Mesenchymal stromal cells and the innate immune response

Highlights

• MSC interactions with innate immune cells.

• MSCs exert both pro- and anti-inflammatory effects.

• MSCs are immunomodulatory through cell–cell contact and soluble factors.

Abstract

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) have been exploited for their immunomodulatory properties in the treatment of a number of immune-based disorders, including Graft versus Host Disease (GvHD) and type 1 diabetes. The mechanisms for inducing therapeutic effect still remain largely unknown however, with research focused on understanding how MSCs interact with individual immune cell subsets. Within this review we address what is known about the interactions of MSCs with cells of the innate immune system, how they respond to their microenvironment and how this relates to therapeutic effects we see both within in vivo animal models and in clinical trials.