Immunoregulatory iPSC-derived non-lymphoid progeny in autoimmunity and GVHD alloimmunity.

Abstract

Non-lymphoid immunoregulatory cells, including mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), regulatory macrophages (Mregs), and tolerogenic dendritic cells (Tol-DCs), play critical roles in maintaining immune homeostasis. However, their therapeutic application in autoimmune diseases and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) has received comparatively less attention. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) offer a promising platform for cell engineering, enabling superior quality control, scalable production, and large-scale in vitro expansion of iPSC-derived non-lymphoid immunoregulatory cells. These advances pave the way for their broader application in autoimmune disease and GVHD therapy. Recent innovations in iPSC differentiation protocols have facilitated the generation of these cell types with functional characteristics akin to their primary counterparts. This review explores the unique features and generation processes of iPSC-derived non-lymphoid immunoregulatory cells, their therapeutic potential in GVHD and autoimmune disease, and their progress toward clinical translation. It emphasizes the phenotypic and functional diversity within each cell type and their distinct effects on disease modulation. Despite these advancements, challenges persist in optimizing differentiation efficiency, ensuring functional stability, and bridging the gap to clinical application. By synthesizing current methodologies, preclinical findings, and translational efforts, this review underscores the transformative potential of iPSC-derived non-lymphoid immunoregulatory cells in advancing cell-based therapies for alloimmune and autoimmune diseases.