In multiple sclerosis, your immune system attacks the protective covering of your nerves.
This leads to inflammation, nerve damage, and, over time, disability.
But a new review in Cureus points to a potential breakthrough: mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy.
Current MS treatments mostly focus on slowing the disease or reducing inflammation.
They don’t fix the damage already done.
That’s why MSC therapy is so exciting.
These stem cells, found in bone marrow, fat, and other tissues, can transform into different cell types — including ones that release healing molecules.
They calm inflammation and may repair nerve tissue.
Researchers reviewed eight studies involving 157 MS patients.
Participants received MSCs either through spinal canal injections or directly into the bloodstream.
The cells came from various sources — umbilical cords, modified versions with extra healing factors, and more.
To measure success, researchers looked at brain scans, clinical outcomes, and spinal fluid biomarkers linked to nerve damage, inflammation, and tissue repair.
Here’s what they found:
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● Biomarkers of nerve damage, like neurofilament light chain, dropped
● Inflammation markers (CXCL13, CCL2) fell
● Regulatory T cells went up, pro-inflammatory T helper 17 cells went down
● Tissue repair markers like MMP9 appeared in spinal fluid
● Natural killer (NK) cell levels decreased
● MRI scans revealed smaller brain lesions
And most importantly…
In the largest trial, disability scores (EDSS) improved for about 40% of patients, stayed stable for 33%, and worsened in just 18%.
The treatment was safe. Most side effects were minor — headaches, fever, or mild injection reactions.
On the other hand, MSC therapy is complicated, expensive, and not widely available.
But this study proves that MS can be reversed by calming the immune system and repairing nerve tissue.
And the same thing can be done in a much simpler way — naturally.