Rheumatology: Current Research
Open Access

Therapeutic role of gingiva derived mesenchymal stem cells in autoimmune diseases

8^th International Conference of Orthopedic Surgeons and Rheumatology

March 22-23, 2017 Rome, Italy

Song G Zheng

Penn State University, USA

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Rheumatology

Abstract :

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic symmetrical autoimmune disease characterized by synovial inflammation that affects primarily the small diarthrodial joints. None of the current treatments can cure the disease. Mesenchymal stem cells have been shown in maintaining immune homeostasis and preventing autoimmunity, and may be a potential therapeutic approach for RA. Recently, we observed that gingiva derived mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs) also have the capacity to inhibit immune responses and control the development and severity of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice that is dependent on CD39/CD73 signal pathway and partially on the induction of CD4+CD39+FoxP3+T regulatory cells. Moreover, GMSCs dramatically and directly inhibited NF- �ºB and RANKL-mediated osteoclast formation, as well as bone erosion in CIA. To evaluate their clinical translational value, we have developed a humanized animal model, xeno-GVHD, to demonstrate that the infusion of GMSC can markedly inhibit human PBMCs-initiated xenogenic graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) and this effect requests the CD39/CD73 and IDO signals. More importantly, the effect of GMSCs is significantly better than bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Taken together, the manipulation of GMSCs could provide a promising approach for curing autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and xenograft-versus-host-disease.

Biography :

Email: szheng1@hmc.psu.edu