According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects approximately three million Americans. Characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (the two conditions that comprise IBD) can cause symptoms that include fatigue, abdominal pain, and persistent diarrhea.
With so many people living with IBD, scientists are constantly looking for new ways to treat symptoms and causes. Fortunately, they are finding more reasons to be hopeful for new treatments, this time in the form of regenerative medicine and newborn stem cells from cord tissue.
Why cord tissue stem cells?
One of the many benefits of the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) present in cord tissue is their ability to respond to inflammation and help repair tissue damage.1 And since IBD is characterized by chronic inflammation, cord tissue stem cells are a great candidate for research.
What did they find?
This recent study, titled “Mechanism and therapeutic effect of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells in inflammatory bowel disease,” was able to explain several ways cord tissue stem cells might help improve symptoms of IBD.
This study showed that, at the cellular level, the presence of the stem cells increased or decreased the expression of certain proteins that control mechanisms that can:
- Reduce bowel and intestinal wall permeability that causes inflammation
- Decrease cell destruction of the bowel/intestinal wall
- Increase blood vessel formation, which can facilitate intestinal tissue repair
However, there’s a long way to go before MSCs can be used as part of a treatment.
First, this study was performed on mice—which is only a precursor to a clinical trial with humans. Second, scientists need more answers to basic questions surrounding the mechanisms which help stem cells work as they’re introduced to the body, as well as how different stem cell sources may vary in their therapeutic effects.
But articles like this one help add yet another small piece to the regenerative medicine puzzle. Looks like IBD could one day join the ranks of autism, hearing loss, and hypoplastic left heart syndrome in conditions being researched with newborn stem cells!
As always, we’ll keep you posted as research moves forward!
References: 1. Wei X, Yang X, Han Z, Qu F, Shao L, Shi Y. Mesenchymal stem cells: a new trend for cell therapy. Acta Pharmacologica Sinica. 2013;34(6):747-754. doi:10.1038/aps.2013.50.
This article is so exciting! I’ve had horrible, painful IBD for at least 40 years that I’m aware of. I don’t know what to eat, what not to eat. I am constantly I pain. Maybe this study will shed some light on this frustrating and painful disease for so many of us. I look forward to the next article. Thank you everyone for all your hard work!!
Most individuals who have knowledge of stem cells, consider banking of their newborn babies stem cells, as they know, it will be very beneficial for family in future.
Dr. David Greene
Thank you Dr Greene, I believe banking of newborn babies stem cells is so important for a child’s future health and perhaps their parents. Such a shame it is so expensive.
This are great news, I personally suffer of IBS and I am glad one day I could get benefit by using my daughter’s stem cells.
Research in stem cells are advancing everyday and such posts keep us updated and give hope.
Thank you
R3 Stem Cell
This is such great news! My daughter suffers from Ulcerative Colitis and is currently being medicated on a weekly basis with Humira to keep it under control. It would be such a blessing to have a cure for this terrible disease and all other IBS diseases. When the time comes, I would like to know how does one get the opportunity to be a part of the human clinical trials?
Thanks to CBR for their life changing work accomplished through all those involved who have utilized their God given talents. Praying for your success in this endeavor!
Hi Marianne, Feel free to give our clinical team a call and they’d be happy to discuss options around clinical trials with you. 1.888.240.1996 Thanks and have a great day!
Thank you Dr Greene, I believe banking of newborn babies stem cells is so important for a child’s future health and perhaps their parents. Such a shame it is so expensive. Are we having trials in Australia at moment?
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