Mesenchymal stem cells derived from human dental follicle modulate the aberrant immune response in atopic dermatitis

Human dental mesenchymal stem cells restorate immune response in sera of pemphigus vulgaris patients

Pemphigus is an IgG-mediated autoimmune condition characterized by autoantibodies targeting desmogleins, leading to acantholysis. Current treatments, including systemic corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs, are associated with significant adverse effects. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) offer a promising alternative due to their immunomodulatory properties and low immunogenicity. This study evaluates the immunomodulatory effects of dental follicle mesenchymal stem cells (DF-MSCs) obtained from healthy donors on Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) patients and healthy controls by examining T-cell proliferation, apoptosis, cytokine levels, and anti-desmoglein 1/3 IgG profiles. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from twenty-one symptomatic PV patients and eleven healthy volunteers. DF-MSCs were characterized and differentiated into osteocytes, adipocytes, and chondrocytes. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were co-cultured with DF-MSCs, and various assays were conducted to evaluate T-cell proliferation, apoptosis, regulatory T cells, cytokine expression, and autoantibody levels. Results showed that DF-MSC co-cultures significantly reduced lymphocyte proliferation (43.58-16.27%), IL-4 (38.06 ng/L to 32.26 ng/L), TNF-α (32.45 ng/L to 29.41 ng/L), and DSG1 (3.29 ng/ml to 3.00 ng/ml) and DSG3 (262.40 ng/ml to 245.08 ng/ml) levels in PV patients. An increase in regulatory T cells (1.22-3.75%), IL-10 (47.46 pg/ml to 54.94 pg/ml), and IFN-γ (12.39 ng/ml to 19.70 ng/ml) was also observed. No significant changes were noted in healthy controls. These findings suggest that DF-MSCs could potentially offer a curative approach for treating pemphigus by restoring immune balance. However, further clinical trials are necessary to confirm their efficacy.

Therapeutic Potential and Mechanisms of Mesenchymal Stem Cell and Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic and inflammatory skin disease with intense itchiness that is highly prevalent worldwide.The pathogenesis of AD is complex and closely related to genetic factors, immunopathogenic factors, environmental factors, and skin infections. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are non-hematopoietic progenitor cells derived from the mesenchymal stroma. They have anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and regenerative properties. Numerous studies demonstrate that MSCs can play a therapeutic role in AD by regulating various immune cells, maintaining immune homeostasis, and promoting the repair of damaged tissues. The key mediators for their biological functions are extracellular vesicles (MSC-Evs) and soluble cytokines derived from MSCs. The safety and efficacy of MSCs have been demonstrated in clinical Phase I / IIa trials for AD. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the pathogenesis of AD and the currently published studies on the function of MSCs and MSC-Evs in AD, primarily including the pathogenesis and the immunomodulatory impacts of MSCs and MSC-Evs, along with advancements in clinical studies. It provides insights for comprehending AD pathogenesis and investigating treatments based on MSCs.

Effect of mesenchymal stem cell therapy in animal models of allergic rhinitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a worldwide problem that affects people of all ages, impairing patients' physical and mental health and causing great social expenditure. Animal studies have suggested the potential efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy in treating AR. Our meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of MSC therapy in animal models of AR by pooling animal studies.

METHODS

The search was executed in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, OVID, and the Cochrane Library for relevant studies up to February 2023. The applicable data were extracted from the eligible studies, and the risk of bias was assessed for each study. The meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager (version 5.4.1) and Stata (version 15.1).

RESULTS

A total of 12 studies were included in the final analysis. Compared to the model control group, the MSC therapy group presented lower frequency of sneezing [(Standardized mean difference (SMD) -1.87, 95% CI -2.30 to -1.43)], nasal scratching (SMD -1.41, 95% CI -1.83 to -0.99), and overall nasal symptoms (SMD -1.88, 95% CI -3.22 to -0.54). There were also remarkable reductions after transplantation with MSCs in the levels of total immunoglobulin E (IgE) (SMD -1.25, 95% CI -1.72 to -0.79), allergen-specific IgE (SMD -1.79, 95% CI -2.25 to -1.32), and allergen-specific immunoglobulin G1 (SMD -1.29, 95% CI -2.03) in serum, as well as the count of eosinophils (EOS) in nasal mucosa (SMD -3.48, 95% CI -4.48 to -2.49). In terms of cytokines, MSC therapy significantly decreased both protein and mRNA levels of T helper cell 2 (Th2)-related cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13.

CONCLUSION

MSC therapy has the potential to be an effective clinical treatment for AR patients by attenuating Th2 immune responses, reducing secretion of IgE and nasal infiltration of EOS, and consequently alleviating nasal symptoms.

Clinical usage of dental stem cells and their derived extracellular vesicles

Stem cell-based therapies remain at the forefront of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine because stem cells are a unique cell source with enormous potential to treat incurable diseases and even extend lifespans. The search for the best stem cell candidates continues to evolve and in recent years, dental stem cells have received significant attention due to their easy accessibility, high plasticity, and multipotential properties. Dental stem cells have been the subject of extensive research in both animal models and human clinical trials over the past two decades, and have demonstrated significant potential in ocular therapy, bone tissue engineering, and, of course, therapeutic applications in dentistry such as regenerative endodontics and periodontal tissue regeneration. These new sources of cells may be advantageous for cellular therapy and the advancement of regenerative medicine strategies, such as allogeneic transplantation or therapy with extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are functional nanoscale membrane vesicles produced by cells. This chapter discusses the accumulating research findings on cell-based regenerative therapy utilizing dental stem cells and their derived EVs, which could be a viable tool for the treatment of a variety of diseases and hence extremely valuable to mankind in the long run.