Immunomodulatory properties of stem mesenchymal cells in autoimmune diseases

• Published in: Medicina clinica Vol. 144; no. 2; p. 88
• Main Authors: Sánchez-Berná, Isabel, Santiago-Díaz, Carlos, Jiménez-Alonso, Juan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Spain 20.01.2015
• Subjects: Animals; Antigens, Surface - immunology; Autoimmune Diseases - drug therapy; Autoimmune Diseases - therapy; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Choristoma - etiology; Combined Modality Therapy; Crohn Disease - immunology; Crohn Disease - therapy; Disease Models, Animal; Humans; Immune Tolerance; Immunosuppressive Agents - adverse effects; Immunosuppressive Agents - therapeutic use; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation - adverse effects; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - immunology; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - physiology; Mice; Mice, Inbred MRL lpr; Multiple Sclerosis - immunology; Multiple Sclerosis - therapy; Opportunistic Infections - etiology; Scleroderma, Systemic - immunology; Scleroderma, Systemic - therapy; Sjogren's Syndrome - immunology; Sjogren's Syndrome - therapy; Células madre mesenquimales; Enfermedades autoinmunitarias; Immunomodulation; Enfermedades autoinmunes; Inmunomodulación; Autoimmune diseases; Mesenchymal stem cells
• ISSN: 1578-8989
• DOI: 10.1016/j.medcli.2014.01.014

Autoimmune diseases are a cluster of disorders characterized by a failure of the immune tolerance and a hyperactivation of the immune system that leads to a chronic inflammation state and the damage of several organs. The medications currently used to treat these diseases usually consist of immunosuppressive drugs that have significant systemic toxic effects and are associated with an increased risk of opportunistic infections. Recently, several studies have demonstrated that mesenchymal stem cells have immunomodulatory properties, a feature that make them candidates to be used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. In the present study, we reviewed the role of this therapy in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren's syndrome, systemic sclerosis, Crohn's disease and multiple sclerosis, as well as the potential risks associated with its use.