Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Autoimmune Disorders: State of the Art and Perspectives for Systemic Sclerosis

Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSC) are non-hematopoietic multipotent progenitor cells, first described in bone marrow in the middle of last century. Since then, MSC have been the objects of a myriad of publications, progressively increasing our knowledge on their potentialities and bringing high expectancies for their regenerative properties. During the same period, numerous tissues, such as adipose tissue, placenta, or umbilical cord, have been used as alternative sources of MSC in comparison with bone marrow. In particular, considering the accessibility and ease to harvest fat tissue, adipose-derived MSC have gained interest above bone marrow-derived MSC. More recently, the discovery of MSC immunomodulatory properties made MSC-based therapy progressively slip from the field of regenerative medicine to the one of autoimmunity. Indeed, in this group of disorders caused by aberrant activation of the immune system resulting in loss of self-tolerance and auto-reactivity, conventional immunosuppressant may be harmful. One advantage of MSC-based therapy would lie in their immune plasticity, resulting in space and time-limited immunosuppression. More specifically, among autoimmune disorders, systemic sclerosis appears as a peculiar multifaceted disease, in which autoimmune phenomena coexist with vascular abnormalities and multi-visceral fibrosis. Considering the pleiotropic effects of MSC, displaying immunomodulatory, angiogenic and antifibrotic capabilities, MSC-based therapy could counteract the three main pathogenic axes of systemic sclerosis and might thus represent a complete breakthrough in this intractable disease with unmet medical need. In this article, while reviewing most recent literature on MSC biology, we itemize their current applications in the field of autoimmunity and shed light onto the potential use of adipose-derived MSC as an innovative strategy to cure systemic sclerosis.