A Case Study on The Successful Treatment of Plaque Psoriasis with Allogeneic Gingival Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Abstract

Plaque psoriasis is the most common type of psoriasis that manifests as red scaly patches with white scales affecting body areas including the scalp, elbows, knees, trunk, and buttocks. The etiology of psoriasis includes genetic and environmental factors and has a strong hereditary component, and the mode of inheritance is multifactorial. Although many treatment options are available including novel biologics, no cure is available. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been safely used to treat a variety of human diseases. Allogeneic MSCs possess unique characteristics including hypo immunogenicity, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory properties, and they are currently being explored for potential therapeutic use for many systemic inflammatory diseases. The human gingival tissue is an easily accessible and obtainable source for the isolation of MSCs. MSCs from adult human gingiva are of fetal-like phenotype, multipotent, and easy to isolate and expand in vitro. Herein, we report a case of a 19-year-old man with a 5-year history of severe plaque psoriasis refractory to multiple topical and systemic therapies who was treated with allogeneic human gingival MSCs. A biopsy of gingival connective tissue was obtained from a healthy adult donor. Complete regression was achieved after 5 infusions with no adverse reaction occurred. The patient has been followed for three years and has remained disease-free. With roughly 2% of the population affected, psoriasis is a major public health burden worldwide. G-MSCs form adult gingival mucosa which are of fetal-like phenotype and multipotent and possess strong immunomodulatory properties. The therapeutic application of MSCs may be potentially superior to conventional clinical treatment modalities for severe psoriasis.