If you’ve ever researched treatments for neurological conditions, you have likely come across mesenchymal stem cells, also widely called MSCs. Mesenchymal stem cells can improve neurological conditions by changing into more specialized cells that the affected area of the body needs and also promote healing of existing surrounding tissue. Due to their unique properties, MSCs have become valuable in regenerative medicine practices.
This article covers what mesenchymal cells are, how their properties help in treatments of neurological conditions, and touch upon timing windows for treatment. It also discusses donor selection, MSC sourcing and storing processes at Verita Neuro.
What is a Stem Cell?
Stem cells are cells that repeatedly renew themselves, produce identical daughter cells, and that way maintain stem cell population in the body. They can also become a more specialized type of cells and renew the tissue they populate.
Every part of the body has stem cells, but their activity level is different based on the needs of that body part. For example, stem cells in your gut lining or skin are very active and renew fast because the tissue has a lot of active exposure. The brain, on the other hand, has passive stem cells that only activate in case of a brain injury or a similar event.
Key characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells
MSCs share all the same characteristics with the rest of stem cells: they can reproduce and differentiate, meaning become more specific cells that the tissue needs.
So what is so unique about mesenchymal stem cells?
The most valuable part of MSCs is the secretome they release. It helps heal and promote regeneration of surrounding tissue, which makes the overall healing process faster and more effective.
Additionally, the procedures to obtain MSCs are relatively simple, the cells are among the safest to use in treatment, and they are not associated with ethical concerns related to sourcing.
Here are the main characteristics that define mesenchymal stem cells:
- Able to make copies of themselves
- Can become bone, cartilage, or fat cells through the process of differentiation
- Help regulate immune responses to injury
- Secrete bioactive molecules, such as growth factors, cytokines, and signaling proteins
- Have anti-inflammatory properties
- Support for tissue repair and regeneration
- Ability to migrate to sites of injury
- Low immunogenicity (less likely to trigger immune rejection)
How were MSCs discovered?
Mesenchymal stem cells were first discovered around 40 years ago by Alexander Friedenstein and his team while they were studying bone marrow. In the bone marrow, they found a small group of cells that would stick to plastic and grow into big colonies in the lab. More importantly, these cells showed the ability to develop into other, more specialized cells like bone, cartilage, or fat.
Their discovery laid the foundation for decades of breakthrough research in regenerative medicine. At this point in time, mesenchymal stem cells have been successfully found and isolated from many tissues including brain, liver, lung, kidney, muscle, thymus, pancreas, skin, bone marrow adipose tissue, fetal tissues, and umbilical cord.
Where Can We Find Mesenchymal Stem Cells?
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are present in nearly all bodily tissues, however, not every source is suitable for treatment use. As such, MSCs are typically extracted from the tissues listed below:
- Umbilical cord – collected after birth from a gelatin-like tissue called Wharton’s jelly. Completely safe and non-invasive procedure makes this often the preferred method. Plus, the collected cells are young and highly active, so highly suitable for use in treatment.
- Bone marrow – the most studied source and extraction method throughout the years. The procedure, however, is highly invasive to the patient. It usually involves inserting a needle into the rear hip bone and extracting bone marrow with a syringe.
- Adipose (fat) tissue – the fat tissue is extracted through the process known as liposuction, which is done under local or general anaesthesia.
Other methods, such as extraction from bloodstream, endometrium, or dental pulp do exist, but are still highly experimental and limited in medical applications.
What is MSC Secretome and Why Is It So Important?
Secretome is a collection of proteins which are released by a cell, tissue, or organism that plays a crucial role in regulating different cell processes. Secretome is the reason why MSCs can help nearby cells heal, reduce post-injury inflammation, and otherwise promote the recovery process.
In recent years, it has become well accepted that most of the regenerative qualities of MSCs in fact come from secretome and the way in which it interacts with local cells.
Let’s break down the way secretome acts in the body:
- It secretes a range of neuroregulatory factors which influence the way neurons grow or respond to injury. It means secretome helps with creation of new nerve cells, a process known as neurogenesis. It can also slow down or prevent cell death and reduce formation of scar tissue.
- It releases into its surroundings a large amount of very small particles called vesicles, the most important among them being exosomes. These particles help cells communicate, which is crucial during the tissue repair processes.
- It can help improve integration of local progenitor cells, which are young cells that already exist in the tissue. This aspect in particular has a lot of future potential in human clinical trials.
- Secretome is strongly associated with MSCs’ ability to regulate the immune system and facilitate regenerative capacity in the lesion site.
- In response to injury, MSCs have the capacity to migrate to the damaged site and promote the repair process through the secretion of growth factors, cytokines, as well as antioxidants.
Applications of MSCs in Neurological Treatments at Verita Neuro
Mesenchymal stem cells have been broadly used in treatments of central nervous system conditions. At Verita Neuro, we largely focus on spinal cord injuries, but we also have strong treatment protocols for a range of other conditions.
MSCs for spinal cord injury treatment (SCI)
Mesenchymal stem cells are one of three types of stem cells we offer in our treatment protocol for spinal cord injuries. We use MSCs specifically in cases when it’s especially important to create conditions for the body to heal itself through immunomodulation and expedited regeneration.
