Stem cell therapy for peripheral nerve disorders | Overview including symptoms and causes

“Peripheral nerve disorders,” which cause symptoms such as numbness in the hands and feet, pain, and muscle weakness, develop due to various causes including diabetes mellitus and trauma and can greatly limit daily performance as the symptoms worsen. Thus far, treatment has focused on alleviating symptoms using painkillers and vitamins; however, it is difficult to fundamentally repair the nerves.
In recent years, stem cell therapy has attracted attention as a regenerative medicine approach. This therapy is suggested to have the potential to promote nerve regeneration in the context of peripheral nerve disorders.
In this article, we provide a summary of peripheral nerve disorders, while listing their symptoms and causes and explaining the flow of a new stem cell therapy-based approach, as well as how it differs from conventional treatments.

What are peripheral nerve disorders?

Peripheral nerve disorders refer to conditions in which the peripheral nerves that branch off from the central nerve (brain/spinal cord) and transmit signals to each part of the body are damaged or functionally impaired. Consequently, various functions, including sensory and motor functions of the limbs and trunk, or autonomic nerves, may be affected. There are three major types of peripheral nerves: sensory nerves, motor nerves, and autonomic nerves. Damage to a single or multiple peripheral nerves can cause numbness, pain, muscular weakness, and impaired function of internal organs. As the conditions progress, the quality of life becomes significantly low, and medical intervention may become essential. *1

*1 Reference: National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry

Symptoms of peripheral nerve disorders

In peripheral nerve disorders, symptoms vary depending on the type and location of nerves affected.
Major symptoms include:

• Sensory disturbance: Symptoms are often concentrated in the distal portions of the limbs (particularly the hands and feet) and include numbness, pain, and reduced sensation of heat and cold.
• Motor disturbance: Muscles weaken, causing difficulty in ambulation and loss of motor dexterity in a hand. When these symptoms become severe, there is a risk of being bedridden.
• Autonomic nervous symptoms: Disrupted adjustment of blood pressure and heart rate may cause lightheadedness, gastrointestinal symptoms, and dysuria.
• Hyperesthesia: Sensory processing may become abnormal; for example, mild stimulation may be felt as excessive pain.

These symptoms worsen slowly and often appear symmetrically but may worsen rapidly depending on the cause. *2
*2 Reference: National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry

Causes of peripheral nerve disorders

Peripheral nerve disorders occur due to diverse diseases and external factors. Typical causes include:

• Diabetes mellitus: Persistent hyperglycemia leads to vascular damage, resulting in insufficient nutritional supply to the nerves and development of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
• Trauma and compression: Traffic accidents, fractures, and other injuries or long-term compression may cause nerve damage.
• Autoimmune diseases: Peripheral nerve disorders occur in some diseases (e.g., Guillain-Barré syndrome) where nerves are attacked by autoimmune responses.
• Viral infection/bacterial infection: Some infections affect nerves, and peripheral nerve disorders develop as sequelae.
• Drugs and toxins: In drug-induced neuropathy, nerves are damaged by certain anticancer drugs and chemical substances.
• Hereditary: Inherited peripheral nerve disorders, such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, have also been reported.

Because of these diverse causes, identification of the primary disease and cooperation with multiple specialties are essential for the diagnosis and treatment of peripheral nerve disorders. *3
*3 Reference: Saiseikai

Stem cell therapy as a promising treatment for peripheral nerve disorders

Conventional treatments for peripheral nerve disorders include drug therapy to alleviate symptoms of pain and numbness and rehabilitation with physical therapy.
However, the means to promote the regeneration of nerves themselves are limited, and even if disease progression can be controlled, fundamental recovery is often difficult to achieve. In recent years, stem cell therapy has attracted attention from this viewpoint, i.e., nerve regeneration. Stem cell therapy is an area of regenerative medicine, that they may provide a means to repair or regenerate damaged nerves.

What is stem cell therapy?

Stem cell therapy is a regenerative medicine approach that repairs and regenerates damaged tissues and organs using stem cells, which possess the ability to both self-renew and differentiate into multiple cell types. Stem cells are collected from adipose tissue and cultured and processed before being administered in the vicinity of the affected area or to the whole body via intravenous infusion. The treatment of peripheral nerve disorders using stem cell therapy may involve a mechanism that promotes nerve repair by differentiating stem cells into the nervous system or feeder cells, or that supports nerve regeneration by secreting growth factors to suppress inflammation, in order to recover lost sensory and motor functions.

Advantages of stem cell therapy

Stem cell therapy exhibits the following advantages in peripheral nerve disorders:

• Possibility of nerve regeneration: Stem cells can be differentiated into nerve cells and Schwann cells, aiming at functional recovery by supplementing the defective parts.
• Multifaceted actions: Because stem cells secrete growth factors to facilitate angiogenesis and immune regulation, it is possible to also approach pathological conditions associated with inflammation and poor blood flow in a multifaceted manner.
• Fewer side effects: When autologous stem cells are used, there are no risks of rejection and serious adverse reactions.
• Combination with other therapies: The overall therapeutic effect may be enhanced by combining stem cell therapy with drug therapy or rehabilitation.

