Endogenous reparative pluripotent Muse cells with a unique immune privilege system: Hint at a new strategy for controlling acute and chronic inﬂammation

Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2022 · DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1027961 · Published: October 19, 2022

Simple Explanation

Multilineage-differentiating stress enduring (Muse) cells are endogenous pluripotent stem cells that reside in the bone marrow, peripheral blood, and connective tissue. These cells can differentiate into various cell types, self-renew, and exhibit anti-inflammatory effects, making them potential candidates for cell therapy. Muse cells have a unique ability to escape host immune rejection, allowing them to survive in the tissue for extended periods and exert long-lasting therapeutic effects.

Study Duration

6 and ~2 months

Participants

Not specified

Evidence Level

Review

Key Findings

1
Muse cells selectively accumulate at damaged sites by sensing sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a key mediator of inflammation.
2
Muse cells possess anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, anti-fibrosis, and tissue-protective effects, repairing tissue by differentiating into tissue-constituent cells.
3
Muse cells exhibit immune privilege, surviving in host tissue for extended periods without immunosuppression, attributed to HLA-G expression and IDO production.

Research Summary

Muse cells are endogenous pluripotent-like stem cells found in various tissues, exhibiting triploblastic differentiation, self-renewal, stress tolerance, and reparative function. They home to damaged sites via the S1P-S1PR2 axis, differentiating into tissue-specific cells and exerting anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and anti-fibrotic effects. Clinical trials have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of intravenously administered Muse cells in treating conditions like myocardial infarction and epidermolysis bullosa.

Practical Implications

Targeted Tissue Repair

Muse cells offer a potential therapeutic avenue for targeted tissue repair by selectively homing to damaged sites and differentiating into tissue-specific cells.

Immune-Privileged Cell Therapy

The unique immune privilege of Muse cells enables allogeneic transplantation without HLA matching or immunosuppression, simplifying cell therapy approaches.

Next-Generation Anti-inflammatory Therapy

Muse cells could represent a next-generation cell therapy for treating inflammatory and tissue destructive diseases due to their reparative function and immunomodulatory properties.

Study Limitations

1
The mechanisms underlying the immune privilege of differentiated Muse cells require further investigation.
2
The optimal conditions for Muse cell expansion and differentiation in vitro need further refinement.
3
Long-term safety and efficacy data from clinical trials are still needed to fully validate Muse cell therapy.

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