LYell SYndrome MEsenchymal Stromal Cells Treatment

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are rare severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs) to drugs.

To date, no curative drug has demonstrated with a good level of evidence its ability to promote SJS and TEN healing and could contribute to earlier reepithelialisation. Mesenchymal stroma cells (MSCs) therapy represents a new therapeutic approach. eg, in patients with cardiovascular diseases, neurological diseases, renal transplantation, lung diseases as acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Recently, MSCs have been proposed in both burn wound healing with a significantly decrease of the unhealed burn area and in cutaneous radiation.

Moreover, MSCs have immunomodulation properties potentially effective in refractory acute and chronic graft versus host disease (GVHD) by improving thymic function and induction of Tregs. Indeed, MSCs are able to migrate to inflamed tissues after stimulation by pro-inflammatory cytokines and to modulate the local inflammatory reactions. MSCs have also demonstrated their ability to promote tissue remodelling, angiogenesis and immunomodulation through either differentiation or secretion of several growth factors such as VEGF, basic FGF and various cytokines.

Therefore, combining their immunomodulation effect and secretion of soluble factors involved in wound repair, MSCs might be valuable as a cell therapy strategy for promoting cutaneous healing in SJS-TEN syndrome and subsequently decrease the morbi-mortality.