What Is Autoimmune Disease?
The number of autoimmune disease patients in Japan is estimated at approximately 8.5 million, accounting for both common systemic autoimmune diseases and organ-specific autoimmune diseases such as Crohn's disease.
Among autoimmune diseases, many develop without a clear cause. While some resolve spontaneously, the majority are chronic conditions, and patients require lifelong monitoring and medication.
Who suffers from autoimmune diseases?
For many years, the etiology of autoimmune diseases was considered unclear. However, recent research has revealed that these conditions are caused by infection with Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV).
The EBV virus infects approximately 90-100% of Japanese adults, and the infection persists for life without clearance.
Despite disease-specific variations in age of onset and gender prevalence, it is crucial to acknowledge that all individuals are at risk of developing a disease.
Management of Autoimmune Diseases
In recent years, the treatment of autoimmune diseases has advanced significantly. Beyond steroid medications, immunosuppressive drugs have been developed to suppress overactive immune and systemic inflammatory responses.
However, these medications not only suppress autoimmune responses but also inhibit necessary immune responses, thereby increasing susceptibility to infections and elevating the risk of cancer. Serious adverse effects include renal impairment, hypertension, cardiac failure, neurological disorders, pulmonary inflammation, hepatic impairment, and diabetes, posing a significant challenge in their prevention.
Additionally, the objective of treatment is to suppress the symptoms of autoimmune diseases. However, as most diseases become chronic after their onset, the physical and psychological burden on patients is immense.
Notably, rheumatoid arthritis affects a large number of patients, and a variety of medications are available. Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis progress most rapidly during the initial two years following disease onset. Therefore, it is crucial to seek early medical attention and initiate treatment to halt joint damage and preserve joint function.
Can autoimmune diseases be treated without medication?
Currently, an increasing number of individuals are seeking healing through alternative therapies, such as traditional East Asian medicine, without relying on conventional pharmaceuticals.
However, for patients with autoimmune diseases, it is crucial to consider that delayed diagnosis and treatment can shorten life expectancy.
Two decades ago, systemic lupus erythematosus, a collagen disease frequently affecting young women, had a 5-year survival rate of only 50%. However, the development of steroid and immunosuppressive drugs has since increased this 5-year survival rate to over 90%.
It is inadvisable to rely on alternative medicine without consulting a medical professional.
Potential of Wharton's Jelly Cell Therapy for Autoimmune Diseases
Globally, numerous clinical trials investigating stem cell therapies are underway for various autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis. Among these, Wharton's Jelly mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs) are particularly prominent due to their potent immunomodulatory capabilities and anti-inflammatory effects.
Therapeutic Potential of Wharton's Jelly Cell Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Wharton's Jelly stem cells are potential therapeutic candidates for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other inflammatory joint diseases.
- Efek anti-inflamasi:It has been shown that Wharton's Jelly stem cells have anti-inflammatory effects and can alleviate inflammation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
- Modulasi imun:It is hoped that Wharton's Jelly stem cells can restore immune tolerance and suppress tissue damage from autoimmune diseases. This could lead to a state where immunosuppressive drugs can be discontinued in the future (cure or long-term remission).
- Regenerasi tulang rawan:Wharton's Jelly stem cells have the ability to differentiate into cartilage cells and can repair and regenerate damaged cartilage.
- Prospek masa depan:It is currently being pursued to become a medically approved drug, but at the current stage, Wharton's Jelly stem cell transplantation and Secretome therapy are available as private medical treatments in Malaysia.
Global research on Wharton's Jelly mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSC) indicates that WJ-MSC possess high plasticity and stem cell content, demonstrating potent anti-inflammatory properties while enhancing host immune tolerance. This makes them a highly promising therapeutic candidate for autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
The immunomodulatory mechanism of WJ-MSCs operates not only through direct cell-to-cell contact but also via secreted cytokines and exosomes (Secretome). Research in murine arthritis models has demonstrated that following the administration of WJ-MSCs pooled from multiple sources, there was a significant enhancement of immunosuppressive effects and a reduction in the severity of rheumatoid arthritis.
In WJ-MSC research, immunomodulatory effects were observed as increased expression of FOXP3, IL-10, and TGF-β1 in both naive and activated T cells, which induces regulatory T cells (Tregs), and the identification of key gene sets involved in immune tolerance mechanisms (e.g., IDO1).
MSCs can differentiate into various mesoderm-derived cell types, including bone, cartilage, cardiac muscle, and adipose tissue. They also secrete various trophic factors that promote tissue repair and regeneration. For these reasons, MSCs are promising therapeutic candidates for bone and joint diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Summary
Globally, clinical trials for stem cell therapies targeting various autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, are actively underway. Among these, Wharton's Jelly mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs) are distinguished by their remarkably potent immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties.
While efforts are underway for future regulatory approval, Wharton's Jelly cell therapy and Secretome therapy are currently available as private medical treatments in Malaysia.