The Promising Treatment of Sepsis: Stem Cell Therapy

Sepsis is a life-threatening syndrome that develops as a result of a dysregulated immune response caused by an infectious agent. The pathogenesis of sepsis has been better understood over the years, and new treatment protocols have been developed. In sepsis, the host immune response is equally as important as the infectious agent in the clinical presentation of sepsis and the development of shock. In the early phase of sepsis, hyperinflammation and secondary hyperinflammation occur, while in the late phase, immunosuppression is present. Sepsis treatment is based on controlling the source of infection, antimicrobial treatment and supportive treatment depending on the phase of sepsis. 

Stem cells have shown great potential in recent years to become a new therapeutic option for infectious diseases. The stem cell is an undifferentiated cell that can selfrenew to proliferate and differentiate into specialized cells under appropriate conditions. The following section focuses on stem cell therapy, which is an adjuvant treatment method in the treatment of sepsis. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have immunomodulatory properties through direct or paracrine interactions with immune cells involved in innate or adaptive immunity. In the treatment of sepsis, MSCs have shown promise in reducing mortality and bacteremia in experimental mouse models of sepsis. However, the number of completed clinical trials on sepsis is very limited. These studies have shown the use of MSCs to be safe at appropriate doses. Nevertheless, there may be a risk of thromboembolic events following high-dose applications. There remains a need for clinical studies on timing, dose and duration of use.