Mesenchymal stem cells alleviate inflammatory responses through regulation of T-cell subsets

Abstract

Immune-mediated inflammatory disease (IMID) is a complex disorder characterized by excessive immune responses involving T cells and their subsets, leading to direct tissue damage. T cells can be broadly categorized into CD4⁺ T cells and CD8⁺ T cells. CD4⁺ T cells are composed of several subsets, including T helper (Th)1, Th2, Th9, Th17, Th22, follicular helper T cells (Tfhs), and regulatory T cells (Tregs), while effector CD8⁺ T cells consist mainly of cytotoxic T cells (CTLs). Current therapies for IMID are ineffective, prompting exploration into mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as a promising clinical treatment due to their immunomodulatory effects and self-renewal potential. Recent studies have shown that MSCs can suppress T cells through direct cell-to-cell contact or secretion of soluble cytokines. Nevertheless, the precise effects of MSCs on T cell subsets remain inadequately defined. In this review, we summarize the most recent studies that have examined how MSCs modulate one or more effector T-cell subsets and the mechanisms behind these modifications in vitro and several mouse models of clinical inflammation. This also provides theoretical support and novel insights into the efficacy of clinical treatments involving MSCs. However, the efficacy of MSC therapies in clinical models of inflammation varies, showing effective remission in most cases, but also with exacerbation of T-cell-mediated inflammatory damage in some instances.