Review Article

Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Sepsis and Associated Organ Dysfunction: A Promising Future or Blind Alley?

Table 1

Preclinical models of sepsis and role of MSC.

Authors/yearSepsis modelMSC type/combinationBiological effectClinical effectSource ref.

Asano et al. (2015)TSS SEA + LPS mouse modelA-MSC (1 × 106)↓ INF-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-2
= Treg, IL-10
↓ 40 h mortality[25]
Kim et al. (2014)TSS SEB mouse modelhMSC, mMSC (2 × 105)↓ TNF-α, IL-2, IL-6= mortality
No difference between hMSC and mMSC
[26]
Ou et al. (2016)LPS mouse modelA-MSC, BM-MSC↓ IL-8 (A-MSC)
↓ proinflammatory cytokines (both types)
↓ mortality[27]
Pedrazza et al. (2014)E. coli-induced peritonitisA-MSC (1 × 106)↓ IL-6, MCP-1
↓ AST, ALT
↓ splenocyte apoptosis
↓ 26 h mortality[28]
Chao et al. (2014)CLP-polymicrobial mouse modelBM-MSC
UC-MSC
(5 × 106)
↓ IL-6 and TNF-α
↑ CD3+CD4+CD25+ Treg
↓ 7- and 14-day mortality[29]
Alcayaga-Miranda et al. (2015)CLP-polymicrobial mouse modelMen-MSC, A-MSC, BM-MSC (2 × 106)/enrofloxacinIn vitro: ↑ inhibition of bacterial growth (Men-MSC)
No difference—Men-MSC versus A-MSC/BM-MSC in the dynamics of cytokines
Men-MSC + ATB
↓ 96 h mortality
[30]
Wang et al. (2015)CLP-polymicrobial mouse modelD-MSC (2 × 106) IL-1, IL-6
↑ IL-4, IL-5
IL-10 without significant changes
In vitro: inhibition of macrophage apoptosis, increased migration intensity
↓ 10-day mortality[31]
Liu et al. (2016)CLP-polymicrobial mouse modelUnspecified (1 × 106)↓ NK
↓ TNF-α, IL-6, INF-γ
↑ IL-10
↓ 72 h mortality[35]
Sepúlveda et al. (2014)LPS mouse modelBM-MSC (1 × 105)In vitro: no difference between senescent versus immortalised
In vivo: no reduction of proinflammatory cytokine levels in senescent cells
Immortalised MSC: ↓ 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, and 144 h mortality versus senescent type[36]
Wu et al. (2016)CLP-polymicrobial sepsisUC-MSC TNF-α, MCP-1, IL1, 6
↑ IL-10
↓ mRNA MyD88
↓ phosphorylation NF-κB
6 h mortality[37]

TSS = toxic shock syndrome; SEA, B = staphylococcal enterotoxin A, B; LPS = lipopolysaccharide; CLP = cecal ligation and puncture; A-MSC = adipose tissue-derived MSC; hMSC = human MSC; mMSC = mouse MSC; Men-MSC = menstrual-derived MSC; BM-MSC = bone marrow-derived MSC; D-MSC = dermal MSC; UC-MSC = umbilical cord MSC.