Mesenchymal stem cell transplantation: a potential therapy for oral lichen planus

Oral lichen planus is a type of T cell-mediated autoimmune disease. Satisfactory therapy results are not usually achieved with conventional treatment; however, a new therapy employing T cell immune modulation may treat this disease. Mesenchymal stem cells are multipotent nonhematopoietic progenitor cells that are capable of self-renewal and differentiation into various cell types, including osteocytes and adipocytes. Thus, mesenchymal stem cells are regarded as a promising cell population for tissue regeneration in the clinic. In the past several years, there has been a dramatic improvement in the understanding of immunosuppressive properties of mesenchymal stem cells on various immune cell types. We propose that mesenchymal stem cells can be utilized to treat oral lichen planus patients via systemic infusion or local application.