Mesenchymal Stromal Cells: What Is the Mechanism in Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease?

• Main Authors: Neil Dunavin, Ajoy Dias, Meizhang Li, Joseph McGuirk
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2017-07-01
• Series: Biomedicines
• Subjects: cell- and tissue-based therapy; exosomes; graft vs. host disease; immunotherapy; adoptive; mesenchymal stromal cells; transplantation immunology
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/5/3/39

After more than a decade of preclinical and clinical development, therapeutic infusion of mesenchymal stromal cells is now a leading investigational strategy for the treatment of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). While their clinical use continues to expand, it is still unknown which of their immunomodulatory properties contributes most to their therapeutic activity. Herein we describe the proposed mechanisms, focusing on the inhibitory activity of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) at immunologic checkpoints. A deeper understanding of the mechanism of action will allow us to design more effective treatment strategies.