Oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells are tasked with producing myelin to encase and protect these all critical axons. Astrocytes are responsible for ensuring that the central nervous system remains free of toxins and potentially harmful proteins while microglia are the immune cells of the brain. 

In multiple sclerosis, for some reason T cells (immune system cells) pass from the bloodstream and into the central nervous system. It is thought that dysfunctional microglia may be responsible for the initial onslaught. This rampant inflammation leads to the loss of neurons, axons and glial cells leaving the myelin sheath compromised. As the myelin sheath disappears in multiple areas, it leaves scars (sclerosis). The areas without the protective myelin sheath are called plaque or lesions. As the lesions worsen, more axons and nerve fibers are damaged or die resulting in communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body. 

How Our Products Can Treat Multiple Sclerosis

We use products derived from human baby umbilical cord tissues in all our therapy programs - Wharton's Jelly cells (wjMSCs). The human brain is strictly regulated by the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This is a semipermeable endothelial membrane that separates blood from cerebrospinal fluid. It is a highly selective mechanism that allows only a select few types of cells, particles and molecules enter the brain. Our products are special because they can:

• cross the endothelial brain barrier ^[1,2,3].
• migrate to sites of injury (chemotaxis) ^[4,5].
• communicate with and alter nearby cells (paracrine effect) ^[7,8,9].
• encourage existing cells to self-repair (autocrine effect) ^[9,10,11].
• prevent rejection by regulating the immune system (immunomodulation) ^{[4,5,12,13,14,15,16,17,18]}.
• reduce inflammation ^{[5,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25]}.
• prevent cells from dying (apoptosis) ^{[4,5,7,23,26,27,28,29]}.
• transform into neurons and glial cells ^{[21,26,30,31,32,33]}.
• transform into oligodendrocytes and astrocytes ^[34,35,36].
• transform into Schwann cells ^{[37,38,39,40]}.
• promote the formation of axons (axogenesis) ^{[22,24,28,37,40,41,42]}.
• promote the formation of astrocytes (astrogenesis) ^[36].
• incapable of forming tumours ^{[4,14,15,43,44]}.
• release neuroprotective factors ^[7,20,29,45].
• encourage existing cells to adapt (neuroplasticity) ^[46,47,48].

Treating Multiple Sclerosis

A 55-year-old woman with primary progressive multiple sclerosis was treated by researchers from Nanjing University Medical School, China. The patient’s condition progressed quickly and she was bed bound within a few months of symptom onslaught. MRI study showed four large lesion sites in her brain as well as one in her spinal cord. In August 2008, the patient was given one course of wjMSCs intravenously and intrathecally. Within a week, she was able to sit with assistance and reported significantly alleviated sensory impairment. Seven weeks later, the patient was able to walk with assistance and an MRI scan showed significant reduction in lesion sizes. Five months later, the patient was able to walk unaided and reported an EDSS (Expanded Disability Status Scale) score reduction from 8.5 to 3.0 ^[49].

Between November of 2008 and December of 2011, researchers from Kunming Medical College, China and Monash University, Australia treated a 25-year-old patient with aggressive and relapsing multiple sclerosis. The patient’s experienced frequent relapses and his condition had deteriorated to such an extent that he was unable to walk more than 500 meters unaided. After eight courses of therapy (four using bone marrow cells and four using wjMSCs), the patient was able to walk more than 500 meters unaided and did not experience any relapses. An MRI scan performed seven months after his last therapy session found no new lesions while many old lesions had been resolved. The patient’s EDSS scores had reduced from 3.5 to 2.0 as well ^[50].

Five years later, an 18-month study conducted by Nanjing Medical University showed therapeutic improvements as evaluated by the EDSS as well as the likelihood of a relapse to have been significantly reduced to 36.4%. MRI scans revealed that the severity and size of lesions in the brain had reduced 12 months after transplantation of wjMSCs ^[51].

In 2014, researchers from China conducted a trial with 23 patients. Of this number only 13 received infusions of wjMSCs three times over a period of six weeks. These patients showed quantifiable improvements as indicated by their EDSS scores as well as significantly lower occurrences of relapse in comparison to the 10 patients who did not receive wjMSC therapy. The data also showed that wjMSCs patients demonstrated a shift from Th1 to Th2 immunity ^[52].

