Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation For Treatment Of Multiple Sclerosis

Objective: To explore in vitro hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell growth and proliferation of bone marrow in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and its clinical application in MS treatment when autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT) was performed. Methods: In vitro, clones and proliferation of CFU-MK in bone marrow hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells were identified with semisolid collagen, and those of CFU-GM and CFU-E with semisolid methycellulose in 19 MS patients and 22 healthy controls. Results: (1)There were no significant differences in CFU-MK,CFU-GM and CFU-E counts between general MS patients and healthy controls respectively(P>0.05).(2) The CFU-GM counts of MS patients in relapsing phase were lower than those of healthy controls(p=0.006)and they were lower than those of MS patients in remitting phase as well (p=0.001). There were no significant differences in CFU-MK and CFU-E counts among MS patients in relapsing or remitting phase and healthy controls(P>0.05). (3) There were no significant differences in CFU-MK,CFU-GM and CFU-E counts among MS patients whose disease course within or over 3 years and healthy controls(P>0.05). Conclusions: There were abnormal proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow hematopietic stem/progenitor cells in relapsing phase of MS. The hematopietic stem/progenitor cells might be less sensitive to hematopoietic growth factor in relapsing phase of MS than those in remitting phase of MS.