Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Therapy in MDR/XDR Tuberculosis: A Concise Review

Multi-drug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis is a major public health problem worldwide. Drug resistance arises due to non-compliance of antibiotic therapy. Herein, we explored the therapeutic options available ranging from conservative treatment approaches to alternate adjunct therapies such as mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) therapy interventions. It is attractive to understand the scientific rationale of using cells as drugs, in particular mesenchymal stem/stromal cells. The review dwells and attempts to analyze the mechanistic approaches of the current treatment modalities to modern therapies. MSCs have demonstrated profound capacity to regenerate and repair. They appear to modulate that the activities of dendritic cells regulate T cells, both in vivo and in vitro. While there seems to be some benefit of such therapies, its use warrants further research. The merits and de-merits of autologous therapy/allogeneic therapy are ill understood. The challenges of requirement of large number of cells for infusion, the route of administration, choice of timing are complex issues that need to be addressed. Furthermore, the host immune responses, environmental factors and epigenetic mechanisms compound the problem. Although, clinical studies are being performed using autologous MSCs in different inflammatory models, it is important that such an intervention should be based on sound scientific rationale. The current review examines the immunomodulatory properties of MSCs, its interactions with other cell types, in assessing the basis for autologous/allogeneic cell-based therapies in the treatment of XDR/MDR tuberculosis.