Immune Cell Therapy Shows Promise for ALS Treatment

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder. Research published in The FASEB Journal suggests that immune cell dysregulation and elevated inflammation contribute to the development of the condition. Scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital have developed a new cell therapy for ALS using B cells, which could be a significant advance toward a cure.

B Cells as a Therapeutic Option

Previous research showed that purified B cells, which produce antibodies, reduce inflammation and promote recovery in mice with injuries. They do so by adopting neuroprotective traits to restore damaged tissues. The team explored the application of B cells as a possible ALS therapeutic approach.

Benefits in Animal Models

The researchers assessed the effects of B cell infusions in mice prone to ALS. The results were encouraging, as repeated intravenous treatments of B cells significantly delayed disease onset, extended survival, reduced cell death, and decreased a marker of neurodegeneration.

Positive Results in Human Patients

The researchers applied the approach to an individual living with ALS. Repeated infusions of donor B cells were safe and led to decreased levels of multiple inflammatory markers. The study paved the way for a Phase I clinical trial of the new therapy for ALS. “What we observed early on in preclinical studies became a remarkable effect of B cells in the context of brain lesions,” said Ruxandra F. Sîrbulescu, assistant professor of Neurology.

Implications for ALS Treatment

“This is a first study of its kind applying B cells to ALS treatment. It sets us up for a trial of this new treatment approach to a currently incurable disease,” said senior author Mark C. Poznansky, MD, Ph.D. “B cells can be readily obtained from the blood, and we demonstrated that our approach was safe and feasible in a human.”

Conclusion

The findings of this research offer a hopeful outlook for ALS patients. Further clinical trials will be required to validate this therapy and bring us closer to a definitive cure.

Keywords: ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease, immune system dysregulation, inflammation, neurodegenerative disorder, B cells, clinical trials.

Originally Post From https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-07-immune-cell-therapy-benefits-lab.html

Revolutionary immune cell therapy promising for ALS treatment