Immunomodulatory effects of adipose-derived stem cells in airway allergic diseases

Allergic rhinitis and asthma are inflammatory airway allergic diseases caused by Th2-driven immune response. Several studies have shown that multipotent adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) can exert profound immunosuppressive effects via modulation of both cellular and innate immune pathway, especially immunosuppressive effect on T cell activities. ASCs' ability to be readily isolated from a number of adipose tissues and expanded ex vivo makes them attractive candidate for use in clinical therapy in the context of allogeneic transplantation, in particular to modulate graft-versus-host disease and graft rejection. The authors have investigated whether ASCs can inhibit Th2-dependent airway allergic disease in the mouse model. In this article we review recent experimental data and discuss about the mechanisms by which ASCs inhibit allergic airway inflammation via immunomodulation from a Th2 to a Th1-biased response in the mouse model.