Mesenchymal stem cell- mediated immunomodulation and the potential therapeutic application in Crohn’s Disease

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are self-renewing stromal cells that possess a multipotent differentiation capacity as they can differentiate into numerous cell types such as adipose, bone and cartilage cells. MSCs have generated considerable interest for their remarkable tissue-reparative and immunomodulatory properties whereby MSCs can develop into functional cells at the injury site and control the body’s response to tissue damage respectively. Consequently, MSCs have vast therapeutic potential in treating Crohn’s disease (CD) which is a lifelong inflammatory bowel disease where tissue damage to a section of the gastrointestinaltract occurs. The review aims to discuss the properties of MSCs and explore their potential application in treating CD. This review highlights the tissue-reparative properties of MSCs and specifically focuses on the immunomodulatory properties of MSCs. Results from clinical trials regarding the efficacy and safety of MSCs have been promising, proving that MSCs could potentially be used to treat CD.