Review

Non-expanded adipose stromal vascular fraction cell therapy for multiple sclerosis

Neil H Riordan¹ , Thomas E Ichim¹ , Wei-Ping Min² , Hao Wang² , Fabio Solano³ , Fabian Lara³ , Miguel Alfaro⁴ , Jorge Paz Rodriguez⁵ , Robert J Harman⁶ , Amit N Patel⁷ , Michael P Murphy⁸ , Roland R Lee^9,10 and Boris Minev^11,12

¹  Medistem Inc, San Diego, CA, USA

²  Department of Surgery, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada

³  Cell Medicine Institutes, San Jose, Costa Rica

⁴  Hospital CIMA, San Jose, Costa Rica

⁵  Cell Medicine Institutes, Panama City, Panama

⁶  Vet-Stem, Inc. Poway, CA, USA

⁷  Dept of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

⁸  Division of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana, USA

⁹  Department of Radiology, University of Canlfornia San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA

¹⁰  Veterans Administration, San Diego, CA, USA

¹¹  Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA

¹²  Department of Medicine, Division of Neurosurgery, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA

author email corresponding author email

Journal of Translational Medicine 2009, 7:29doi:10.1186/1479-5876-7-29

Published:	24 April 2009

Abstract

The stromal vascular fraction (SVF) of adipose tissue is known to contain mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), T regulatory cells, endothelial precursor cells, preadipocytes, as well as anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages. Safety of autologous adipose tissue implantation is supported by extensive use of this procedure in cosmetic surgery, as well as by ongoing studies using in vitro expanded adipose derived MSC. Equine and canine studies demonstrating anti-inflammatory and regenerative effects of non-expanded SVF cells have yielded promising results. Although non-expanded SVF cells have been used successfully in accelerating healing of Crohn's fistulas, to our knowledge clinical use of these cells for systemic immune modulation has not been reported. In this communication we discuss the rationale for use of autologous SVF in treatment of multiple sclerosis and describe our experiences with three patients. Based on this rationale and initial experiences, we propose controlled trials of autologous SVF in various inflammatory conditions.