As it is well known by multiple sclerosis sufferers, stem cells might hold the key to the cure of this illness. This is, needless to say good news for everybody, as finally, the years of research and study seem to finally pay off, and provide MS sufferers with a cure to their illness.

But, to better understand stem cell therapy and how it helps MS we need to take a closer look at the illness itself.

For the moment, scientists don’t know what causes multiple sclerosis, but have a fairly good understanding on how it affects the body. This provides enough information for researchers to work on a cure. So, how does MS affect the body?

Multiple sclerosis is a demyelinating disease, and it falls under the category of autoimmune diseases. Why? Because the demylinating process is a direct result of one’s own immune system attacking the myelin. Myelin is an insulating substance that’s around axons and neurons. As the human brain sends electrical signals to various parts of the body, and these signals give instructions on how to work ( aka move leg forward, see color red, etc) when the myelin around the axons and neurons is attacked by one’s immune system, these signals can’t reach their destination, or if they do they lack information. Pretty much like sending an email and receiving only half of it, or not receiving it at all.

Now, the problem in MS is the immune system. Basically, if there would be a way to stop it attacking myelin, then the disease would be cured. This is why, immune suppressors are used in the treatment of MS. However, this requires the person with MS to take these all their lives, and the body becomes accustomed to them, and their efficiency drops when this happens.  This is where stem cell comes in.

Stem cells are cells that have the ability to renew themselves, and differentiate into a diverse range of specialized cell types. So, how can this be used in the treatment of MS and finding a cure?

Scientists devised a way through which they erase one’s immune system through chemotherapy. So basically, there’s nothing left to attack the myelin in one’s body. Scientists also found that taking stem cells from patients and inserting them into the body once the immune system is erased, leads to the development of a new immune system, a naïve immune system that doesn’t attack myelin anymore. Also, stem cells, once introduced in the body, renew the myelin and reverse the damage made by MS.

This seems like a match made in heaven for MS sufferers. However, there’s only one problem: until now, this treatment proved to be highly effective in people with early stage relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. But, this are only initial findings, and hopefully, in the near future, stem cells will provide the permanent cure for all MS patients.