Stem Cell Therapy for Autism

Autologous Stem Cell Therapyfor Autism

LicensingPlease attribute Dr. Ernesto Gutiérrez, M.D. with

a link to http://asd.worldstemcellsclinic.com

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.

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DisclaimerThe purpose of this lecture is to provide education

about stem cell therapies in general. Given Dr. Gutierrez’s experience, it focuses mostly on autologous stem cell therapies, their potential benefits and current

limitations in the treatment of autism.

The information in these slides is designed to complement Dr. Gutierrez’s lecture and should not be

interpreted out of context or taken as medical advice.

The information provided here DOES NOT substitute your medical doctor’s advice.

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“Behind the child that makes the most progress is an actively involved parent”

Dr. Ernesto Gutiérrez, M.D.

• President of World Stem Cells, LLC

• President and Medical Director of World Stem Cells Clinic.

• Professor of Physiology and Anatomy premed course at Anáhuac University School of Medicine

• [email protected]

• 1.866.290.9722

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What you’ll learn

• What are stem cells.

• How stem cell therapy works in Autism.

• What is involved in stem cell therapy.

• What to look for in stem cell clinics.

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What are Stem Cells?

What are stem cells?

Cells which are defined by two properties:

• They can ‘self-renew’

• They can mature or ‘differentiate’

Embryonic

Adult

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Allogeneic Autologous

Genetically different from the intended recipient.

Belong to the same species.

Most commonly from cord blood donors.

Easily control the number of cells to be used.

Harvested from the same patient.

No chance of rejection.

Common sources are: bone marrow, adipose (fat), teeth, peripheral blood.

Number of cells to be utilized depends on patient yield.

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How Does Stem Cell Therapy

Work in Autism

Stem Cell Activity

• Stem cells do not cure; they heal.

• Stem cells recognize damaged tissues and differentiate into the specific cellular populations required.

• This process happens every day in our bodies.

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SCT in Autism

• Stem Cell Therapy (SCT) is a medical treatment that uses stem cells to replace or repair a patient’s cells or tissues that are damaged.

• In patients with Autism, SCT is geared towards addressing the following systems:

• Neurologic • Gastrointestinal • Immunologic

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Gastrointestinal Regulation

• Patients with autism have a varying degree of gastrointestinal affliction.

• SCT is believed to assist in repairing the intestinal wall and regulate function.

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Gastrointestinal Regulation

• Mucosal lesions have been described uniquely to children with autism but not healthy controls.

• This inflammatory condition is associated not only with lesions on the intestinal wall, but also in the upper GI tract.

Ichim TE, Solano F, Glenn E, Morales F, et.al. Stem Cell Therapy for Autism. Journal of Translational Medicine 2007 June 27; 5:3017

Immune Regulation

• Researchers have demonstrated active neuroinflammatory processes in the cerebral cortex, white matter, and notably in the cerebellum of autistic patients.

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Vargas DL, Nascimbene C, Krishnan C, Zimmerman AW, Pardo CA: Neuroglial activation and neuroinflammation in the brain of patients with autism. Ann Neurol 2005, 57:67-81.

Immune Regulation

• IFN-gamma has been detected at elevated levels in the plasma of children with autism.

• IFN-gamma is a cytokine which has been implicated in dementias associated with chronic inflammatory states.

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Huang D, Han Y, Rani MR, Glabinski A, Trebst C, Sorensen T, Tani M, Wang J, Chien P, O'Bryan S, et al.: Chemokines and chemokine receptors in inflammation of the nervous

system: manifold roles and exquisite regulation. Immunol Rev 2000, 177:52-67.

Immune Regulation

• Treatment of immune deregulation in autism ameliorates intestinal and systemic symptoms as well as neurologic function.

22Ichim TE, Solano F, Glenn E, Morales F, et.al. Stem Cell Therapy for Autism. Journal of

Translational Medicine 2007 June 27; 5:30

Immunomodulatory Effects of SCT in ASD Treatment

Siniscalco D, Sapone A, Cirillo A, Giordano C, Maione S, Antonucci N: Autism Spectrum Disorders: Is Mesenchymal Stem Cell Personalized Therapy for the Future? Journal of

Biomedicine and Biotechnology Vol 2012, Article ID 480289.23

Brain Hypoperfusion

• Children with autism have been consistently shown to have impaired, or subnormal CNS circulation, as well as resulting hypoxia.

• In these children, specific temporal lobe areas associated with face recognition, social interaction and language comprehension have been demonstrated to be hypoperfused.

24Ichim TE, Solano F, Glenn E, Morales F, et.al. Stem Cell Therapy for Autism. Journal of

Translational Medicine 2007 June 27; 5:30

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What is Involved in Autologous

Stem Cell Therapy

Stages

1. Planning

2. Stimulation.

3. Harvesting.

4. Expansion.

5. Reinfusion

6. Therapy

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PlanEvaluate patient candidacy.

Determine safety and potential for improvement.28

Stimulation

• Full medical history and exam.

• Baseline laboratory studies.

• Stimulation in one or two doses.

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Harvesting

• Bone marrow aspirate.

• Outpatient procedure under inhalatory sedation. NOT GENERAL ANESTHESIA.

• Harvesting of stem cells in sterile and low particle laboratory.

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Expansion

• Under strict sterile conditions.

• Cells are placed in a CO2 incubator to exponentially increase their numbers.

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Reinfusion

• Intravenous infusions

• Intrathecal infusion

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Why Intrathecal?Stem cells, among many other substances cannot pass

through the blood-brain barrier.34

Therapy

• It is very important to start stimulating the new stem cells as soon as possible.

• New, different stimuli are in order.

• Depends on the needs of each patient.

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New, Different Stimuli

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What to Look For in Stem Cell Clinics

What to look for?

• Stem cell harvesting and infusion are medical procedures and as such, should be provided by medical professionals (M.D. or equivalent).

• Source of stem cells to be utilized.

• In our experience, SCT for autism MUST include intrathecal infusion performed by qualified and experienced physician.

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What to look for?

• If autologous: where are the cells harvested? Do they have to be transported to different locations between aspirate -> harvest -> infusion.

• If allogeneic: what tests were done on the donors? Where are the cells brought in from? Under what conditions?

• Valid operational licenses with the local health authorities.

• Credentials of the physicians who will be involved in providing care for your child.

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What to look for?

• Make sure that there are inclusion and exclusion criteria set in place for accepting a patient.

• Treatment to be addressed by a medical team made up of different specialists; it can’t be a one man show.

• Ability to speak directly to at least one of the physicians who will be personally involved with the therapy.

• Having all your questions answered according to your child’s needs and your concerns.

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What to look for?

• If traveling to a foreign country:

• Are translation services provided?

• Will the documentation, reports, results and forms be given in English?

• Who is responsible for emergency medical care should something happen?

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What to avoid

• Claims based exclusively on patient testimonials.

• Evading questions about stem cell sources.

• Claims there is no risk.

• Hidden costs.

• Requirement to commit to several repeat treatments.

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What to avoid

• Being asked for payment before speaking to a physician or before having your child’s case evaluated.

• Physicians treating in countries or states they are not licensed in.

• Treatments performed by non-medical personnel.

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Questions?

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[email protected]