Open AccessMesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation Reverses Multiorgan Dysfunction in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Mice and Humans
Author(s) -
Sun Lingyun,
Akiyama Kentaro,
Zhang Huayong,
Yamaza Takayoshi,
Hou Yayi,
Zhao Shengnan,
Xu Ting,
Le Anh,
Shi Songtao
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
stem cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.159
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1549-4918
pISSN - 1066-5099
DOI - 10.1002/stem.68
Subject(s) - mesenchymal stem cell , immunosuppression , immunology , microchimerism , transplantation , cyclophosphamide , stem cell , biology , bone marrow , disease , systemic lupus erythematosus , hematopoietic stem cell transplantation , medicine , pathology , chemotherapy , pregnancy , fetus , genetics
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease that, despite the advances in immunosuppressive medical therapies, remains potentially fatal in some patients, especially in treatment‐refractory patients. Here, we reported that impairment of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) and their associated osteoblastic niche deficiency contribute in part to the pathogenesis of SLE‐like disease in MRL/ lpr mice. Interestingly, allogenic BMMSC transplantation (MSCT) is capable of reconstructing the bone marrow osteoblastic niche and more effectively reverses multiorgan dysfunction when compared with medical immunosuppression with cyclophosphamide (CTX). At the cellular level, MSCT, not CTX treatment, was capable to induce osteoblastic niche reconstruction, possibly contributing to the recovery of regulatory T‐cells and reestablishment of the immune homeostasis. On the basis of the promising clinical outcomes in SLE mice, we treated four CTX/glucocorticoid treatment‐refractory SLE patients using allogenic MSCT and showed a stable 12–18 months disease remission in all treated patients. The patients benefited an amelioration of disease activity, improvement in serologic markers and renal function. These early evidences suggest that allogenic MSCT may be a feasible and safe salvage therapy in refractory SLE patients. S TEM C ELLS 2009;27:1421–1432