New Study Reveals New Potential Therapeutic Target for Experimental Multiple Sclerosis Treatment

Study from the Tisch MS Research Center of New York suggests that microglia could be a potential target for mesenchymal stem cell-derived neural progenitor cell (MSC-NP) therapy

The Tisch MS Research Center of New York (MSRCNY), the world’s largest independent research center focused on multiple sclerosis, has published new research finding that microglia could be a potential therapeutic target for mesenchymal stem cell-derived neural progenitor cell (MSC-NP) therapy, an experimental approach to treating multiple sclerosis. This treatment approach uses bone marrow cells (MSC-NPs) that are injected into the spinal fluid of the patient, aiming to slow or reverse neurological disability in patients with MS.

The Tisch Center's study focused on the potential of microglia, which are innate immune cells in the brain known to contribute to the disease progression of MS, as a therapeutic target for MS. Investigating the influence of MSC-NPs on microglial activation, researchers found that these cells inhibited the inflammatory activation of microglia, and also increased expression of proregenerative markers in microglia.

Such effects were mediated by factors secreted by MSC-NPs, including possibly a secreted protein called TGF-β. As a result, the research concluded that MSC-NPs could promote beneficial microglial polarization through these secreted factors.

“This research gives us another important layer in understanding of the efficacy of MSC-NP therapy, and potentially furthers our ability to effectively use this therapy to slow the progression of MS symptoms in patients,” said Dr. Violaine Harris, a principal investigator with the Tisch MSRCNY and the study’s lead author. “We’re incredibly excited about this development and the opportunity it presents for us to improve regenerative treatments for MS.”

“As the Tisch Center works toward finding the cause and the cure for MS, this research represents another important milestone in developing even more effective treatments for patients,” added Dr. Saud A. Sadiq, Director and Chief Research Scientist at the Tisch MSRCNY. “We look forward on building on this research to even further enhance our understanding of MSC-NP therapy and its impact on patients, as well as microglia as a therapeutic target.”

The full study can be accessed here in Regenerative Medicine.

About the Tisch MS Research Center of New York

The mission of the Tisch Multiple Sclerosis Research Center of New York is to conduct groundbreaking medical research to ensure unparalleled care and positive outcomes for MS patients. Its integrated relationship with the International MS Management Practice (IMSMP) accelerates the pace at which research discoveries translate from lab bench to bedside. The Center aims to identify the cause of MS, understand disease mechanisms, optimize therapies, and repair the damage caused by MS while offering patients access to the best and most advanced treatments possible.

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