Sjögren syndrome (SS) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by dry mouth and eyes, and the cellular and molecular mechanisms for its pathogenesis are complex. Here we reveal, for the first time, that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in SS-like NOD/Ltj mice and human patients were defective in immunoregulatory functions. Importantly, treatment with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) suppressed autoimmunity and restored salivary gland secretory function in both mouse models and SS patients. MSC treatment directed T cells toward Treg and Th2, while suppressing Th17 and Tfh responses, and alleviated disease symptoms. Infused MSCs migrated toward the inflammatory regions in a stromal cell-derived factor-1-dependent manner, as neutralization of stromal cell-derived factor-1 ligand CXCR4 abolished the effectiveness of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell treatment. Collectively, our study suggests that immunologic regulatory functions of MSCs play an important role in SS pathogenesis, and allogeneic MSC treatment may provide a novel, effective, and safe therapy for patients with SS.
Thanks for putting this in 'discussion' form, this way it can be brought up using the search engine at the top left side of the main discussion page.
Though I do not profess to understand every detail of this, it is the most remarkable news I have heard about any disease that I have, or have researched! primaryimmune.org is a fascinating place, it will take many hours to cruise that site!
I wanted to take this to my Rheumatologist, but it went right out of my head, so I think I'll mail it to him! He may already know about it as he also teaches!
The more people who hear of this (most importantly specialists) the more attention we will get to push forward the cause of all autoimmune diseases, not only Sjogren's! Thank you for the support and faith!!
I agree primaryimmune.org is truly a fascinating site and will need to be gone through diligently; I will have more time this Friday, since it's my day off and then again over the weekend. Very exciting! I hope others reading this on the forum will find strength and encouragement with this promising news.
I'll tell you Liza, this is WAY over my head as far as grasping the entire content! So please realize that I have NO medical training what so ever! Be patient with me! ha!
Thank you for this! S Goddess and others with medically training/background/knowledge…can you break this down for us when you get a chance in simple terms??? I WILL go tO this other site you mention today or tomorrow. I got that Paleo book by Dr Sara B yesterday and gave myself a migraine reading all about the causes of autoimmune disease. (First chapters id book) Interesting!
Also bought the Wahls Protocol re MS. Fascinating! This stem cell stuff is over my head but I do wish to learn more. Many thanks.
Wow! Thank you for this! You have made my day and week. I sent this to my son who is taking a genetics class. He said they could perhaps use it for a research project. I will let you know if they do. This is fantastic, I am so excited. I have often wondered why this hadn't been done before.
Thanks again for boosting my spirts in the middle of a terrible flare.
Bels
Nomad said:
Thank you for this! S Goddess and others with medically training/background/knowledge....can you break this down for us when you get a chance in simple terms??? I WILL go tO this other site you mention today or tomorrow. I got that Paleo book by Dr Sara B yesterday and gave myself a migraine reading all about the causes of autoimmune disease. (First chapters id book) Interesting! Also bought the Wahls Protocol re MS. Fascinating! This stem cell stuff is over my head but I do wish to learn more. Many thanks.
I always become "inspired" especially when going through a flare-up (that term sounds so uplifting yet it's not) :-( But the one good thing that come from having a flare-up, which I'm going through right now along with you and so many others, I'm sure, it that it lights a fire under my arse to go after that elusive cure!!
Go to the immune deficiency foundation (primaryimmune.org), then click on "Learn About Primary Immunodeficiencies" then once there find "Treatment" click on "Stem Cell and Gene Therapy" read all of it (it's much easier to follow than the Chinese Clinical Trial); the Gene Therapy is the least invasive and makes the most sense since you are using your own blood and the results are long term meaning forever! It's really very exciting! The site is very user friendly and is a cornucopia of resources!!
I managed to copy and paste the format of your discussion onto my office and copied a few off. I took one to my GP who I saw today and he was VERY excited, as was his Intern! They asked me to "thank the Goddess for such good news!"
He referred me to an eye specialist, and I'll take him one as well as my Rheumatologist and even my Chiro, THIS is how we get the word out!
I have wondered about the potential for stem cells an SS. However, maybe someone else will wander here and be able to answer a question regarding this particular study…
I was told by my rotten rheumy that SS is a disease primarily involving B cells. Same with Lupus. According to him, this is why the new biologics out there that are most effective are working on B cells, not necessarily T cells.