Another preliminary study in 2016 by researchers in the US and China concluded that wjMSCs were able to effectively reduce abnormal immune system activity in multiple sclerosis in a laboratory setting. Blood taken from patients and co-cultured with wjMSCs were found to significantly increase the number of cells that act to suppress immune response (Tregs). wjMSCs were also able to restore the regulatory activity of Tregs, probably by stimulating the production of specific proteins (cytokines) that control immune activity ^[53].

A collaborative study published in 2018 by the Cell Medicine Institute, Panama, the University of Miami School of Medicine and the Pacific Neuroscience Institute found that regular doses of wjMSCs saw improvement in bladder, bowel, and sexual dysfunction, walking, upper extremity physical function, energy and fatigue, general perspective of a positive health change and improved quality of life. MRI studies of the brain and cervical spinal cord one year post-therapy showed no disease progression and no new or active lesions in 83.3% of subjects while one patient showed near complete resolution of the plaques in the brain ^[54].   

A 2018 study by the Institute of Medical Biology and the Yunnan Cell Biology and Clinical Translation Research Center found no adverse immune responses post-transplantation confirming that the immunomodulatory properties of wjMSCs had inhibited potential and existing inflammation. Most promising of which was a reduction in the number of lesions in the brain as observed through MRI. This meant that wjMSCs had successfully regenerated previously destroyed portions of the protective myelin sheath. This resulted in significant improvements in neurological functions such as balance, coordination and appetite ^[55].

Cyrona’s Program

Achieving high standards in our work is of paramount importance to us. Depending on a patient’s needs, we combine our premium grade Passage 2 wjMSCs with physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and/or rehabilitative medicine. 

Learn more about our Products and Programs.

Why Choose Cyrona?

• Latest cellular research and technology.
• Unique, tailored therapy outlines.
• Products that meet international standards.
• Microbiology & clinical team with extensive experience in advanced medicine.
• Board-certified physicians geared towards patient safety.
• Fact-based information from clinical studies and trials.
• No outlandish promises of a one-stop-cure or false improvement rates.

Therapy Packages

All our therapy packages come inclusive of:

INTERNATIONAL PATIENTS

• Premium grade Passage 2 wjMSCs.
• Treatment by qualified specialist(s).
• Certificate of Analysis (CoA).
• Airport transfer.
• Transportation to & from therapy session(s).
• Accommodation.
• Hospital room for therapy.

LOCAL PATIENTS

• Premium grade Passage 2 wjMSCs.
• Treatment by qualified specialist(s).
• Certificate of Analysis (CoA).
• Transportation to & from therapy session(s).
• Hospital room for therapy.

How Do We Proceed

All our therapies are charged based on the number of wjMSCs and supplementary infusions required for the patient’s specific condition. As no two people are alike, our specialists review each patient’s medical reports before tailoring a therapy catered to addressing his or her individual needs.

You may chat with one of our Customer Care Representatives or send an e-mail detailing the patient’s condition to one of our Liaison Officers. It would expedite the process if you can provide us with:

• Imaging results (MRI scan / CT scan / X-Ray).
• Hematology reports (blood test).
• Doctor’s assessment reports.
• Pictures or videos of the patient (if relevant).

Upon getting in touch with us, a Liaison Officer evaluates and assigns the case to the specialist best equipped to treat the condition. A therapy, unique only to the patient, is drawn up and a price quoted accordingly.

Should you decide to proceed with therapy, our specialists require that all patients have Cancer Marker Screening performed in their country of residence before travelling to us for therapy. If the patient has had Cancer Marker Screening within the last 3 months, you may e-mail those results to us. In the event that the patient’s Cancer Marker Screening results are not satisfactory, our specialists will refuse to proceed with therapy. It is for this reason that we requests that patients have Cancer Marker Screening performed in their country of residence prior to travelling to us.

One week prior to arrival, a deposit payment is required in order to arrange accommodation and transportation.

Full payment is required to be made one-day prior to therapy commencement.

Post-treatment, our specialist will provide the patient with a post-treatment protocol as well as what to expect on his or her journey towards a better, and hopefully, healthier new life.