Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Sepsis: From Basic Research to Clinical Application

Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a deregulated host response to infection, and is the most common cause of death in the intensive care unit. Although the pathogenesis of sepsis has made substantial progress, the current clinical treatment of sepsis is basically symptomatic treatment, including the infusion of antibiotics and catecholamine, and no effective conventional treatment has been found. The focus of research is Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs). It can be a novel therapeutic tool to treat sepsis. MSCs have the characteristics of anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-apoptosis, regulating immunity, and tissue and organ repair. The pre-clinical research and a few clinical phase I studies are reviewed to review the current cell therapy for sepsis. Using the characteristics of MSCs provides new ideas for the treatment of sepsis.