Stem cell treatment for Crohn’s disease

Abstract

While stem cell-based treatments have been established as a clinical standard of care for some conditions, such as hematopoietic stem cell transplants for cancer, the scope of potential stem cell-based therapies has expanded in recent years due to advances in stem cell research, paving the way for the increasing utilization of stem cell therapies in severe immune-mediated diseases including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) and, in particular, Crohn's disease. Both hematopoietic stem cells and mesenchymal (stromal) stem cells are considered to be of potential therapeutic benefit in immune-mediated conditions. A growing body of experimental and clinical evidence shows that hematopoietic stem cell transplant induces long-lasting remission in a majority of patients with active severe Crohn's disease refractory to drug treatments, and the differential effect of potent immunosuppression and immune reconstitution in this setting is under evaluation. Mesenchymal stem cells have been shown to exert immunomodulatory action on various types of immune-mediated diseases, and in experimental models of IBD, but evaluation of the potential efficacy of this therapy in IBD is still in the early stages.

The Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Treat Systemic Inflammation in Horses

“…The current goals of treatment for humans with IBD are directed at relieving inflammation and treating signs and symptoms (97). Remission is hard to maintain, and patients often suffer from the side effects of drugs and surgeries (88).…”

Mesenchymal stem cells as a novel vaccine platform

“…MSC are unique bone marrow-derived multipotent stem cells that are presently being exploited as gene therapy vectors for a variety of conditions, including cancer and autoimmune diseases (Klopp et al, 2007; Le Blanc and Ringden, 2007; Spaeth et al, 2008; Bergfeld and Declerck, 2010; Liang et al, 2010; Lim et al, 2010; Martino et al, 2010; Panes et al, 2010). These progenitor cells are known to migrate to sites of inflammation, infection, tissue injury, and tumors where they immunomodulate the microenvironment through cell-to-cell contact and the release of soluble factors, thus facilitating the repair of damaged tissue (Aggarwal and Pittenger, 2005; Gotherstrom, 2007).…”

“…On the other hand, in carcinogenic situations there is an urgent need to develop therapies that promote the host immune system to target and destroy cancerous tumors and metastases. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are unique bone marrow-derived multipotent progenitor cells that are presently being exploited as gene therapy vectors for a variety of conditions, including cancer and autoimmune diseases (Klopp et al, 2007; Le Blanc and Ringden, 2007; Spaeth et al, 2008; Bergfeld and Declerck, 2010; Chen et al, 2010; Liang et al, 2010; Martino et al, 2010; Panes et al, 2010). Although MSC are predominantly known for anti-inflammatory properties during allogeneic MSC transplant, there is evidence that MSC can actually promote adaptive immunity under certain settings.…”

From Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms to Constant Immunosuppression: Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Autoimmune Diseases

“…Despite the etiology, all these factors share the common clinical manifestation of excessive intestinal inflammation. Clinical trials using MSCs as cell based inflammatory bowel suppressive therapy for CD are promising [50–53]. GWAS scan of nonsynonymous SNPs in CD has identified a mutation in the genes of autophagy [54, 55].…”