Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells for severe refractory asthma

This study aims to demonstrate that bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can ameliorate allergic airway inflammation in an ovalbumin-induced allergic airway inflammation mouse model. Bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) injected immediately before sensitization on days 0 and 7, led to significant inhibition of the OVA-stimulated increase in methacholine-induced airway hyperreactivity on day 18 and to a decrease in peribronchial inflammation, promoting CD4 Th1 differentiation and increasing circulating antigen-specific IgG2a levels. Systemic administration of syngeneic BMSCs during antigen sensitization of IFNγR−/− mice did not abrogate allergic airway inflammation and did not promote a Th1 phenotype.