For the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a phase 1 study conducted at Saint-Louis University Hospital (Paris) confirmed the safety and promising potential of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (UC-MSCs) as a transformative treatment for severe lupus. The study, published in The Lancet Rheumatology, clearly demonstrates that UC-MSCs offer a viable, safe alternative to conventional treatments for patients with SLE who have not responded to standard therapies.
Eight patients, predominantly women, received infusions of either 2 × 10⁶ or 4 × 10⁶ cells per kg. Importantly, no severe treatment-related adverse events were observed within the first 10 days post-infusion. Only three mild to moderate infusion-related events were reported in two patients, suggesting a favorable safety profile. Over an extended follow-up of approximately 12.4 months, no additional treatment-related severe adverse events occurred.
The absence of any serious treatment-related complications reinforces the belief that stem cell therapy, specifically UC-MSCs, could be the future of lupus management.
This study represents an important step in regenerative approaches for autoimmune diseases, highlighting the potential of cell-based therapies in managing severe lupus.
