Abstract
Autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE),
rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and systemic sclerosis (SSc) are the most
prevalent rheumatic autoimmune disorders affecting autologous connective
tissues caused by the breakdown of the self-tolerance mechanisms of the
immune system. During the last two decades, stem cell therapy has been
increasingly considered as a therapeutic option in various diseases,
including parkinson’s disease, alzheimer, stroke, spinal cord injury,
multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease, diabete,
heart disease, bone disease, renal disease, respiratory diseases, and
hematological abnormalities such as anemia. This is due to the unique
properties of stem cells that divide and differentiate to the
specialized cells in the damaged tissue. Moreover, they impose
immunomodulatory properties affecting the diseases caused by
immunological abnormalities such as rheumatic autoimmune disorders. In
the present review, efficacy of stem cell therapy with two main types of
stem cells, including mesenchymal stem cells, and hematopoietic stem
cells in animal models or human patients of one common rheumatic
autoimmune diseases, including, RA, will be reviewed. Moreover, other
related issues, including safety, changes in immunological parameters,
suitable choice of stem cell origin, conditioning regimen, limitations,
and complications of stem cell treatment will be discussed.