title: Mesenchymal stromal cells and chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
abstract: Recent experimental findings have shown the ability of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) to home to damaged tissues and to produce paracrine factors with anti-inflammatory properties, potentially resulting in reduction of inflammation and functional recovery of the damaged tissues. Prompted by these intriguing properties and on the basis of encouraging preclinical data, MSCs are currently being studied in several immune-mediated disorders. Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) represent a setting in which MSCs-based therapy has been extensively investigated. Phase I and II studies have documented the safety and feasibility of MSCs. However, efficacy results have so far been conflicting. In this review, we will discuss the biologic rationale that makes MSCs a promising therapeutic tool for IBD, and analyze recent experimental and clinical findings, highlighting current limitations and future perspectives of MSCs-related immunotherapy for IBD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, IRCCS, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Algeri
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, IRCCS, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Conforti
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, IRCCS, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pitisci
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, IRCCS, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy; Department of System Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Starc
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, IRCCS, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tomao
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, IRCCS, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Bernardo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, IRCCS, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy; Department of Pediatrics, University of Pavia, Italy. Electronic address: franco.locatelli@opbg.net.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Locatelli
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000276:immunology*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Cell therapy; Crohn's disease; Inflammatory bowel disease; Mesenchymal stromal cells; Regenerative medicine; Translational research; Ulcerative colitis