Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis, remains a major clinical challenge due to its persistent inflammation and complex immune dysregulation. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown therapeutic promise for the disease. A study published in Stem Cell Research & Therapy explored this by evaluating the impact of umbilical cord-derived MSCs (UC-MSCs) and their exosomes in a murine colitis model.
The study found that mice treated with UC-MSCs, particularly when combined with exosomes and Mesalazine, exhibited reduced disease severity. Improvements included increased colon length, lower histological damage scores, and enhanced regulatory T cell (Treg) responses. Notably, IL-10 levels—a key anti-inflammatory cytokine—were significantly elevated in these groups. However, exosome therapy alone did not produce significant improvements in disease symptoms, suggesting that UC-MSCs play a central role in modulating immune responses.
These findings reinforce the potential of UC-MSC-based therapies for IBD. Understanding how MSCs interact with standard IBD medications could lead to more effective, combination-based therapeutic strategies.
