Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic multisystemic inflammatory autoimmune disorder. By far there aren’t any certain and clear etiopathogenesis for SLE, however, it has been well indicated that genetic susceptibility along with environmental factors drive the disturbance in immune tolerance so that SLE development will occur, through which both the innate and adaptive arms of the immune response exacerbate disease condition. To date, no absolute cure for SLE have been illustrated and current therapeutic strategies are primarily in terms of application of immunosuppressive drugs. Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC) are multipotent stem cells with low immunogenicity that can differentiate into different kinds of cells. Recently, Immunomodulatory functions of MSCs bring them as potential candidate for treating SLE. MSCs play a role in suppression of the antigen-presenting cells maturation (DC and MQ), T cells proliferation (Th1, T17, and Th2), proliferation and immunoglobulin production of B cells, the cytotoxic activity of CTL and NK cells as well as increasing regulatory cytokines (TGF-β and IL10), and decreasing inflammatory cytokines (IL17, INF-Υ, TNF-α, and IL12) levels. The aim of this study is to show the worthwhile and therapeutic properties of MSCs with regards to the results of animal model studies, preclinical studies, and clinical trials of MSC therapy in SLE from the immunoregulatory aspect.
