title: Autologous haemopoietic stem cell transplantation for autoimmune diseases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Autoimmune diseases are signified by complex errors of immune-regulation, and the development of autoreactive T and B cells targeting self-antigens, which eventually can lead to permanent organ damage. Despite novel therapeutic protocols, the disease course is chronic, debilitating and in some instances the outcome is lethal. Previously, stem cell transplantation has been reported to be beneficial in autoimmune animal models, as well as in autoimmune diseases related to hematological abnormalities, which opened potential new avenues in the treatment of human autoimmune diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this review, the authors describe the compound cellular regulatory effects of autologous hemopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) and also clinical observations, related to the therapy in a variety of organ-specific and systemic autoimmune diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ASCT has a broad effect on the re-populated immune system, complex regulatory potentials and long term beneficial effect via down-regulating immune-reactivity, yet its widespread use in autoimmune diseases is limited, mostly due to the serious side-effects of the conditioning treatments. However, in certain autoimmune diseases with severe debilitating, or even life-threatening course, including systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis or multiple sclerosis, ASCT can be a reasonable choice when conventional therapy has failed.
authors: University of Debrecen, Medical and Health Science Center, Division of Clinical Immunology, 3rd Department of Medicine, Moricz Zs. str. 22, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary. zeher@iiibel.dote.hu
authors: Margit
authors: M
authors: Zeher
authors: Gabor
authors: G
authors: Papp
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Szodoray