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Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects motor neurons. These authors propose that injection of bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into the intraspinal cord could be therapeutically beneficial in ALS.
Nine participants with ALS received intraspinal injections of autologous MSCs. Before and after surgery, the patients underwent MRI scans of brain and spinal cord, and functional and respiratory measurements. Functional impairment ranged from mild to severe. The authors report that the treatment was safe. They noted no structural changes or signs of abnormal cell proliferation on MRI. Four participants died from disease progression. The authors state that four other participants …