammation: MSCs can regulate neuroprotective cytokines and decrease pro-inflammatory cytokines, thus reducing the inflammation that contributes to neuronal damage.
Promotion of neurotrophic factor release: MSCs can promote neurogenesis (formation of new neurons), synaptogenesis (formation of new synaptic connections), and neuronal differentiation, raising levels of factors such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which are crucial for neuronal survival and regeneration.
Reduction of beta-amyloid plaque formation: MSCs have the ability to decrease the accumulation of beta-amyloid plaques, which are one of the main drivers of neuronal damage in Alzheimer's.
As a consequence of their mechanisms of action, MSCs can slow neuronal degeneration by repairing damaged tissues, rescuing spatial learning and memory deficits, increasing cognitive capacity, and generally improving patients' quality of life.
Evidence suggests that MSCs can cross the blood-brain barrier when administered intravenously, effectively reaching areas affected by neuronal injury without inducing tumor growth or an adverse immune response. In addition, MSCs can also differentiate into Schwann-like cells, promoting nerve regeneration and supporting functional recovery (Meiling Ge et al., 2018).
What is stem cell treatment for Alzheimer's like?
Stem cell treatment for Alzheimer's disease generally involves the administration of approximately 500 million mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that have been cultured and expanded from human umbilical cord tissue. These cells are administered in intervals of 4 to 6 days, depending on each provider's specific protocol and each patient's needs.
Both the patient's own stem cells (autologous) and donated stem cells from various sources (allogeneic) can be used. In general, this type of therapy presents few or no side effects and does not usually cause rejection, as MSCs are known for their low immunogenic profile. Furthermore, the procedure does not require general anesthesia and does not involve the risk of contamination by communicable diseases.
The introduction of MSCs to treat Alzheimer's is generally done via an intravenous drip, a procedure that lasts only a few hours. Although several procedures may be necessary to achieve the desired therapeutic effect, the treatment is minimally invasive and generally does not require prolonged hospitalization.
In some clinics, stem cell treatment can be supplemented with additional therapies, such as antioxidant therapy with vitamin C and glutathione, which helps combat oxidative stress, ozone therapy, which improves tissue oxygenation, and/or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, which can promote cellular regeneration.
The success of stem cell treatment for Alzheimer's varies according to each patient's individual response. Generally, the most significant results are observed between 3 and 6 months after therapy. Many patients have reported improvements in their quality of life and a decrease in symptoms within the first few weeks after treatment.
Fcells: an innovative approach to mesenchymal stem cell culture
At Fcells, we are pioneers in the application of advanced mesenchymal stem cell therapies, and we have the most advanced laboratory in Latin America where we use cutting-edge techniques to extract, expand, and apply human tissue-derived MSCs.
Contact us to learn more about how our mesenchymal stem cell therapy can offer a viable and safe option for you or your loved ones. At Fcells, we are committed to medical innovation and the well-being of our patients, providing advanced solutions for a healthier future.
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REFERENCES:
Hernández A. & García E. (2021) "Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease", Stem Cells International, vol. 2021, Article ID 7834421, 12 pages.
Meiling Ge, Yunxia Zhang , Qiukui Hao (2018) Effects of mesenchymal stem cell transplantation on cognitive deficits in animal models of Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.. Revista Psiquiatría.
Meirelles, L.daS., Fontes, A. M., Covas, D. T., & Caplan, A. I. (2009). Mechanisms involved in the therapeutic properties of mesenchymal stem cells. Cytokine & growth factor reviews, 20(5-6), 419–427.