## mscs From SPMS patients May Fuel Inflammation, Study Suggests
A newly published single-center observational study in *Neurology Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation* reported that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) may promote inflammatory T-cell responses, contrasting with MSCs from healthy controls. The study authors also identified potential targets to reduce this effect.1
The study included 5 patients with SPMS and 7 healthy controls, from whom MSCs were obtained via bone marrow aspiration. Investigators tested the effects of these MSCs on autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), focusing on T-cell expression of IL-17, IFN-γ, and GM-CSF. All told, MSCs from healthy individuals reduced the proportion of T cells expressing IL-17 (Th17, *P* = .046), IFN-γ (Th1, *P* = .03), and GM-CSF (*P* = .012). By contrast, MSCs from patients with SPMS incr
Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Multiple Sclerosis: New Research Identifies Potential to Counteract Proinflammatory Effects
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Recent research published in Neurology, Neuroimmunology and Neuroinflammation suggests that mesenchymal stem cells (mscs) from patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) may exhibit a proinflammatory effect on the immune system, but that this effect can perhaps be countered by targeting specific molecules.This finding offers promising avenues for improving the efficacy of MSC therapy for MS.
Understanding Mesenchymal Stem cells and Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). it occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks myelin, the protective sheath around nerve fibers, leading to a range of neurological symptoms. Mayo Clinic – Multiple Sclerosis
Mesenchymal stem cells are multipotent stromal cells that can differentiate into a variety of cell types,including bone,cartilage,and fat. They have garnered notable attention for their potential therapeutic applications in autoimmune diseases like MS due to their immunomodulatory properties – their ability to modulate the immune system. MSCs are thought to work by suppressing the immune response and promoting tissue repair.
The Study’s Findings: A Proinflammatory paradox
The study, led by Tanasescu and colleagues, investigated MSCs derived from patients with MS and compared them to MSCs from healthy controls. Researchers found that MSCs from MS patients demonstrated a proinflammatory effect on autologous (the patient’s own) immune cells. This means the MSCs, instead of suppressing the immune system, appeared to activate it.
The researchers identified specific molecules that were differentially expressed – meaning present in different amounts – between the MSCs from MS patients and those from healthy controls. importantly, targeting these molecules showed the potential to counteract the proinflammatory effect.
The study authors acknowledge some limitations, including the use of a limited number of T cells due to cell limitations and the focus on molecules identified through functional pathway analysis rather than a broad, unbiased gene expression screen. However, they note that multiple assays supported the relevance of the chosen molecules.
Implications for MSC Therapy in MS
The findings suggest that not all mscs are created equal, and the source of the cells – specifically whether they come from a patient with MS – can significantly impact their behavior. This has critically important implications for the use of MSCs as a treatment for MS.
“We provide evidence for a proinflammatory effect of MSCs from patients with]MS on autologous immune cells and further show that targeting some molecules that are differentially expressed between [patients with] MS and non-MS controls can counteract this proinflammatory effect,” Tanasescu and colleagues concluded.[Tanasescuetal2025[Tanasescuetal2025
This research opens the door to developing strategies to “re-program” MSCs from MS patients to enhance their therapeutic potential. This could involve pre-treating the cells with specific compounds to modulate their molecular profile before transplantation, or identifying and selecting MSCs with more favorable characteristics.
Key Takeaways
* MSCs from patients with MS can exhibit a proinflammatory effect on their own immune cells.
* Specific molecules are differentially expressed in MSCs from MS patients compared to healthy controls.
* Targeting these molecules may counteract the proinflammatory effect and improve the therapeutic potential of MSCs.
* Further research is needed to optimize MSC therapy for MS and personalize treatment approaches.
Future Directions
Further research is crucial to validate these findings in larger cohorts of patients and to identify the optimal strategies for modulating MSCs to maximize their therapeutic benefits in MS. Understanding the precise mechanisms underlying the proinflammatory effect of MSCs from MS patients will be key to developing effective and targeted therapies.
REFERENCE
- Tanasescu R, Frakich N, Gumireddy K, et al. Proinflammatory Effect of Mesenchymal Stem Cells From Patients With Multiple Sclerosis: Potential Modulation Targets. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. 2025;12(6):e200444. doi:10.1212/NXI.0000000000200444
- Choudhery MS,Badowski M,Muise A,Pierce J,Harris DT. Donor age negatively impacts adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cell expansion and differentiation. J transl Med. 2014;12:8. Published 2014 Jan 7. doi:10.1186/1479-5876-12-8