Abdul Mannan Baig
Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating chronic inflammatory neurological disease of the central nervous system (CNS), characterized by activation of microglia. Mitochondrial mutations (mtDNA.mutat) and dysfunctions inmicroglial cells are thought to centrally contribute to the damaging effects of neuroinflammation seen in MS.
Objective: The somatic nuclear transfer (SCNT) technology offers a more practical mode of therapy in MS, This method would attempt to dilute and/or progressively replace the (mtDNA.mutat) and activated microglia with cloned olfactory ensheathing cells (OEC) with remyelinating and scavenging properties which would attempt to limit the progression of MS.
Proposed Methods: Applying SCNT-derived embryonic stem (ES) cells based therapy by cloning olfactory ensheathing cells (OEC), engineered with an autologous nuclear component of the recipient OEC with a healthy donor oocyte. The inner cell mass of the subsequently developed blastocyst would be the source to generate the microglia. The novel proposed transcribrial route device offers a painless mode of cell transplantation to the brain.
Expected Results: This mode of generating SCNT cloned glia and its transplantation to the brain is expected to replace the (mtDNA.mutat) and activated microglia of the patients with MS and use the regenerative and remyelinating and properties of the OEC’s, as has been seen in recent clinical trials in paraplegic patients with spinal cord injuries.
Conclusion: The use of SCNT in contrast to the reprogramming adult somatic cell is expected to develop isogenic ES cell-based therapies for the prevention and treatment of MS associated with mtDNA mutations that may open a new avenue of designer’s targeted cell therapy unique for the patients with MS. The proposed “transcribrial device” to access the brain can be an advantageous route of delivery of cloned cells to the brain.