International Journal of Molecular Medical Science, 2024, Vol.14, No.2, 123-131 http://medscipublisher.com/index.php/ijmms 124 and clinical treatment in this field. 2 Immunomodulatory Properties of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are highly versatile non-hematopoietic stem cells that can be isolated from a variety of adult tissues, including bone marrow, adipose tissue, dental pulp, cord blood, etc. These cells have the ability to self-renew and differentiate into a variety of cell types, such as osteoblasts, fat cells, and chondrocytes. In addition to their regenerative capacity, MSCs also exhibit significant immunomodulatory functions, which makes them show great potential in the treatment of a variety of diseases, especially autoimmune diseases. 2.1 Immune regulatory mechanism of MSCs 2.1.1 Direct mechanism Chen et al. (2019) mentioned in their study that the direct mechanism involves physical contact between MSCs and immune cells such as T cells, B cells, natural killer cells, and dendritic cells. MSCs interact with immune cells by expressing a range of surface molecules that affect the activity of these cells. For example, MSCs can bind to PD-1 on T cells by expressing programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1), thereby inhibiting T cell activation and proliferation. In addition, MSCs can also affect B cell maturation and antibody production through direct intercellular contact. 2.1.2 Indirect mechanism Gao et al. (2016) proposed that the indirect mechanism affects the function of immune cells through a variety of solute factors secreted by MSCs, such as cytokines and chemical factors. MSCs are able to secrete a variety of immunomodulatory molecules, such as transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), which can regulate immune responses in the absence of direct cellular contact. For example, TGF-β and IL-10 are potent anti-inflammatory cytokines that inhibit the activation of inflammatory cells and promote immune tolerance. MSCs further inhibit the function of immune cells by secreting molecules such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). 2.2 Molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways of MSCs in immune regulation Huang et al. (2022) mentioned that the immunomodulatory function of MSCs involves a variety of cell signaling pathways, and the activation or inhibition of these pathways affects the behavior of immune cells. Studies have shown that MSCs communicate with immune cells through the Notch signaling pathway and regulate the differentiation and function of immune cells. MSCs are also involved in immune regulation through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which plays a key role in regulating inflammatory response and immune tolerance. Gomzikova et al. (2019) proposed that MSCs modulate immune responses through STAT3 and NF-κB signaling pathways. Activation of these signaling pathways can promote the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines by MSCs and inhibit the activation of immune cells and inflammatory response. Through these complex molecular mechanisms, MSCs are able to play a regulatory role in the immune system, providing a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Through their unique immunomodulatory function, mesenchymal stem cells have shown great potential in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. The play of these functions depends on the interaction of multiple complex molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways, which need to be further explored and verified in future studies. 3 Application of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been widely studied for the treatment of various autoimmune diseases due to their excellent immunomodulatory properties. These diseases often result from chronic inflammation and tissue damage caused by the immune system's attack on their own tissues, and MSCs are able to intervene in these pathological processes to improve the condition by regulating the immune response and promoting tissue repair. The following sections will discuss in detail the application of MSCs in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and related research progress.
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