Mesenchymal stem cell therapy of intestinal disease: are their effects systemic or localized?

Abstract

Purpose of review Stem cell therapy for intestinal diseases is an emerging area in clinical gastroenterology. We will review recent literature regarding mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which have been utilized in preclinical models and are now headed for clinical trials in several gastrointestinal diseases including inflammatory bowel disease. Recent findings Important studies over the last 2 years have made significant inroads into understanding the mechanisms of action of these cell types. The two major competing hypotheses are that MSCs home to areas of injury where they repair based on their stem cell activity or that MSCs act as a source of secreted factors that stimulate repair and inhibit inflammation. Summary Mesenchymal stem cells show promise for therapy in a number of intestinal diseases. Further understanding of their mechanism of action should improve our ability to use them therapeutically.

Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy in Necrotizing Enterocolitis: A Rat Study

“…The immature intestine is thought to respond to injury with excess inflammation, which is likely the final common pathway in the pathogenesis of NEC (1-3). One may speculate that the anti-inflammatory effect of hBM-MSCs might have played a role in the favorable response achieved in the present study (31)(32)(33). The attenuation of the histopathological damage and protection of the intestine from severe damage was attributable to the regenerative effects of the MSCs.…”

The progress of early growth response factor 1 and leukemia

“…It is also reported that EGR-1 plays an indispensable role in the regulation of platycodon D-induced cell death and the 1, 25D3-induced cessation of cell proliferation, which is characteristic of the terminal stage of differentiation of these cells (93,94). EGR1 and WT1 are structurally related transcription factors and bound to quite similar DNA sequences (95). This gives us a revelation that down-regulating the expression of WT1 can upregulate the expression of EGR1.…”

Transplantation of Single Mismatch Hematopoietic Stem Cells with Third Party Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Severe Aplastic Anemia: A Case Report and Mini Review

“…It has been discovered in allograft studies conducted with rats that MSCs immigrate to the area of rejection and settle there after infusion [16]. MSCs are found to have improved the intestinal damage in studies concerning inflammatory bowel disease [17].…”