Editorial: The Role of Metabolism in MSC-Mediated Immunomodulation

International audienceMultipotent mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are progenitor cells and exert several functions including support of hematopoiesis, regeneration, resistance to fibrosis, apoptosis or hypertrophy. MSCs have also immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive properties that mayexplained various positive results in cell therapy for inflammatory diseases (1). MSC can affect both the innate and the adaptive immunity (2). This immunosuppressive effect is mainly due to the secretion of soluble factors by MSCs and by direct contact with immune cells (3). Recent advanceshave established that plasticity of immune functions occurs in distinct metabolic stress features. Evidence has accumulated to indicate that specific metabolic signatures dictate appropriate immune functions in both innate and adaptive immunity (4). Recently, it has been shown that manipulatingmetabolic pathways of cancer cells, T-cells or immune suppressor cells can enhance anti-cancer immunity and suppress tumor growth