Research Projects

Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) are emerging as a potent therapeutic tool due to their immunomodulatory properties with minimal side effects. Studies suggest that stem cell-derived conditioned medium (CM) alone without the stem cell itself can confer significant therapeutic effects. However, modulating the culture condition with cytokines, growth factors, or drugs might enhance the immunoregulatory potential of MSCs. This project aims to assess the immunomodulatory and therapeutic potential of preconditioned human MSC derived conditioned media in SLE. Cell-free conditioned media have advantages such as being more easily manufactured, freeze-dried, packaged, and transported. Dex preconditioned MSCs or MSC-CM has not been tested so far. Dexamethasone (Dex), a synthetic glucocorticoid with anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant properties, has shown promising results in diseases like arthritis, cancer, asthma, and covid. This project proposes to evaluate its impact on disease-associated immune markers like B regulatory (Breg), T regulatory (Treg) Th17, and Treg/TH17 ratio using Dex preconditioned MSC-CM. Tregs and Bregs are known for their roles in maintaining self-tolerance and preventing autoimmune disorders, and their balance is crucial for pathogenesis, prognosis, and therapy. To further augment its immunomodulatory properties, Dex 'preconditioning' of MSC derived CM (two different sources: Wharton Jelly-MSCs and Bone Marrow- MSCs) and assess its effect on autoimmune mechanisms of SLE patients in vitro.