Clinic claims it has used stem cells to treat Down’s syndrome | New … – New Scientist

Downs: an extra chromosome 21

Department of Clinical Cytogenetics, Addenbrookes Hospital/Science Photo Library

By Andy Coghlan

A CLINIC claims it has used stem cells to treat Downs syndrome in up to 14 people. As far as we know, its the first time that stem cells have been used to treat Downs syndrome, says Jyoti Titus, manager at Nutech Mediworld clinic in New Delhi, India.

The announcement has set alarm bells ringing. Its not clear to independent stem cell or Downs experts how stem cells which can form many types of tissue might treat Downs, a genetic disorder caused by having an extra chromosome. The use of these cells does not make biological sense and may place the babies at considerable risk of side effects,says John Rasko of the International Society for Cellular Therapy.

Clinically proven stem cell therapies are only just starting to become available. The first off-the-shelf stem cell treatment to gain regulatory approval was launched in Japan last year, and prevents transplanted organs from attacking their recipients. A number of research teams are putting other experimental stem cell therapies through stringent clinical trials.

But hundreds of clinics worldwide already offer stem cell treatments unvetted by regulatory authorities. A patent held by the clinics medical director, Geeta Shroff, from 2007 suggests that the cells offered by Nutech Mediworld could be helpful for over 70 types of conditions, from Downs syndrome to Alzheimers disease, and even vegetative states.

The use of stem cells doesnt make sense and may place the babies at considerable risk

Most treatments for children with Downs syndrome centre on support including speech and behavioural therapies. But in a study published last year Shroff, reported that a baby with Downs syndrome developed better understanding, improved limb muscle tone, and the ability to recognise his relatives after receiving stem cells (Journal of Medical Cases, doi.org/bx3v).

Theres no comparison to similar individuals with Downs syndrome, and no indication this therapy had any effect whatsoever, so the author has no basis at all for saying the injections were beneficial, says Elizabeth Fisher at University College London.

But since no other treatment was given, it is evident that the childs improvements were due to stem cell treatment, says Titus. He started babbling and crawling, and his facial features underwent a change. The boy, who lives in Singapore, is now 3 years old. He continues to develop age-appropriate skills, says Titus.

Shroffs study says she injected the cells, developed from a donated embryo, into his blood, back muscles and under his skin, as well as giving them as a nasal spray. Stem cells have an innate ability to repair and regenerate, and that is how the babys condition improved, says Titus.

Theres no obvious way in which this treatment would have worked, says Victor Tybulewicz at the Francis Crick Institute in London. To have any effect, neural stem cells would need to be injected into the brain, he says.

The author appears to have no idea of where [the cells] are going, or what theyre doing, says Fisher. Its even worse now we know theyve treated 14 patients, not just one.

Titus says that the way the cells were developed means recipients dont need immunosuppressants. But Tybulewicz disagrees. I expect the most likely outcome of the injections would have been that they were recognised as foreign and eliminated by the immune system, he says. More details of the biological impact of the stem cells will be revealed in a study that has been submitted for publication, says Titus.

Nutech Mediworld isnt the only clinic offering stem cells. An analysis led by Rasko last year identified 417 unique websites advertising stem cell treatments directly to patients. Of these, 187 were linked to 215 clinics in the US. Thirty-five websites were linked to organisations in India.

Although India introduced national guidelines on clinical stem cell research and treatments a decade ago, these are not legally binding.

This article appeared in print under the headline Clinic claims stem cells treat Downs syndrome