The main goals in spinal cord injury treatment with MSCs are:
- Reduce secondary damage, like inflammatory cascade, edema and scarring
- Preserve axons, which are extensions of nerve cells through which they communicate, and even create regrowth environment
- Support protection of nerve cells
- Improve motor and sensory function as well as autonomic outcomes.
For the best outcomes, Verita Neuro protocols usually pair MSC treatments with Epidural Stimulation, Brain Stimulation, and physical therapy for further rehabilitation.
Other neurological conditions treated with MSCs
We also use mesenchymal stem cells in treatments of other neurological conditions where inflammation, cell damage, or degeneration are the main dangers. The idea is always the same: support your body’s ability to repair and protect the nervous system.
Some of the conditions where MSCs are being successfully used include:
In each case, we adapt the treatment to your specific situation. MSCs in themselves don’t offer a complete cure, but they can help improve the environment in the brain or spinal cord for better healing outcomes.
Timing of MSC treatment and its impact on outcomes
When you receive treatment matters almost just as much as the treatment itself. With mesenchymal stem cell treatment for spinal cord injury, the stage of recovery you’re in will significantly shape what’s possible. That’s because the injury site doesn’t stay the same over time. The biological environment shifts, and with it, the window for repair and regeneration.
Early stage (hours to 2 months)
This is when the nervous system is most open to positive intervention. The priority here is limiting secondary damage like inflammation that can worsen the original injury. However, most patients aren’t receiving any stem cell treatment at this stage outside of clinical trials. Such a fresh injury comes with a lot of unpredictability and medical instability, plus the logistics of preparing and delivering cells is complicated during such a short window.
Subacute stage (2 to 6 months)
This is the window that most researchers and medical professionals focus on. Patients are more medically stable, but the injury is still active in a sense. Inflammation is ongoing, tissue is still remodeling, and the nervous system tends to retain more plasticity than it will later. That combination creates a more favorable environment for the treatment with MSCs to have a meaningful effect.
Chronic stage (6 to 12+ months)
By this point, the injury has largely settled into its long-term state. The injury site has developed chronic scar tissue, structural changes have set in, and some neural pathways are permanently lost. That definitely doesn’t mean treatment is without value, as some people do see improvements, but the effects are generally more modest and harder to predict. Individual factors, for example how physically fit the patient was before the injury, still play a role. At this stage the best effects of stem cell treatment will be achieved when paired with other treatment methods, like Epidural Stimulation.
How we source and process MSCs at Verita Neuro
Mesenchymal stem cells used in treatment are collected at the Verita Neuro facility in Mexico. They go through a highly controlled process that ensures safety, quality, and consistency of protocol.
We only use allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells, meaning cells obtained from an external source, so the whole process begins with careful donor selection and screening. Umbilical cord tissue is thoroughly tested for infectious diseases and evaluated to ensure it meets rigorous safety requirements. Among others, we test for these diseases:
- Treponema pallidum
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Human immunodeficiency virus (types 1 and 2)
- Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas disease)
Only approved, highest-quality samples are used to create cell lines.
Once the tissue is obtained, it contains a mix of different cell types. In the laboratory, we carry out an isolation process to extract only mesenchymal stem cells. We then grow these cells in controlled environments using specialized incubators and we closely monitor conditions like temperature and sterility.
As the cells expand, they undergo multiple rounds of testing to confirm they are developing in correct, optimal ways and in sterile conditions. This includes our internal quality checks as well as verification by independent third-party laboratories. The cells are also analyzed and counted to ensure each dose contains a precise and consistent number of viable MSCs.
Mesenchymal stem cell storage requires freezing for safe preservation. Each MSC vial is cryopreserved through freezing at around -86°C. This way they are safely stored until they are needed for treatment. Before use, each batch is checked again for viability and quality.
In clinical practice at Verita Neuro, we handle these cells like any other medical treatment. Each patient is evaluated individually, and treatment is based on their condition, severity, and stage of disease.
Key takeaways
Mesenchymal stem cells have become one of the most valuable developments in neurological treatment. Their ability to differentiate into specialized cells combined with the healing properties of the secretome they release gives them the ability to reduce inflammation, protect nerve cells, and actively support the body’s own recovery process. Sourced primarily from umbilical cord tissue, they are relatively straightforward to obtain, rigorously tested, and carry a strong safety profile.
Effectiveness, however, depends a lot on when treatment happens. The best window is the subacute phase, roughly 2 to 6 months after injury, which is when the body is stable enough to respond but the injury site can still significantly change for the better. Beyond that window, results become harder to predict, and pairing MSCs with other treatments becomes increasingly important.
References
- Definitions and Criteria for Stem Cells. Methods in Molecular Biology. 2008. Weiner LP.
- Introduction to Stem Cells. Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science. 2023. Tian Z, Yu T, Liu J, Wang T, Higuchi A.
- Stem Cells in Central Nervous System Diseases: Promising Therapeutic Strategies. Experimental Neurology. 2023. Ying C, Zhang J, Zhang H, et al.
- Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury: Mechanisms, Current Advances and Future Challenges. Frontiers in Immunology. 2023. Xia Y, Zhu J, Yang R, et al.
- Regenerative Medicine Approaches for the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries: Progress and Challenges. Acta Biomaterialia. 2024. Ralph PC, Choi SW, Baek MJ, Lee SJ.
