Immunoregulatory Mechanisms and Applications of Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells in Inflammatory Diseases

Wang Yu¹, Xu Muhan¹, Zheng Fanjun¹, Wang Ying¹, Shi Yufang^1,2*

(¹Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; ²The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University and State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Institutes for Translational Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China)

Abstract:

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) have attracted much attention due to their unique properties in immunoregulation. It has been reported that MSCs possess encouraging therapeutic potentials in treating various inflammatory diseases including inflammatory bowel disease, graft-versus-host disease, systemic lupus erythematous and organ fibrosis. MSCs employ multiple mechanisms to regulate inflammatory microenvironment. In general, MSCs are thought to enable the remodeling damaged tissue microenvironment to a more regenerative one by suppressing vigorous inflammation and secreting growth factors. Mechanically, in the presence of inflammatory mediators, MSCs regulate various immunological processes including immune cell migration, proliferation and function through the production of immunosuppressive factors, growth factors, chemokines and metabolites. Recent reports even propose that apoptotic MSCs can be immunosuppressive. As the immunomodulatory capabilities of MSCs are not constitutive but rather are determined by inflammatory cytokines, MSCs function can vary depending on the levels and types of inflammation. Here, we summarize the current understanding of MSC-mediated immunoregulation and their interactions with surrounding microenvironments. We also discuss the advances of MSC-based therapies and related issues in treating inflammatory diseases clinically.

CSTR: 32200.14.cjcb.2019.04.0003