The use of mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of autoimmunity: from animal models to human disease

Mesenchymal stem cells are multipotent progenitors able to differentiate into osteoblasts,chondrocytes and adipocytes. These cells also exhibit remarkable immune regulatory properties, whichstimulated both in vitro and in vivo experimental studies to unravel the underlying mechanisms as wellas extensive clinical applications. Here, we describe the effects of MSCs on immune cells and theirapplication in animal models as well as in clinical trials of autoimmune diseases. It should be pointed out that, while thenumber of clinical applications is increasing steadily, results should be interpreted with caution, in order to avoid risingfalse expectations. Major issues conditioning clinical application are the heterogeneity of MSCs and their unpredictablebehavior following therapeutic administration. However, increasing knowledge on the interaction between exogenous celland host tissue, as well as some encouraging clinical observations suggest that the therapeutic applications of MSCs willbe further expanded on firmer grounds in the near future.