Cerebral Palsy is a long-lasting disability caused by disruptions of the brain during its development leading to coordination and movement issues as well as issues controlling exactly how muscles move and work. The severity of the impairment experienced by each person with Cerebral Palsy is different. Those affected by Cerebral Palsy have restricted mobility and range of movement and consequently a lower quality of life. The strain on family both financially and emotionally is long lasting because of the continuous need for support. These treatments can be pediatric and can include a combination of both speech and functional therapy as rest can be necessary and promote healthy neural growth. Current therapies are more focused on alleviating symptoms and provide little to no neural healing. There is a pressing need for new approaches and use of UC-MSCs provides an alternative. Combining UC-MSCs and Regenerative Medicine Thailand creates a hope to produce a regenerative treatment of neural tissues. For those with Cerebral Palsy the shift from palliative treatment to regenerative neural tissues is of great benefit to those who have concerns of severe, permanent, neural disability.
Cerebral Palsy and UC-MSCs Mechanism
There are a number of reasons why the potential of UC-MSCs in the treatment of neural trauma is so encouraging. Undoubtedly the greatest number of evidence is the proved neural healing. They secrete brain-derived neurotrophic factor, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, and nerve growth factor, and there is evidence that they increase in number following trauma. UC-MSCs are known to have a number of impressive abilities. They secrete a number of molecules that reduce the inflammatory state and improve the healing process of the tissue. They also increase growth of new blood vessels by the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor. Oxygen supply to previously ischemic brain regions enables the reconstruction of dormant brain networks. MicroRNAs travel through extracellular vesicles to damaged cells during paracrine signaling, preventing cellular injury and apoptosis, and triggering synapse formation. This process is the principal mechanism of the restorative process in Regenerative Medicine Thailand. MicroRNA synaptogenesis occurs the fastest and thus is the most capable mechanism for use in restorative research and applications in brain injuries. Increased flexibility in medicine will allow clinicians to develop more effective biological therapies. For example, cellular therapy can now be used to treat the underlying causes of Cerebral Palsy, rather than relying on negative pathogenic medications. Umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) can address the mechanisms of Cerebral Palsy directly, unlike medications that simply manage symptoms. Unleashing the body’s healing capacities, UC-MSCs target injury sites and promote tissue remodeling, neuroplasticity, and synapse formation.
The most important reason why we apply these cells is their ability to replace damaged neurons and glial cells by differentiating into specific neural lineages in response to cues from their microenvironment. After that, these cells provide shielding to the damaged pathways. If demyelination of the neural pathways occurs, the cells will stimulate the oligodendrocytes and assist in the repair of the myelin sheath. The remyelination of the neural pathways restores the conduction of impulses along the pathways and thus improves control and coordination of movements. Since UC-MSCs (umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells) will absorb the features of immunotolerance, it will obviate the use of immunosuppressive drugs, and the risk of rejection will be minimal. UC-MSCs will help modify the disease progression by addressing the root causes of early brain injury in Cerebral Palsy, a key goal championed by Regenerative Medicine Thailand.
Figure 1: Cerebral Palsy and UC-MSCs Mechanism
Future Trends in Thailand
Across most of Southeast Asia, the innovations in neurological therapeutics are rapidly advancing. The use of UC-MSCs (umbilical stem cells) for the treatment of Cerebral Palsy will place this area in the lead of innovations in medicine. The country of Thailand is situated in the middle of the countries of Southeast Asia, and it has the clinical infrastructure to be the first of these countries. The country has world class research facilities and a strong regulatory framework. The government has invested and established many of the first clinical trials for the country. In addition, stem cell treatments will likely be designed in Thailand for the convenience of other countries offering advanced medical tourism. For the best possible therapeutic outcomes, stem cells will be cultivated in the country to reduce transportation. The clinical and regulatory advances in the field of stem cell therapies will likely extend and strengthen the position of Regenerative Medicine Thailand as the leader in Advanced Medical Tourism for Cerebral Palsy care.
Conclusion
The ability of individuals with Cerebral Palsy to move, and their cognitive functions, warrants the urgency to find new and advanced treatments. Current treatments and care for this population are mostly aimed at the relief of symptoms. While this may be supportive to the individual, it does not address the permanent damage to the nervous system. The use of UC-MSCs marks a remarkable innovation for modern clinical practice. As multipotent cells, they use their mechanisms of neuroprotection, immunomodulation, and remyelination to overcome the physiological issues that occur with critical brain injuries. The rapidly developing focus on Regenerative Medicine Thailand provides a renewed urgency for a shift to definitive curative approaches. By utilizing the regenerative capacity of UC-MSCs, researchers and clinicians will aid central neurological restoration. This innovative cellular therapy will provide individuals with Cerebral Palsy the ability to achieve motor independence, greatly enhancing the overall quality and therapeutic potential of their lives.