Immunological efficiency of the pooled mesenchymal stem cells of the olfactory lining of the nasal cavity for systemic lupuserythematosus treatment

Abstract

An important place in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is given to the immune mechanisms, many aspects of which, despite intensive study, remain unclear. As a result of the activation of T and B cells, the production of antibodies (including autoantibodies) increases, hypergammaglobulinemia occurs, and immune complexes are formed. The use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as the basis of a biomedical cell product for SLE cell therapy is justified due to the fact that this type of stem cells has a wide immunomodulatory activity range. In recent years, more and more data have appeared that the pooled cultures of allogeneic MSCs have more pronounced and stable immunomodulatory properties in relation to immunocompetent cells, in comparison with allogeneic MSCs obtained from a single donor.The aim of the study was to develop a biomedical cell product based on pooled cultures of MSCs to increase the effectiveness of the existing methods of treating SLE.The object of the study was the venous blood of SLE patients with clinical and laboratory lupus nephritis signs included in the trials (n = 6). Blood sampling and analysis were carried out before cell therapy and 1-1.5 months after. Immunophenotyping of blood cells was performed using flow cytometry.The immunological efficacy of SLE cell therapy, which was expressed in a decrease of the number of immunocompetent cells associated with the inflammation process in the peripheral blood (decrease in the content of cytotoxic lymphocytes, activated and terminally differentiated TEMRA T cells, decrease in the number of antibody-producing plasma cells) with the use of poolMSC was shown. Clinical efficacy consisted in stopping the progression and reducing the SLE activity (doubling the SELENA-SLEDAI index from 10.43 to 5.14), as well as in achieving the complete LN remission (n = 4) and restoring the normal kidney function.