Mesenchymal stromal cells in the antimicrobial host response of hematopoietic stem cell recipients with graft-versus-host disease--friends or foes?

Leukemia. 2014 Oct;28(10):1941-8. doi: 10.1038/leu.2014.127. Epub 2014 Apr 3.

Abstract

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells, which exhibit broad immunosuppressive activities. Moreover, they may be administered irrespectively of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) compatibility, without inducing life-threatening immunological reactions, as they express no HLA class II and limited HLA class I antigens under resting conditions. These characteristics have made MSC an appealing candidate for cell therapy after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), for example, for treatment of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) or for graft rejection prevention/treatment in allogeneic HSCT recipients. Unfortunately, information regarding the effect of MSC infusion on the host response to infectious agents is scarce, and study results on infectious complications in patients receiving MSC are conflicting. The present review focuses on the available data from in vitro studies and animal models regarding the interaction of MSC with bacterial, viral and fungal pathogens. In a clinical part, we present the current information on infectious complications in allogeneic HSCT recipients who had received MSCs as prophylaxis or treatment of GvHD disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Infective Agents / pharmacology
  • Bacterial Infections / complications
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Graft vs Host Disease / immunology*
  • HLA Antigens / metabolism
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / pharmacology
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Mycoses / complications
  • Steroids / pharmacology
  • Virus Diseases / complications

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • HLA Antigens
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Steroids