The Use of Placenta-Derived Cells in Autoimmune Disorders

Interest in the human term placenta has increased in recent years, due mainly to its noninvasive procurement and large cell supply. In addition, cells isolated from different placental tissues share basic properties with other stem cells. Furthermore,the innate immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive functions of placental cells, and the limited expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and costimulatory molecules that allow them to be used across HLA barriers, have made them unique with respect to their conventional counterparts. This chapter discusses the therapeutic potential of placental cells in autoimmune diseases. The chapter begins with a general overview of the pathogenesis and the aberrant immune mechanisms in autoimmune diseases, and then discusses the relevance of placental cells in the scenario of abnormal immune processes, such as those underlying autoimmune diseases.