Autologous Mesenchymal Cells Reduce Neuroinflammation in Chronic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury often evolves from an acute mechanical event into a progressive, chronic condition marked by persistent neuroinflammation and subsequent neurodegeneration [1, 2]. While acute care focuses on immediate stabilization, survivors frequently face lasting neurological deficits with no therapies available to reverse established damage [3]. One potential strategy involves mesenchymal stromal cells, which are multipotent progenitor cells capable of modulating the immune environment and releasing neuroprotective factors [4, 5]. Although their use in related fields like spinal cord injury has raised safety questions [6, 7], a recent Phase 1/2a study in 24 patients with chronic TBI offers new data. The findings show that three intravenous infusions of autologous adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells significantly reduced brain immune cell density in the right caudate (p < 0.0003) and improved microstructural integrity in the hippocampus (p = 0.013), as measured by decreased mean diffusivity volumes [8].