According to a study conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) therapy could become a useful treatment for inflammatory bowel disease. The researchers found that infusions of a particular bone marrow stem cell appeared to protect gastrointestinal tissue from autoimmune attack in a mouse model.

 

In the given study the mice were treated with infusions of either MSCs or regulatory T cells. Subsequently, the researchers examined the effects on tissues from the pancreas, the liver and the distal ileum, particularly, the lower end of the small intestine, which are usually attacked by autoimmune reactions. And, resultantly, intestinal tissues appeared almost identical to those of normal mice.

 

Biju Parekkadan, PhD, (Center for Engineering in Medicine) the leading author of the research paper commented that their findings suggest that MSC therapy could become a useful treatment for inflammatory bowel disease. Also, it had several immune system activities, allowed the regeneration of the gastrointestinal lining in mice with a genetic mutation leading to multiorgan autoimmune disease.