Meeting report
Immunomodulatory properties of mesenchymal stem cells: a review based on an interdisciplinary meeting held at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology Division, London, UK, 31 October 2005
1 Rheumatology, University Hospital Basel, Felix Platter Spital, Burgfelderstrasse 101, Basel, CH-4012, Switzerland
2 Medicine, DIIID, Rheumatology, King's College London, Strand, London, WC2R 2LS, UK
3 Stem Cell Biology, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology Division, ARC Building, 1 Aspenlea Road, London, W6 8LH, UK
4 Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, Building 1, E3-Q, Leiden, 2300 RC, The Netherlands
5 Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni, 85, Florence, I-50134, Italy
6 Service d'Immuno-Rhumatologie, Lapeyronie University Hospital, 371, av. du Doyen Gaston Giraud, Montpellier, F – 34295, France
7 Division of Clinical Immunology, Karolinska Institute, CMB, Box 285, Stockholm, SE-171 77, Sweden
8 Rheumatology Section, Leuven University Medical Centre, Herestraat 49, bus 813, Leuven, B – 3000, Belgium
9 Molecular Medicine Unit, Rheumatology, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
10 Neuroimmunologia, University of Genova, Via L.B. Alberti, 4, Genova, I-16132, Italy
11 Laboratorio Scientifico di Oncologia, G. Gaslini Scientific Institute, Largo Gerolamo Gaslini, 5, Genova, I-16147, Italy
12 Department di Neuroscienze, University of Genova, Via L.B. Alberti, 4, Genova, I-16132, Italy
13 Department of Pediatric Immunolgy, University Medical Center Utrecht, Room KC03.063.0, Utrecht, NL-3508 AB, The Netherlands
Arthritis Research & Therapy 2007, 9:301 doi:10.1186/ar2103
Published: 29 January 2007Abstract
Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells isolated from bone marrow and other sites are currently being studied to determine their potential role in the pathogenesis and/or management of autoimmune diseases. In vitro studies have shown that they exhibit a dose-dependent antiproliferative effect on T and B lymphocytes, dendritic cells, natural killer cells and various B cell tumour lines – an effect that is both cell contact and soluble factor dependent. Animal models of autoimmune disease treated with multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells have mostly exhibited a positive clinical response, as have a limited number of patients suffering from acute graft versus host disease. This review summarizes the findings of a 1-day meeting devoted to the subject with the aim of coordinating efforts.



