Stem cells banish autoimmune disease for 15 years

7 hours ago

A man and a woman with a severe autoimmune disease (neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, NMOSD) have been in remission for over 15 years after an experimental allogeneic stem-cell transplant.
The transplant involved donor stem cells from another person (the man received cells from his sister, the woman from an unrelated donor), a first for treating NMOSD, following chemotherapy and immunosuppressants to remove harmful immune cells.
Post-transplant, both individuals showed significant improvement: the man resumed normal life and had children, while the woman regained arm function and no longer needed symptom-reducing medication.
The procedure resets the immune system by replacing it entirely, avoiding issues seen with autologous transplants where disease-causing B cells might persist, though it carries risks like graft-versus-host disease.
Researchers suggest the long-term remission warrants larger clinical trials, highlighting the potential of this approach for severe autoimmune conditions.

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