Reasons why stem cell therapy is effective

The ability of stem cells to differentiate into multiple cells and their capacity to secrete cytokines can provide multifaceted support for regeneration in peripheral nerve disorders. Specifically, stem cells induced at the site of damage can differentiate into new nerve cells and feeder cells. Moreover, they release growth factors that suppress inflammation or promote tissue repair in surrounding tissues; this is expected to improve the neural environment.
However, clinical research is still underway, and the effects vary depending on the patient’s condition, etiology, and disease stage. Hence, it is important to make appropriate choices after gathering sufficient information on this therapy.

Flow of treatment at the Regenerative Medicine Division of Korokai Medical Corporation

At the Regenerative Medicine Division of Korokai Medical Corporation, we go through the following process when administering stem cell therapy to patients with peripheral nerve disorders.

1. Initial counseling and tests: We will comprehensively determine the suitability of administering stem cell therapy to patients with peripheral nerve disorders based on an evaluation of their symptoms, medical history, nerve conduction test, MRI, and other tests.
2. Stem cell collection and culture: Stem cells will be extracted from adipose tissue and grown in a clean room while ensuring safety and quality.
3. Preparation of treatment plan: We will formulate an optimal plan while considering the frequency and method of administration (e.g., intravenous infusion, local injection) and combination with other treatments (rehabilitation, drug therapy).
4. Administration of stem cells and follow-up: After stem cells are administered to the affected area, the degree of improvement and adverse reactions will be monitored through regular medical examinations and tests, and additional administration or treatment adjustment will be performed if necessary.

Possibility of treating peripheral nerve disorders using stem cells

Peripheral nerve disorders are associated with symptoms such as numbness, pain, and decreased motor function that significantly restrict the lives of patients. In recent years, stem cell therapy, a regenerative medicine technique, has emerged as an option to promote tissue regeneration in a multifaceted manner, and the possibility of applying this therapy to various nervous system disorders has been suggested. Stem cell therapy is attractive in that it reduces the risk of side effects by using autologous cells and takes multifaceted actions such as tissue repair and anti-inflammatory effects.

The Regenerative Medicine Division of Korokai Medical Corporation offers stem cell-based regenerative medicine as a medical institution approved by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. *4

If you are interested in stem cell therapy, please contact our hospital for consultation.
The Regenerative Medicine Division of Korokai Medical Corporation carefully selects evidence-based treatment and offers regenerative medicine according to each individual’s concerns based on novel comprehensive treatment strategies. To optimize the results, oral therapies such as bioidentical hormone replacement therapy or peptide therapy may be combined with stem cell therapy according to the patient’s needs.

*4 Source:Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The Regenerative Medicine Division of Korokai Medical Corporation – a stem cell therapy clinic in Tokyo
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[1] Therapeutic Method
The treatment involves harvesting and culturing stem cells from the patient’s adipose tissue and then injecting them locally to the affected area or administering them via intravenous infusion.
[2] Risk of side effects
At the time of fat collection: Adverse reactions such as internal bleeding, swelling, postoperative infection, postoperative scar, and pain at the injection site may be observed.
At the time of stem cell administration: Adverse reactions such as pain at the injection site, allergic reaction, and pulmonary embolism may be observed.
[3] Contact information
The Regenerative Medicine Division, Korokai Medical Corporation
Precious 18 5F, 4-14-6 Minami-azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo
TEL:03-6277-4650
[4] Pricing
This treatment is a private therapeutic strategy that is not covered by public health insurance. It will cost about 1.65 million yen including tax (which may vary depending on diagnosis).
Please consult us for further details.
[5] Route of acquisition
Stem cells are cultured at the affiliated CPC.
[6] Presence or absence of devices/drugs approved for the indications in Japan
No approved drugs for the indications are available in Japan.
[7] Safety information from other countries
There are no reports on safety in other countries.
*Significant risks may not have been identified.
[8] The fact that it has not been approved
Drugs used in this treatment are yet to receive approval in accordance with the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act.
[9] Unapproved drugs/devices
Public aid systems (such as Relief Systems for Adverse Drug Reactions and Infections Acquired through Biological Products) are not applicable to unapproved drugs and devices.
[10] Notification of regenerative medicine provision plans
To perform this treatment, we have submitted the notification of regenerative medicine provision plans to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in accordance with the Act on the Safety of Regenerative Medicine.
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Class 2 Regenerative Medicine Provision Plan No. PB3210146
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Class 2 Regenerative Medicine Provision Plan No. PB3230187
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Class 2 Regenerative Medicine Provision Plan No. PB3240017
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Class 2 Regenerative Medicine Provision Plan No. PB3230218