Pre-infusion single-dose mesenchymal stem cells promote platelet engraftment and decrease severe acute graft versus...

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Immunology
• Cell Therapy

Background:

• Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) show promise for treating steroid-refractory graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).
• The efficacy of MSCs in haploidentical peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (haplo-PBSCT) requires confirmation through randomized studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of pre-infusion MSCs on hematopoietic recovery, infections, GVHD, and relapse in haplo-PBSCT.
• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of MSCs in patients undergoing haplo-PBSCT for acute leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome.

Main Methods:

• A randomized clinical study involving 50 patients undergoing haplo-PBSCT.
• Patients were divided into two groups: one received MSCs (1 × 10⁶ cells/kg) pre-infusion, and the control group did not.

Main Results:

• Significantly faster mean platelet engraftment in the MSC group (12.28 days) compared to the control group (13.29 days).
• Grade II or higher acute GVHD was significantly reduced in the MSC group (12%) versus the control group (36%).
• Neutrophil engraftment, relapse rates, and overall survival showed no significant differences between the groups.

Conclusions:

• Pre-infusion MSCs promote faster platelet engraftment in haplo-PBSCT.
• Single-dose MSCs effectively decrease severe acute GVHD without compromising survival or increasing relapse rates.