Transplantation of bone marrow stromal cells for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases

Abstract

The present invention relates to a treatment of an autoimmune demyelinating disease/disorder. Also included in the present invention is the use of bone marrow stromal cells for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS).

1 . A method of treating a mammal having an autoimmune demyelinating disease/disorder, the method comprising isolating a stromal cell from a bone marrow sample, and administering said stromal cell to said mammal, wherein the presence of said stromal cell in the CNS of the mammal effects treatment of said disease/disorder, further wherein the presence of said stromal cell in the CNS of the mammal reduces axonal loss. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said stromal cell is selected from the group consisting of an autologous stromal cell, an allogenic stromal cell, a syngeneic stromal cell, and a xenogeneic stromal cell, with respect to said mammal. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said mammal is a human. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said stromal cell is derived from a human donor. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said autoimmune demyelinating disease/disorder is selected from the group consisting of a genetic disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), and a neurodegenerative disease. 
     
     
         6 .- 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said stromal cell administered to said CNS remains present or replicates in said CNS. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said stromal cell administered to said CNS does not result in a cell replacement therapy. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said stromal cell administered to said CNS induces expression of a growth factor within neighboring cells. 
     
     
         12 .- 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein prior to administering said stromal cell to said mammal, said cell is cultured in vitro for a period of time. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein prior to administering said stromal cell to said mammal, said stromal cell is transfected with an isolated nucleic acid encoding a therapeutic protein, wherein when such protein is secreted by said stromal cell, said protein serves to effect treatment of said disease/disorder. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said stromal cell is administered to said mammal by a route selected from the group consisting of intreavascular, intracerebral, parenteral, intraperitoneal, intravenous, epidural, intraspinal, intrastemal, intra-articular, intra-synovial, intrathecal, intra-arterial, intracardiac, and intramuscular. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said stromal cell is administered to said mammal at the site of injury. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said stromal cell is administered to said mammal at an adjacent site to the site of injury. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said stromal cell present in the CNS activates the proliferation of neighboring cells. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said stromal cell is administered concomitantly with a growth factor. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said stromal cell administered to said mammal prevents axonal fiber loss in the cells of the mammal. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said stromal cell administered to said mammal prevents demyelination in the cells of the mammal. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said stromal cell in the CNS of the mammal induces angiogenesis. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said stromal cell in the CNS of the mammal induces neurogenesis. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said stromal cell in the CNS of the mammal induces synaptogenesis.