Asia Stem Cell Center

Autoimmune Disease

Stem Cell for Autoimmune Immunotherapy

Autoimmune diseases are conditions in which the patient’s immune system generates cellular and antibody responses to substances and tissues normally present in the body. This might be restricted to one organ or involve a particular tissue in different places. As a result of this immune response, damage to different organs occurs. Examples of autoimmune diseases that have responded to stem cell therapy either in animals or humans include rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and lupus. Currently, autoimmune conditions are treated with immune suppressive agents such as steroids, methotrexate, cyclosporine, gold, and more recently infliximab. Despite inducing temporary improvement, these approaches possess the possibility of long-term adverse effects, as well as the need for life-long treatment.

Stem cell therapy has been demonstrated to induce profound healing activity in trials with various forms of autoimmune disorders. Besides healing damaged tissues, stem cells have the unique ability to modulate the immune system so as to shut off pathological responses while preserving its ability to fight off disease. Stem cells and specifically, mesenchymal stem cells home to inflamed tissue and start producing anti-inflammatory agents. These mediators act locally and do not suppress the immune response of the patient’s whole body. Additionally, mesenchymal stem cells induce the production of T regulatory cells, a type of immune cell whose function is to protect the body against immunological self-attack.