Allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in seven patients with refractory inflammatory bowel disease

We refer to two articles by Duijvestein et al and Ciccocioppo et al 1 2 in which the authors suggest that administration of autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is safe and feasible in the treatment of refractory Crohn's disease (CD). However, to date there are few data about allogeneic MSC transplantation (MSCT) for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We wish to report our experience of allogeneic MSCT in seven patients with IBD. Infused allogeneic MSCs were obtained from the bone marrow or umbilical cord. Bone marrow was aspirated from healthy relatives of three patients. Umbilical cords were obtained from local maternity hospitals after normal deliveries. The isolated MSCs were given by intravenous infusions …