Lupus is a common disease - affecting 5 million people (majority being women) worldwide. Its symptoms include: pain in the muscle and joint areas, fatigue, rashes, and fevers. Flare-ups are mildly common occurances, but can be tamed or contolled. Medication may help with lupus, but cannot cure it.
Although it's not a curable disease, it can be treated and controlled. Fortunately, stem cells are one of the sources that can help treat lupus. Current research on lupus involves the use of adult stem cells. Stem cell transplants could be of use to treat severe lupus. According to LU?US, in this procedure, stem cells are taken from the patient and are re-infused, or put back, into the patient after researchers have eliminated defective white blood cells that are responsible for lupus disease activity. In one study of stem cell transplant (for lupus), several patients remained disease-free five years after undergoing the procedure. Therefore, results have been promising.
Another symptom of lupus are flammatory (or swollen) joints. Mesenchymal stem cells serve as anti-inflammatory sources for lupus and have led to improvement in the disease. Stem cell transplants hold promise as an alternative for lupus patients in whom other therapies have been tried unsuccessfully. According to MedPageToday, various lines of research have demonstrated that mesenchymal stem cells can differentiate into bone and cartilage, and have immunomodulatory effects on T cells and B cells. They also are capable of eluding detection by the immune system because they lack co-stimulatory molecules. Although mesenchymal stem cells are promising, doubts are still a common occurance. However, scientists are one step closer to treating lupus.
Although it's not a curable disease, it can be treated and controlled. Fortunately, stem cells are one of the sources that can help treat lupus. Current research on lupus involves the use of adult stem cells. Stem cell transplants could be of use to treat severe lupus. According to LU?US, in this procedure, stem cells are taken from the patient and are re-infused, or put back, into the patient after researchers have eliminated defective white blood cells that are responsible for lupus disease activity. In one study of stem cell transplant (for lupus), several patients remained disease-free five years after undergoing the procedure. Therefore, results have been promising.
Another symptom of lupus are flammatory (or swollen) joints. Mesenchymal stem cells serve as anti-inflammatory sources for lupus and have led to improvement in the disease. Stem cell transplants hold promise as an alternative for lupus patients in whom other therapies have been tried unsuccessfully. According to MedPageToday, various lines of research have demonstrated that mesenchymal stem cells can differentiate into bone and cartilage, and have immunomodulatory effects on T cells and B cells. They also are capable of eluding detection by the immune system because they lack co-stimulatory molecules. Although mesenchymal stem cells are promising, doubts are still a common occurance. However, scientists are one step closer to treating lupus.