Stem cell therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis 

As a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorder, Rheumatoid Arthritis may be helped with mesenchymal stem cell treatment. Stem cells have an unprecedented ability to change into any cell in the body.  This process is called differentiation. Stem cells can be administered intravenously to find and repair damaged tissue throughout the body. When used in regards to Rheumatoid Arthritis patients, stem cells may be able to repair damaged tissue to reduce pain and increase mobility. This effect can be attributed to the anti-inflammatory properties of mesenchymal stem cells.  

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Stem cells have an immunomodulatory effect on the immune system. 

This means that stem cells may be able to regulate or calm an imbalanced immune system in patients with autoimmune disorders.  Data has shown that mesenchymal stem cells have immunosuppressive capabilities (partially suppressing the immune system response).  They can inhibit T‐cell proliferation to alloantigens and mitogens and prevent the development of cytotoxic T‐cells in vitro. (1)

“MSCs have been reported as an interesting therapeutic cell candidate for the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), due to their capacity to attenuate the heightened pathogenic immune response observed in these patients.” (2)

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Mesenchymal Stem cell therapy is a safe treatment option for Rheumatoid Arthritis patients.

A 2019 study conducted by Huang et al., involving 64 Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients, found that mesenchymal stem cell therapy is a safe treatment option. (3). All of the patients in the study showed no long term abnormalities in their routine blood examinations.

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Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy is an effective treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis

“There were significant decreases for the Inflammatory and/or RA Serological Makers, including ESR, CRP, RF, and anti-CCP at one year and three years after treatment. Compared with the pretreatment level from patients with RA, they showed decreased levels of ESR, CRP, RF, and anti-CCP after one year and three-year post-treatment.” (3)

The research concluded that long-term efficacy was achieved with umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cell treatment. (3)

This primary research concluded that patients observed for up to 8 months post-MSC therapy had no severe side effects.  

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“All patients have shown improvements in the diet, sleep, and physical strength after cell therapy based on patients’ reports. In comparison, there was no such improvement in the control group. Also, the clinical response to UC-MSCs treatment was rapid (as early as 12 h post-treatment) with the physical evidence after the administration of UC-MSCs. In the placebo group, no significant changes in symptoms were detected throughout the study.” (3)

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The problem with traditional therapies for Rheumatoid Arthritis

According to Huang et al., “Traditional therapy for RA includes DMARDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), slow-acting anti-rheumatic drugs (SAARDs), and hormone drugs, with high disease recurrence rate and side effects after long-term use. Treatments with hormones for a long time can result in reduced immunity and osteoporosis with sodium and water retention. Thus, such procedures have poor patient compliance. Most importantly, they cannot change the progress of the disease. Besides joint injury, RA also affects multiple tissues and organs. Traditional drug therapy could not perform the regeneration and repair of damaged tissues.” (3)

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Does stem cell therapy work for Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Yes, stem cell therapy may have a positive impact on RA patients.  The study conducted by Huang et al. demonstrated the long-term safety and efficacy of UC-MSC therapy in RA patients. The therapeutic effects of Umbilical Cord-Tissue Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells can be maintained for three years, with stable clinical outcomes, which significantly improved RA patients’ quality of life.

So can stem cell therapy cure Rheumatoid Arthritis?

While recent data has shown promising results, stem cell therapy can not be considered a “cure” for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).  However, mesenchymal stem cells can significantly help Rheumatoid Arthritis patients by reducing inflammation and stabilizing the immune system.

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid Arthritis or RA is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation throughout the body, mainly in the joints.  According to the Mayo Clinic, “rheumatoid arthritis occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks your own body’s tissues.” (4). Inflammation correlated with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) can potentially damage other areas of the body as well.

How does stem cell therapy work?

Stem cell therapy is a non-invasive treatment that aims to replace damaged cells within the body. Mesenchymal stem cell therapy can be deployed systemically via IV or injected locally to target specific sites, depending on patient needs.

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Stem cells target inflammation.

The therapeutic uses of stem cells as a potential therapy for various diseases have been immensely explored. The number of clinical trials conducted with Mesenchymal Stem Cells has increased exponentially over the past few years. (4)

Stem cells have a unique, intrinsic property that attracts them to inflammation in the body. Studies have shown that stem cells can regenerate damaged or diseased tissues, reduce inflammation, and stabilize the immune system promoting better health and quality of life. Mesenchymal stem cells do this by influencing tissue repair via paracrine effects (cell signaling to change the behavior of existing cells) or direct cell-to-cell contact.

“MSCs can migrate and seed specifically into damaged tissue sites, where they can differentiate into functional cells to replace damaged or diseased cells” (5)

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Stem cell therapy for arthritis

Stem cell therapy has shown promising results in the treatment of arthritis, a chronic inflammatory condition that causes pain and swelling in the joints.

According to a review of several peer-reviewed studies, stem cell therapy has been found to reduce inflammation and improve function in patients with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other types of arthritis. One study published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatology found that stem cell therapy significantly improved pain and physical function in patients with knee osteoarthritis, while another study published in the journal Stem Cells Translational Medicine found that stem cell therapy was effective in reducing inflammation and improving joint function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Overall, the research suggests that stem cell therapy may be a safe and effective treatment option for individuals suffering from arthritis and may offer an alternative to traditional methods of pain management.

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Stem cell therapy at DVC Stem

DVC Stem uses cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells ethically sourced from AATB certified, US-donated, full-term human umbilical cords. We administer over 300 million cells that are all thoroughly tested for viability before treatment.  Find out if you are a candidate for treatment here.

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References:

(1) Blanc, K. L., & Ringdén, O. (2007, August 2). Immunomodulation by mesenchymal stem cells and clinical experience. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1365-2796.2007.01844.x

(2) Luque-Campos, N., Contreras-López, R. A., Jose Paredes-Martínez, M., Torres, M. J., Bahraoui, S., Wei, M., … Luz-Crawford, P. (2019, April 16). Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improve Rheumatoid Arthritis Progression by Controlling Memory T Cell Response. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6477064/

(3) Wang, L., Huang, S., Li, S., Li, M., Shi, J., Bai, W., … Liu, Y. (2019, December 19). Efficacy and Safety of Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: A Prospective Phase I/II Study. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6930836/

(4) Rheumatoid arthritis. (2019, March 1). Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20353648

(5) Mao, F., Tu, Q., Wang, L., Chu, F., Li, X., Li, H. S., & Xu, W. (2017, June 6). Mesenchymal stem cells and their therapeutic applications in inflammatory bowel disease. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5514968/