Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating disease that typically results in cognitive and physical disability. The high incidence, early onset and long-term morbidity presents an extensive problem for public health as well as decreasing the quality of life for MS patients, due to substantial psychological stress resulting from the impairment of daily function and unpredictable nature of the disease. Whilst there are treatments available to alleviate symptoms, treat attacks and prevent relapses, there are no treatments that have the capacity to recover neurological function.

This project has further explored the capacity of autologous non-MS and MS patient adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs) potential to differentiate into neuronal cells and identifies mechanisms with links to the disease progression. This proteomics and systems biology approach will assist in neuronal regenerative medicine by providing more targeted research with the hope of restoring neurological function, and overcoming the nervous systems limited capacity to regenerate.

ADSCs are an ideal target for neuronal regenerative therapy due to their ability to transdifferentiate into ectodermal lineages and consequently form neuronal cells, and they can be sourced ethically through liposuction of adipose tissue. Characterisation of the cells was achieved by analysis of cell morphology, secreted cytokines, the proteome and validation of known protein markers.

The proteomic analysis demonstrated that ADSCs from both non-MS and MS patients differ by a large number of proteins prior to differentiation. Non-MS neuronal differentiation was confirmed and the comparison to MS patient stem cells revealed that the latter has a reduced neurogenic potential. The explored function of unique and shared proteins at the variable time-points revealed an extensive difference between the two population’s stem cells and their differentiated progenies. The identified proteins reveal mechanisms that play pivotal roles within neurogenesis and roles in the disease progression. Elucidating these proteins functionality is vital for understanding the disease and developing a targeted therapy which could utilise stem cells in a regenerative capacity.