title: Extrinsic and Intrinsic Mechanisms by Which Mesenchymal Stem Cells Suppress the Immune System.
abstract: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a group of fibroblast-like multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells that have the ability to differentiate into osteoblasts, adipocytes, and chondrocytes. Recent studies have demonstrated that MSCs possess a unique ability to exert suppressive and regulatory effects on both adaptive and innate immunity in an autologous and allogeneic manner. A vital step in stem cell transplantation is overcoming the potential graft-versus-host disease, which is a limiting factor to transplantation success. Given that MSCs attain powerful differentiation capabilities and also present immunosuppressive properties, which enable them to survive host immune rejection, MSCs are of great interest. Due to their ability to differentiate into different cell types and to suppress and modulate the immune system, MSCs are being developed for treating a plethora of diseases, including immune disorders. Moreover, in recent years, MSCs have been genetically engineered to treat and sometimes even cure some diseases, and the use of MSCs for cell therapy presents new perspectives for overcoming tissue rejection. In this review, we discuss the potential extrinsic and intrinsic mechanisms that underlie MSCs' unique ability to modulate inflammation, and both innate and adaptive immunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. Electronic address: vcoulsonthomas@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Vivien J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Coulson-Thomas
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Yvette M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Coulson-Thomas
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Tarsis F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Gesteira
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. Electronic address: winston.kao@uc.edu.
authors.forename: Winston W-Y
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Kao
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells
keywords: graft versus host disease; immunity; inflammation; mesenchymal stem cells; stem cell transplantation