An open prospective study with multiple (every 6-12 months) intrathecal or intravenous injections of autologous MSC in patients with progressive forms of MS (secondary progressive, primary progressive or relapsing-progressive), who failed to respond to first and second lines of immunomodulatory treatments and deteriorated (at least 0.5 degree in the EDSS scale) during the year preceding their inclusion to our study or had at least one major relapse without sufficient recovery.
An open prospective study with multiple intrathecal or intravenous injections of autologous MSC in 24 patients with progressive forms of MS (secondary progressive, primary progressive or relapsing-progressive), who failed to respond to first and second lines of immunomodulatory treatments and deteriorated (at least 0.5 degree in the EDSS scale) during the year preceding their inclusion to our study or had at least one major relapse without sufficient recovery. Patients will be treated with 1x10 million MSC per kg of body weight, intrathecally and intravenously and subsequently with up to 8 courses of IT- or IV-injections of MSC (at the same dose), at intervals of 6-12 months. The duration of the trial is 4 years. Patients will be followed up every 3 months for the whole duration of the trial, for safety assessment and changes in the disability scores (EDSS). Immunological analysis will be performed at 4 time points (day 1, month 1, month 3 and month 6) following the first MSC-treatment and will include a fluorescent cell sorter (FACS) analysis to evaluate the proportions of the lymphocytes expressing markers of immune activation or of regulatory cell phenotype.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
24
Repeated intrathecal and intravenous injection of autologous mesenchymal stem cells (1 million cells per Kg of body weight) at 6 months intervals.
Appearance of adverse events
To evaluate the safety and tolerability of MSCs repeated treatment in progressive MS patients
Time frame: 48 months following first treatment
The changes in Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score 0-10 scale, higher scores show worsening of disability)
To evaluate the changes in Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score after repeated MSC treatments compared to run-in period.
Time frame: 48 months
Changes in the percentage of CD4/CD25/FoxP3 triple positive stained cells (T regulatory cells), following MSC-treatment
The percentage of CD4/CD25/FoxP3 triple positive stained cells, will be tested in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from MSC-treated patients using a fluorescent cell sorter (FACS) at 1 day, 1, 3 and 6 months post-MSC treatment and compared to baseline (before treatment) values for each patient. The mean post treatment values will be compared to the respective pre-treatmnent values at each time point.
Time frame: up to 6 months
Changes in the percentage of CD3+CD69+ cells (activated lymphocytes), following MSC-treatment
The percentage of CD3+CD69+ cells (activated lymphocytes), will be tested in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from MSC-treated patients using a fluorescent cell sorter (FACS) at 1 day, 1, 3 and 6 months post-MSC treatment and compared to baseline (before treatment) values for each patient. The mean post treatment values will be compared to the respective pre-treatmnent values at each time point.
Time frame: up to 6 months
Changes in the percentage of CD11c+/CD86+/Lin- cells (dendritic cells and antigen-presenting macrophages), following MSC-treatment
The percentage of CD11c+/CD86+/Lin- cells (dendritic cells and antigen-presenting macrophages), will be tested in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from MSC-treated patients using a fluorescent cell sorter (FACS) at 1 day, 1, 3 and 6 months post-MSC treatment and compared to baseline (before treatment) values for each patient. The mean post treatment values will be compared to the respective pre-treatmnent values at each time point.
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Time frame: up to 6 months
Changes in the proliferation ability of mononuclear cells to PHA, following MSC-treatment
The proliferation ability of mononuclear cells to PHA will be tested in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from MSC-treated patients using a standard proliferative Thymidine-uptake assay at 1 day, 1, 3 and 6 months post-MSC treatment and compared to baseline (before treatment) values for each patient. The mean post treatment value (proliferation index) will be compared to the respective pre-treatmnent values at each time point.
Time frame: up to 6 months