A recent study published in Scientific Reports showed that intravenous injection of anti-inflammatory mesenchymal stem cell spheroids can inhibit chronic alcohol intake and reduce alcohol consumption. We found that intravenous injection of three-dimensionally cultured human mesenchymal stem cells (MSC balls) may be an effective treatment for alcohol use disorder. Yedy Israel of the University of Chile used a rat model of chronic drinking and alcoholism to test the effects of intravenous injection of MSC balls on these behaviors and inflammation caused by long-term drinking. MSC spheres cultured in a three-dimensional environment (such as a bioreactor) are 75% smaller than MSC cells cultured in a two-dimensional environment (such as a petri dish).
MSC spheres can cross the blood-brain barrier, so they can be injected intravenously, but the two-dimensionally cultured cells are relatively large, most of which are concentrated in other organs (such as the lung), and are invasive and can only be injected into the cerebrospinal fluid. The authors injected MSC balls into mice that had been drinking for 17 weeks under free choice conditions (at the same time tap water was provided). Compared with the control group, within 24 hours after injection, the alcohol consumption of these mice was reduced by 88-93%, while alcohol consumption was significantly increased. This effect can still be observed even after 3 weeks, indicating a therapeutic effect on MSC cells. In another experiment, the authors injected MSC balls into mice that had been drinking for 14 weeks, restricted them from drinking for 14 days and produced a deprivation effect. After rats were randomly exposed to alcohol for 60 minutes, alcohol consumption similar to alcoholism was reduced by 75-80% during this period.
The author also found that the injection of MSC balls can reverse the level of inflammation markers increased by long-term drinking. These findings suggest that non-invasive intravenous injection of MSC-steroids may be a new way to treat inflammation associated with alcohol abuse.