title: Mechanisms of and perspectives on the mesenchymal stem cell in immunotherapy.
abstract: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are an important cell population in the bone-marrow microenvironment and are considered to be engaged mainly in the support of hematopoiesis. Recent work has shown that MSCs also have profound immunomodulatory function, both in vitro and in vivo. Because MSCs can be expanded rapidly to the numbers required for clinical application, several preclinical and clinical studies have been performed in the areas of immune diseases and bone-marrow transplantation. In this review we discuss the mechanisms underlying the MSC's immunomodulating properties and its potential applications.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, People's Republic of China. chunhuaz@public.tpt.tj.cn
authors.forename: Robert Chunhua
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Lianming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells