Stem Cell Therapy for Autism

Thomas E Ichim¹ , Fabio Solano² , Eduardo Glenn² , Frank Morales² , Leonard Smith² , George Zabrecky³ and Neil H Riordan¹^,4

¹Medistem Laboratories Inc, Tempe, Arizona, USA

²Institute for Cellular Medicine, San Jose, Costa Rica

³Americas Medical Center, Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA

⁴2027 E. Cedar Street Suite 102 Tempe, AZ 85281, USA

author email corresponding author email

Journal of Translational Medicine 2007, 5:30doi:10.1186/1479-5876-5-30


Published:	27 June 2007

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of neurodevelopmental conditions whose incidence is reaching epidemic proportions, afflicting approximately 1 in 166 children. Autistic disorder, or autism is the most common form of ASD. Although several neurophysiological alterations have been associated with autism, immune abnormalities and neural hypoperfusion appear to be broadly consistent. These appear to be causative since correlation of altered inflammatory responses, and hypoperfusion with symptology is reported. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are in late phases of clinical development for treatment of graft versus host disease and Crohn's Disease, two conditions of immune dysregulation. Cord blood CD34+ cells are known to be potent angiogenic stimulators, having demonstrated positive effects in not only peripheral ischemia, but also in models of cerebral ischemia. Additionally, anecdotal clinical cases have reported responses in autistic children receiving cord blood CD34+ cells. We propose the combined use of MSC and cord blood CD34+cells may be useful in the treatment of autism.