Multipotent stromal cells for arthritic joint pain therapy and beyond.

Abstract

Multipotent stromal cells (MSCs) have been studied as a candidate for cell-based therapy for a variety of conditions including joint diseases. Clinical studies have used MSCs to treat arthritis and related joint diseases and generated encouraging results. There is improved joint cartilage tissues and functional activity, along with reduction of pain. MSCs may also possess intrinsic analgesic properties. Studies have shown MSC-induced pain relief in animal models and the opioids are involved in this effect. Beyond tissue repair, MSCs may not need to be grafted to the injury site to produce an effect. It is hypothesized that MSCs interact with the host immune cells and the relayed signal helps to produce and maintain a long-lasting therapeutic effect including pain relief.

• Authors: Wei Guo, Satoshi Imai, Ronald Dubner, Ke Ren
• Journal: Pain management (Pain Manag) Vol. 4 Issue 2 Pg. 153-62 (Mar 2014) ISSN: 1758-1877 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 24641438 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Review)

Topics

• Animals
• Arthritis (etiology, therapy)
• Humans
• Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation
• Pain (complications)
• Pain Management