Autoimmune Disorders

Adipose-derived stem cell therapies are used for many autoimmune disorders and diseases including:

• Multiple sclerosis
• Alopecia Areata
• Auto-immune Hepatitis
• Lichen Sclerosis
• Lupus
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Psoriasis
• Graves’ scleroderma
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Relapsing Polychondritis

Stem cells have the ability for self-renewal and differentiation for mesodermal lineage, such as osteocytes (bone cells), chondrocytes (cartilage cells), neurons (nerves), myocytes (muscle cells), and hepatocytes (liver cells). Intrinsic properties of stem cells depend on the activation of certain progenitor cells.

There are about 100,000 MSCs per gram of fat solution. Adipose tissue had the largest quantity of stem cells. A special cannula is used to obtain the stem cells from fat tissues, which delivers a 3 times higher rate of stem cell attachment compared to other devices. The collection protocol only requires five to ten grams of fat to yield enough stem cells for a procedure.

The SVF procedure utilized by CSN is an IRB approved protocol that can yield between 10 million and 40 million stem cells. After the stem cells have been isolated, CSN affiliates bank each patient’s cells, cryopreserving them and expanding hundreds of millions of autologous stem cells. This process ensures physicians have the ability to find optimal dosing for each patient’s unique condition.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects around 2.5 million people worldwide, with 400,000 of individuals with the disease in the U.S. With MS, the patient’s immune system attacks the fatty covering around nerve fibers (called the myelin) of the spinal cord and brain. This leads to inflammation and lesions. In a 2015 retrospective study of 151 MS patients who received stem cell transplants over 2-4 years, researchers found proof of efficacy. According to disability scores and scales, quality of life evaluation, and lesion volume analysis, all patients showed statistically significant improvements.

A recent study that was performed between 2013 and 2017 showed that MS patients who underwent stem cell therapy had very high success rates, at 74%. Over a two year time period, MISS-29 scores dropped by 52% for marked improvement in each patient’s condition.

Regarding systemic lupus erythematosus, patients treated were those with renal and other visceral organ involvement. At the 5-year follow-up, post-treatment with stem cells, 50% of the patients remained disease free.

The liposuction is done at the abdomen or “love handles”. After the skin is cleaned with an antiseptic, the area is numbed using a tiny needle and lidocaine. A small incision is made, and a special cannula is inserted into the tissue.

With gentle suction, the fat cells are removed and processed. The incision is closed with Steri-Strips or a Band-Aid. The tissue is then processed according to the IRB protocol and is infused in the same setting. The whole process takes approximately 3-4 hours.

Kamao H, Mandai M, Okamoto S, et al. (2014). Characterization of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell–Derived Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cell Sheets Aiming for Clinical Application. Stem Cell Research, 2, 205-218.