Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis with Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells
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Rheumatoid arthritis, also known as RA, is a chronic (long-lasting) and debilitating autoimmune disease that can impact nearly every aspect of a person’s life. RA causes the body’s own immune system to attack its own tissue. This can include joint tissues and, in severe cases, the sufferer’s internal organs. Rheumatoid arthritis can negatively impact various parts of the body and bodily functions, these include:
- Affecting the lining of the joints, which can cause damage to the tissues that cover the bone ends in elbows, knees, and other joints.
- Can occur in a symmetrical pattern, meaning that it will generally affect either hands or both knees simultaneously.
- Can cause problems to the lungs, heart, blood, skin, eyes, and nerves.
- Can affect the feet, knees, jaw, spine, elbows, hands, shoulders, or wrists.
Currently, medical professionals do not know what triggers rheumatoid arthritis. However, there are various factors that may lead to the development of RA. These include:
- Genes: There are certain genes that may impact how the immune system functions, which can lead to RA. However, there are cases where people who have the specific genes never develop rheumatoid arthritis.
- Environment: Smoking cigarettes, inhalants, gum disease, viruses, bacteria, and lung disease can all play a role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis.
- Sex hormones: There is a strong connection between sex hormones and the development of RA, especially when environmental or genetic factors are involved.
Unfortunately, there is no known cure for this condition.
How Many People Have Rheumatoid Arthritis?
In the United States, nearly 1.3 million, or 0.6% to 1% of the total population, suffers from rheumatoid arthritis. RA is twice as likely to affect women as men. On a global scale, up to 1% of the entire world population suffers from rheumatoid arthritis. Around 75% of the total cases are females. Even though rheumatoid arthritis can affect anyone at any age, the majority of people who are diagnosed are between the ages of 30 years old and 50 years old.
What are the Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis?
This chronic inflammatory disorder can impact nearly every joint in your body. In some cases, RA can damage various other systems in the body. This can include the lungs, skin, eyes, blood vessels, and heart.
Rheumatoid arthritis comes with various symptoms that impact all patients differently. Some of the most common symptoms that are reported include:
- Chronic fatigue
- Warm, tender, and swollen joints
- The loss of appetite
- Fevers or elevated temperatures
- Joint stiffness, which is typically worse in the mornings and following any periods of inactivity
Approximately 40% of people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis also experience symptoms that do not involve the joints in their bodies. Some of the areas of the body that may be affected by this disease include:
- Eyes
- Skin
- Hear
- Lungs
- Bone marrow
- Heart
- Blood vessels
- Salivary glands
- Kidneys
In some patients, the symptoms may come and go periodically. For many, the signs and symptoms can vary in severity. Patients who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis often experience flares, which are periods of increased activity. They can also alternate periods of remission, where the pain and swelling associated with RA seem to disappear or fade away.
Over time, RA can result in deformities and shifting in the joints of the body. Even though there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, there are various treatment options that doctors often prescribe to patients in order to help alleviate some of the symptoms they experience due to this chronic disorder.
What Treatment Options are Available for Rheumatoid Arthritis?
When it comes to treating RA, patients often use a combination of medication and therapy. In some instances, surgery may be required.
There are several types of medications that people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis take. The first type of medication that is commonly prescribed are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These medications are designed to alleviate some of the inflammation that patients experience, as well as pain.
Another medication that is commonly prescribed are various corticosteroids. These medications, such as prednisone, are provided to reduce some of the pain and inflammation that patients experience, as well as slow joint damage that they suffer from.
Conventional DMARDs are also routinely prescribed for RA. These medications are designed to delay the progression of RA and help to save the tissues and joints from permanent damage. Trexall and Otrexup are two of the most common medications prescribed for this.
Biologic agents are another common form of medication provided to patients. These are generally considered as a newer class of DMARD medications. These medications are generally most effective when they are combined with conventional DMARD medications. Targeted synthetic DMARDs are another option for treatment.
Therapy, such as occupational therapy or physical therapy, can help RA sufferers keep their joints flexible. Therapy is also utilized by patients in order to learn new ways to perform various tasks in their daily lives. For example, patients can learn how to pick up objects without using their hands and so forth.
In severe cases, surgery may be required. Surgery can help patients restore some of their abilities to use their joints and can also help to relieve some of the pain they experience. Common surgeries include joint fusions, tendon repairs, total joint replacements, or synovectomy, which is the removal of the inflamed lining within the joints.
More recently, we have seen various studies performed surrounding the use of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells. These studies have provided promising results when it comes to providing relief to rheumatoid arthritis sufferers.
What are Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells?
Umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells, or UC-MSCs, are a type of adult stem cell that is derived from the tissues of the umbilical cord. These stem cells are typically isolated from the Wharton's jelly in the umbilical cord. Due to the fact that they can differentiate into various cell types, including cartilage cells, bone cells, and fat cells, these stem cells are extremely reliable for treating various autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders. Additionally, UC-MSCs exhibit immunosuppressive qualities and have the ability to stimulate tissue regeneration, lower inflammation, and modulate immunological response.
Studies Surrounding the use of UC-MSCs for Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis
In 2019, a group of scientists published the results of a test surrounding the use of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells to treat patients who suffered from RA. The study surrounded a total of 64 patients between the ages of 18-64 years. The patients were provided a total of 40 mL of UC-MSCs via intravenous injections followed by a 100 mL infusion of saline. The patients were assessed through the use of serological markers tests. At the one-year and three-year follow-ups, examinations of the liver, kidneys, blood, and immunoglobulin uncovered no abnormalities and showed values all within the normal range. Additionally, the anti-CCP showed lower values as well. Additionally, there was a decrease in the joint function index (DAS28) and the health index (HAQ). The test found that UC-MSCs were a safe, feasible, and effective therapeutic option for treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
How UC-MSCs Can Help Rheumatoid Arthritis
Given the fact that rheumatoid arthritis is a former inflammation around the joints in the body and various organs, it is entirely plausible that umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells will be incredibly beneficial when it comes to treating this disease. The anti-inflammatory characteristics of MSCs can play a critical role in reducing the inflammation among RA sufferers.
Not only can these stem cells help to prevent and decrease inflammation, but it can also help to rebuild the lining of the intestines that have been affected by the disease. Furthermore, studies have found that the umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells exert a truly beneficial effect when it comes to rheumatoid arthritis through their ability to prevent the immune response dysfunction that is generally mediated by the γδ T cells through the inhibition of cytokine production that is inflammatory. Furthermore, MSCs are incredibly useful when it comes to improving the anti-inflammatory response within the intestines that have been affected by this disease.
In general, and based on the findings of various scientific studies, as well as what we already know about umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells, this type of stem cell can be incredibly beneficial in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis for patients who suffer from this debilitating and life-changing condition. UC-MSCs have been shown to reduce inflammation, improve tissue repair, and reduce joint pain and stiffness, all of which can be incredibly beneficial improvements for patients who suffer from this condition.
Furthermore, umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells are non-invasive, and their use is perfectly safe and ethical. As such, they represent an exciting new potential option for those who suffer from this chronic condition and may offer them much-needed relief. However, more studies are going to need to be performed to determine the true effects that the use of these stem cells will have when it comes to treating patients who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic inflammatory and autoimmune disorders.
Take the first step toward a healthier future. Contact Cellebration Wellness at 1.800.601.8290 to learn how stem cell therapy can benefit you.
