Retrospective study on human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell treatment for patients with chronic HIV infection

WANG Si-yu; JIN Lei; LI Yuan-yuan; HUANG Hui-huang; XU Ruo-nan; FU Jun-liang; ZHANG Zheng; WANG Fu-Sheng

Abstract：Objective To investigate the long-term safety and efficacy of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSC) treatment for patients with chronic HIV infection. Methods The data of 3-year follow-up for 57 patients with chronic HIV infection treated in our hospital from Mar. 2009 to Jul. 2012 were analyzed retrospectively. According to the CD4+ T lymphocyte counts prior to UC-MSC treatment, these patients were divided into two groups, ≤200 cells/mm3 group (immunological non-responder group) and >200 cells/mm3 group (immunological responder group). The long-term safety and efficacy of UC-MSC treatment were analyzed. Results peripheral CD4+ T lymphocyte counts and the ratio of CD4/CD8 at 1-year, 2-year and 3-year UC-MSC treatment were found to increase significantly as compared with baseline level. Further analysis indicated that 1-year and 2-year therapeutic efficacy (defined as a 30% increase of CD4+T lymphocyte counts as compared with baseline level) in immunolo-gical non-responder group was significantly higher than that in immunological responder group. UC-MSC treatment was found to be safe as no significant side effects occurred in the two groups during 3-year follow-up period. Conclusions UC-MSC treatment is well tolerant for 3 years. Peripheral blood CD4+ T lymphocyte counts and the ratio of CD4/CD8 increase significantly, and UC-MSC treatment is more effective in improvement of CD4+T lymphocyte counts in immunological non-responders. This study suggests that immunological non-response to HAART may be an indication of UC-MSC treatment in patients with chronic HIV infection.