Immunomodulatory properties of human multipotent stromal cells

The application of MSC as therapeutic agent to treat a variety of immune related diseases is currently under investigation in preclinical and clinical studies. Although promising results have been reported, more insight in the basic MSC biology and in the mechanisms by which MSC modulate the immune system are necessary to optimize the safe and effective application of MSC in the clinic. This thesis describes our contributions to the understanding of the immunomodulatory mechanisms of MSC. We also investigated some translational aspects of MSC therapy, aiming at selecting the preferred tissue source for clinical application. The work supports the role of MSC as powerful modulators of the innate and adaptive immune response. Immune suppression by MSC through modulation of monocytes and macrophages sheds a new light on the possible mechanism of therapeutic application of MSC for immunomodulatory purposes and the invo lvement of type 2 macrophages in tissue repair might link the immunomodulatory properties of MSC to the possibly advantageous effects of MSC for tissue regeneration. The fundamental studies on the immunomodulatory effects of MSC may provide valuable knowledge on how to proceed with applying MSC as a therapy in immune related diseases.Greiner Bio-one; Becton Dickinson; PeprotechUBL - phd migration 201