As far as I’m concerned, I don’t really care if they’re helping by affecting T cells, B cells, purple or green cells. All I care is that there seems to be some progress being made. With so many people saying contradictory things, I feel somewhat confused about the pathophysiology of this disease though. This makes research without a good doctor beyond difficult. Can they all really be right?
Must try out this site mentioned here. Thx so much
I don’t write here much, but am a patient with multiple autoimmune diseases, and the last year has been very bad for me. I am a professional patient advocate which was the only job left to me when I got so sick. I’m genuinely afraid that will be taken from me too before they are able to come up with some kind of treatment to help us. I would be really interested in anyone’s thoughts on these specific cells and what is really going on biologically.
You all sound so knowledgeable. I feel a bit inadequate. Having been recently diagnosed by my primary (who did not seem the least bit concerned). Should I be seeing a rhuematologist? and is this an illness that strikes women more than men?
Hi Connie. Yes, it strikes women more. Rheumatologists generally treat this. But, even rheumies often seem to show little interest. Many docs are misinformed thinking it only causes dry eye and mouth. there is a Sjogrens Society and they have a list of support groups in the US. You can call the organizer of the support group nearest to you to see if they know of a good rheumatologist.
Correction: google Sjogrens Syndrome Foundation. They have an 800 number. Ask if there is a support group near you and for the telephone number of the contact person. Hopefully, this person will know of a good rheumatologist in your area.
Correction: google Sjogrens Syndrome Foundation. They have an 800 number. Ask if there is a support group near you and for the telephone number of the contact person. Hopefully, this person will know of a good rheumatologist in your area.
Correction: google Sjogrens Syndrome Foundation. They have an 800 number. Ask if there is a support group near you and for the telephone number of the contact person. Hopefully, this person will know of a good rheumatologist in your area.
I managed to copy and paste the format of your discussion onto my office and copied a few off. I took one to my GP who I saw today and he was VERY excited, as was his Intern! They asked me to "thank the Goddess for such good news!"
He referred me to an eye specialist, and I'll take him one as well as my Rheumatologist and even my Chiro, THIS is how we get the word out!
It's happening already!
Wishing you well,
SK
Dear SK,
Yeah!! You are spreading the word brilliantly!!! We need to make this happen while the "iron" is hot; there is no one better equipped to do this than all of us who suffer from SS and all those who suffer from autoimmune disease. I am thrilled that your GP "got it" and seems to really care about you as a patient; hoping that your other specialists react in the same way!
This is an exciting time with all the technology available to us and with ONE HUGE VOICE from all of us something grand is going to happen!
Thank you for your well wishes and hope you the same,
I have wondered about the potential for stem cells an SS. However, maybe someone else will wander here and be able to answer a question regarding this particular study...
I was told by my rotten rheumy that SS is a disease primarily involving B cells. Same with Lupus. According to him, this is why the new biologics out there that are most effective are working on B cells, not necessarily T cells.
As far as I'm concerned, I don't really care if they're helping by affecting T cells, B cells, purple or green cells. All I care is that there seems to be some progress being made. With so many people saying contradictory things, I feel somewhat confused about the pathophysiology of this disease though. This makes research without a good doctor beyond difficult. Can they all really be right?
Must try out this site mentioned here. Thx so much
I don't write here much, but am a patient with multiple autoimmune diseases, and the last year has been very bad for me. I am a professional patient advocate which was the only job left to me when I got so sick. I'm genuinely afraid that will be taken from me too before they are able to come up with some kind of treatment to help us. I would be really interested in anyone's thoughts on these specific cells and what is really going on biologically.
Blessings to you all.
~Ellen
Dear Ellen,
Please read the section about Stem Cell and Gene Therapy; the information is straight forward and based on at least 20 years of actual success in Stem Cell Therapy and even more exciting, Gene Therapy which has little if no side effects and is long term (in most cases permanent) because it uses your own blood. The Immune Deficiency Foundation (www.primaryimmune.org) is a serious group that understands the immune system and the more than 200 immune diseases that are wrongly diagnosed or not diagnosed.
The more we know, the more we know and that knowledge will give us voice we need to be heard by an organization that has already done the "leg work" and is ready to help those of us who are suffering from autoimmune disease!
I understand that there is a lot of information out there and a lot of doctors who really don't know what to do with us, but there are also a lot of doctors who have dictated their lives to get to the truth and now is the time for renewed faith. Is it difficult to have faith when you are having flare-ups and it feels like your very life is being, literally, sucked out of your body; it is sometimes so terrible that you just can't see how you are going to make it to the next day.