Although a number of new immunosuppressive agents and biologics have been approved for treating various autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases, there remains a substantial number of patients who have no clinical response or limited clinical response to these available treatments. Use of cellular therapies is a novel approach for the treatment of autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases, with perhaps enhanced efficacy and less toxicity than current therapies. Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplants were the first foray into cellular therapies, with proven efficacy in scleroderma and multiple sclerosis. Newer, yet unproven, cellular therapies include allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cells, which have been shown to be effective in graft-versus-host disease and in healing Crohn's fistulas. Chimeric antigen receptor T cells are effective in various malignancies, with possible application in rheumatic diseases, as shown in preclinical studies in murine lupus and recently in human lupus. Treg cells are one of the master controllers of the immune response and are decreased in number and/or effectiveness in specific autoimmune diseases. Expansion of autologous Treg cells is an attractive approach to controlling autoimmunity. There are a number of other regulatory cells in the immune system, including Breg cells, dendritic cells, macrophages, and other T cell types, that are in early stages of development as treatments. In this review, the current evidence for the efficacy and mechanisms of actions of cellular therapies already in use or in clinical trials in human autoimmune diseases will be discussed, including the limitations of these therapies and potential side effects.
© 2022 American College of Rheumatology.