title: The use of hematopoietic stem cells in autoimmune diseases.
abstract: Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) have been shown recently to hold much promise in curing autoimmune diseases. Newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetes individuals have been successfully reverted to normoglycemia by administration of autologous HSCs in association with a nonmyeloablative regimen (antithymocyte globulin + cyclophasmide). Furthermore, recent trials reported positive results by using HSCs in treatment of systemic sclerosis, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis as well. Early data suggested that HSCs possess immunological properties that may be harnessed to alleviate the symptoms of individuals with autoimmune disorders and possibly induce remission of autoimmune diseases. Mechanistically, HSCs may facilitate the generation of regulatory T cells, may inhibit the function of autoreactive T-cell function and may reshape the immune system.
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Division, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.|Transplant Medicine Division, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Moufida
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ben Nasr
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Division, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.|Transplant Medicine Division, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bassi
authors.affiliation: Transplant Medicine Division, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Usuelli
authors.affiliation: Transplant Medicine Division, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valderrama-Vasquez
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Division, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tezza
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Division, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.|Transplant Medicine Division, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: D'Addio
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Division, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.|Transplant Medicine Division, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fiorina
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans
keywords: Type 1 diabetes; autoimmune diseases; hematopoietic stem cells