Intravenous Infusion of Autologous Mesenchymal Stem Cells Expanded in Auto Serum for Chronic Spinal Cord Injury Patients: A Case Series
<b>Objective:</b> The safety, feasibility, and potential functional improvement following the intravenous infusion of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were investigated in patients with chronic severe spinal cord injury (SCI). <b>Methods:</b> The intravenous infusion of autologous MSCs cultured in auto-serum under Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) was administered to seven patients with chronic SCI (ranging from 1.3 years to 27 years after the onset of SCI). In addition to evaluating feasibility and safety, neurological function was evaluated using the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS), International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISCSCI-92), and Spinal Cord Independence Measure III (SCIM-III). <b>Results:</b> No serious adverse events occurred. Neither CNS tumors, abnormal cell growth, nor neurological deterioration occurred in any patients. While this initial case series was not blinded, significant functional improvements and increased quality of life (QOL) were observed at 90 and 180 days post-MSC infusion compared to pre-infusion status. One patient who had an AIS grade C improved to grade D within six months after MSC infusion. <b>Conclusions:</b> This case series suggests that the intravenous infusion of autologous MSCs is a safe and feasible therapeutic approach for chronic SCI patients. Furthermore, our data showed significant functional improvements and better QOL after MSC infusion in patients with chronic SCI. A blind large-scale study will be necessary to fully evaluate this possibility.
Authors
- Yusuke Okuma (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5743-0149)
- Tsutomu Oshigiri
- Yoichi M. Ito (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5073-0827)
- Reiko Kondo
- Satoshi Iyama (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6328-494X)
- Masato Kobayashi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9703-2858)
- Yuko Kataoka-Sasaki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4562-491X)
- Rie Onodera (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9987-0473)
- Ai Namioka
- Ryosuke Hirota (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2210-0497)
- Masahito Nakazaki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3155-5116)
- Atsushi Teramoto (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4860-9259)
- Kohichi Takada (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1393-9442)
- Takahiro Namioka
- Masanori Sasaki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7961-9698)
- Satoko Ohmatsu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8053-2060)
- Noritaka Kawashima (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3194-0524)
- Jeffery D. Kocsis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3780-7719)
- Takahiro Yokoyama (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5555-4495)
- Tatsuro Yamashita (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5166-8520)
- Mitsuhiro Takemura (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9592-362X)
- Masayoshi Kobune (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3828-8444)
- Sumio Ishiai
- Toshihiko Yamashita (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1657-4848)
- Ryo Ukai (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8391-2552)
- Ryo Aichi
- Kota Kurihara
- Osamu Honmou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8697-7530)
- Shinichi Oka (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3820-3394)
- Ryunosuke Fukushi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2460-0978)
- Toru Ogata (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9011-8640)
- Tomonori Morita (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5665-9072)
- Yuichi Sasaki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-1833-4041)
- Hisashi Obara
Institutions
- Sapporo Medical University (JP)
- Yale University (US)
- University of Tokyo Hospital (JP)
- Hokkaido University Hospital (JP)
- National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities (JP)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Clinical Medicine
- Published
- 2024-10-11
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13206072
- Citations
- 4
- Primary Topic
- Mesenchymal stem cell research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.75
Funders
- Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development