Autologous bone marrow stem cell transplantation for the treatment of ulcerative colitis complicated with herpes zoster: a case report

Therapeutic Effect of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Ulcerative Colitis: A Review on Achievements and Challenges

The worldwide epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), still shows an increasing trend in Asia and Iran. Despite an improvement in the treatment landscape focused on symptomatic control, long-term colectomies have not decreased over the last 10-year period. Thus, novel therapies are urgently needed in clinics to supplement the existing treatments. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent adult stem cells with immunosuppressive effects, targeting IBD as a new treatment strategy. They have recently received global attention for their use in cell transplantation due to their easy expansion and wide range of activities to be engrafted, and because they are home to the mucosa of the intestine. Moreover, MSCs are able to differentiate into epithelial and other cells that can directly promote repair in the mucosal damages in UC. It seems that there is a need to deepen our understanding to target MSCs as a promising treatment option for UC patients who are refractory to conventional therapies. Here, we overviewed the therapeutic effects of MSCs in UC and discussed the achievements and challenges in the cell transplantation of UC.

Intra-articular administration of peripheral blood stem cells with platelet-rich plasma regenerated articular cartilage and improved clinical outcomes for knee chondral lesions

PURPOSE

To determine whether intra-articular injections of peripheral blood stem cells improved the regeneration of articular cartilage in patients with osteochondral knee injuries.

METHODS

This prospective study included 20 patients with grade 3b knee osteochondral lesions who underwent knee arthroscopies. All were white, and all had performed physical activity at least five times a week. International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) and visual analog scale scores were recorded before surgery, six months and one year after surgery, and then yearly until five years after surgery. Magnetic resonance imaging scans were obtained six months preoperatively and then yearly and were evaluated by musculoskeletal radiologists blinded to the patient data. Tissue repair was quantified using the International Cartilage Repair Society morphologic score system. Unpaired t-tests were used for comparisons between the time points.

RESULTS

The mean preoperative IKDC score was 50.5 (42-61). At the six-month follow-up, the mean values were 60.79 (P = 0.32) and 90.97. At the six-month follow-up, the mean values were 70.8 (P = 0.043). At the end of the five-year follow-up, the IKDC was 82.2 (P = 0.024). At five-year follow-up, the visual analog scale score was 1.1 (P = 0.0018). The main morphologic score system score was 3.2 preoperatively and 9.7 ± 1.6 at five-year follow-up (P = 0.0021). No infection, tumors, or synovitis were reported at the end of the follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Intra-articular peripheral blood stem cells with platelet-rich plasma regenerated articular cartilage and improved clinical outcomes for knee chondral lesions at five years of follow-up.