Human dental mesenchymal stem cells restorate immune response in sera of pemphigus vulgaris patients.

Abstract

Pemphigus is an IgG-mediated autoimmune condition characterized by autoantibodies targeting desmogleins, leading to acantholysis. Current treatments, including systemic corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs, are associated with significant adverse effects. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) offer a promising alternative due to their immunomodulatory properties and low immunogenicity. This study evaluates the immunomodulatory effects of dental follicle mesenchymal stem cells (DF-MSCs) obtained from healthy donors on Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) patients and healthy controls by examining T-cell proliferation, apoptosis, cytokine levels, and anti-desmoglein 1/3 IgG profiles. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from twenty-one symptomatic PV patients and eleven healthy volunteers. DF-MSCs were characterized and differentiated into osteocytes, adipocytes, and chondrocytes. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were co-cultured with DF-MSCs, and various assays were conducted to evaluate T-cell proliferation, apoptosis, regulatory T cells, cytokine expression, and autoantibody levels. Results showed that DF-MSC co-cultures significantly reduced lymphocyte proliferation (43.58-16.27%), IL-4 (38.06 ng/L to 32.26 ng/L), TNF-α (32.45 ng/L to 29.41 ng/L), and DSG1 (3.29 ng/ml to 3.00 ng/ml) and DSG3 (262.40 ng/ml to 245.08 ng/ml) levels in PV patients. An increase in regulatory T cells (1.22-3.75%), IL-10 (47.46 pg/ml to 54.94 pg/ml), and IFN-γ (12.39 ng/ml to 19.70 ng/ml) was also observed. No significant changes were noted in healthy controls. These findings suggest that DF-MSCs could potentially offer a curative approach for treating pemphigus by restoring immune balance. However, further clinical trials are necessary to confirm their efficacy.