Stem cells as potential novel therapeutic strategy for inflammatory bowel disease

M Duijvestein; G R van den Brink; D W Hommes

doi:10.1016/j.crohns.2007.12.002

Stem cells as potential novel therapeutic strategy for inflammatory bowel disease

J Crohns Colitis. 2008 Jun;2(2):99-106. doi: 10.1016/j.crohns.2007.12.002. Epub 2008 Feb 20.

Authors

M Duijvestein¹, G R van den Brink, D W Hommes

Affiliation

¹ Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Leiden University Medical Centre LUMC, Leiden, the Netherlands.

PMID: 21172199
DOI: 10.1016/j.crohns.2007.12.002

Abstract

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and mesenchymal stromal cell therapy are currently under investigation as novel therapies for inflammatory bowel diseases. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) are thought to repopulate the immune system and reset the immunological response to luminal antigens. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) are cells that have the capacity to differentiate into wide variety of distinct cell lineages and suppress immune responses in vitro and in vivo. Recent results from animal models and early human experience in graft-versus-host disease but also Crohn's Disease suggest that ex vivo expanded MSCs may have clinically useful immunomodulatory effects.