Mesenchymal stem cells as therapeutic agents of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases

Interest and expectations on therapies based on adult mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases have remarkably grown in recent years, supported by encouraging data demonstrating their immunomodulatory properties and therapeutic effects in experimental animal models. Despite extensive research, our knowledge on areas of importance for their clinical use such as the mechanism/s of action, the route, dosing and timing of administration, the cell fate and distribution in vivo, the safety and efficacy of allogeneic MSCs treatments, remain insufficient. A better understanding of MSCs biology is required to ensure that the therapeutic efficacy, as observed in animal models, can be successfully translated in clinical trials. Current situation and future directions will be discussed.

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► Immunomodulatory properties of MSCs in vitro and in vivo are discussed.
► Safety and efficacy of treatments with allogeneic MSCs are discussed.
► Future directions to improve efficacy of MSC treatments are proposed.