Recent advances in mesenchymal stem cell therapy for multiple sclerosis: clinical applications and challenges

Multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system (CNS), is characterized by inflammation, demyelination, and neurodegeneration, leading to diverse clinical manifestations such as fatigue, sensory impairment, and cognitive dysfunction. Current pharmacological treat...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kamran Sheikhi, Salah Ghaderi, Hassan Firouzi, Sarvenaz Rahimibarghani, Ehsan Shabani, Hamed Afkhami, Aref Yarahmadi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-02-01
Series:Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1517369/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832548195954065408
author Kamran Sheikhi
Salah Ghaderi
Hassan Firouzi
Sarvenaz Rahimibarghani
Ehsan Shabani
Hamed Afkhami
Hamed Afkhami
Hamed Afkhami
Aref Yarahmadi
author_facet Kamran Sheikhi
Salah Ghaderi
Hassan Firouzi
Sarvenaz Rahimibarghani
Ehsan Shabani
Hamed Afkhami
Hamed Afkhami
Hamed Afkhami
Aref Yarahmadi
author_sort Kamran Sheikhi
collection DOAJ
description Multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system (CNS), is characterized by inflammation, demyelination, and neurodegeneration, leading to diverse clinical manifestations such as fatigue, sensory impairment, and cognitive dysfunction. Current pharmacological treatments primarily target immune modulation but fail to arrest disease progression or entirely reverse CNS damage. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy offers a promising alternative, leveraging its immunomodulatory, neuroprotective, and regenerative capabilities. This review provides an in-depth analysis of MSC mechanisms of action, including immune system regulation, promotion of remyelination, and neuroregeneration. It examines preclinical studies and clinical trials evaluating the efficacy, safety, and limitations of MSC therapy in various MS phenotypes. Special attention is given to challenges such as delivery routes, dosing regimens, and integrating MSCs with conventional therapies. By highlighting advancements and ongoing challenges, this review underscores the potential of MSCs to revolutionize MS treatment, paving the way for personalized and combinatory therapeutic approaches.
format Article
id doaj-art-70b98d21decb4cfb9a4c2de7f609aada
institution Kabale University
issn 2296-634X
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
spelling doaj-art-70b98d21decb4cfb9a4c2de7f609aada2025-02-03T06:33:54ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology2296-634X2025-02-011310.3389/fcell.2025.15173691517369Recent advances in mesenchymal stem cell therapy for multiple sclerosis: clinical applications and challengesKamran Sheikhi0Salah Ghaderi1Hassan Firouzi2Sarvenaz Rahimibarghani3Ehsan Shabani4Hamed Afkhami5Hamed Afkhami6Hamed Afkhami7Aref Yarahmadi8Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Kurdistan, IranTabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IranDepartment of Medical Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Sari Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sari, IranDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranCellular and Molecular Research Center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, IranNervous System Stem Cells Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, IranDepartment of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahed University, Tehran, IranDepartment of Biology, Khorramabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khorramabad, IranMultiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system (CNS), is characterized by inflammation, demyelination, and neurodegeneration, leading to diverse clinical manifestations such as fatigue, sensory impairment, and cognitive dysfunction. Current pharmacological treatments primarily target immune modulation but fail to arrest disease progression or entirely reverse CNS damage. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy offers a promising alternative, leveraging its immunomodulatory, neuroprotective, and regenerative capabilities. This review provides an in-depth analysis of MSC mechanisms of action, including immune system regulation, promotion of remyelination, and neuroregeneration. It examines preclinical studies and clinical trials evaluating the efficacy, safety, and limitations of MSC therapy in various MS phenotypes. Special attention is given to challenges such as delivery routes, dosing regimens, and integrating MSCs with conventional therapies. By highlighting advancements and ongoing challenges, this review underscores the potential of MSCs to revolutionize MS treatment, paving the way for personalized and combinatory therapeutic approaches.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1517369/fullmultiple sclerosis (MS)mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)immunomodulationautoimmune disease (AD)cell therapy
spellingShingle Kamran Sheikhi
Salah Ghaderi
Hassan Firouzi
Sarvenaz Rahimibarghani
Ehsan Shabani
Hamed Afkhami
Hamed Afkhami
Hamed Afkhami
Aref Yarahmadi
Recent advances in mesenchymal stem cell therapy for multiple sclerosis: clinical applications and challenges
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
multiple sclerosis (MS)
mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)
immunomodulation
autoimmune disease (AD)
cell therapy
title Recent advances in mesenchymal stem cell therapy for multiple sclerosis: clinical applications and challenges
title_full Recent advances in mesenchymal stem cell therapy for multiple sclerosis: clinical applications and challenges
title_fullStr Recent advances in mesenchymal stem cell therapy for multiple sclerosis: clinical applications and challenges
title_full_unstemmed Recent advances in mesenchymal stem cell therapy for multiple sclerosis: clinical applications and challenges
title_short Recent advances in mesenchymal stem cell therapy for multiple sclerosis: clinical applications and challenges
title_sort recent advances in mesenchymal stem cell therapy for multiple sclerosis clinical applications and challenges
topic multiple sclerosis (MS)
mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)
immunomodulation
autoimmune disease (AD)
cell therapy
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1517369/full
work_keys_str_mv AT kamransheikhi recentadvancesinmesenchymalstemcelltherapyformultiplesclerosisclinicalapplicationsandchallenges
AT salahghaderi recentadvancesinmesenchymalstemcelltherapyformultiplesclerosisclinicalapplicationsandchallenges
AT hassanfirouzi recentadvancesinmesenchymalstemcelltherapyformultiplesclerosisclinicalapplicationsandchallenges
AT sarvenazrahimibarghani recentadvancesinmesenchymalstemcelltherapyformultiplesclerosisclinicalapplicationsandchallenges
AT ehsanshabani recentadvancesinmesenchymalstemcelltherapyformultiplesclerosisclinicalapplicationsandchallenges
AT hamedafkhami recentadvancesinmesenchymalstemcelltherapyformultiplesclerosisclinicalapplicationsandchallenges
AT hamedafkhami recentadvancesinmesenchymalstemcelltherapyformultiplesclerosisclinicalapplicationsandchallenges
AT hamedafkhami recentadvancesinmesenchymalstemcelltherapyformultiplesclerosisclinicalapplicationsandchallenges
AT arefyarahmadi recentadvancesinmesenchymalstemcelltherapyformultiplesclerosisclinicalapplicationsandchallenges