Antimicrobial properties of mesenchymal stem cells: prospects for application against antibiotic-resistant infections

Home/2025, Vol. 13, No. 2/Antimicrobial properties of mesenchymal stem cells: prospects for application against antibiotic-resistant infections

Cell and Organ Transplantology. 2025; 13(2):e2025132185.
DOI: 10.22494/cot.v13-2.185

Antimicrobial properties of mesenchymal stem cells: prospects for application against antibiotic-resistant infections

Dovgalyuk A., Levkiv M., Dudkevych O., Pokryshko O.

  • I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, Ternopil, Ukraine

Abstract

The growing antimicrobial resistance challenges the existing healthcare system, leading to the emergence of severe and chronic bacterial infections that are resistant to standard antibiotic therapy. In this regard, the search for alternative therapeutic approaches is attracting attention, among which mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their derivatives are considered a promising biological tool due to their combination of direct antimicrobial action, immunomodulatory effects, and the ability to regulate tissue regeneration.
The purpose of this review is to systematize current data on the antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties of MSCs, analyze the mechanisms of their action, and evaluate the possibilities of using cell therapy to overcome antibiotic resistance.
Methods. The paper analyzed publications in recent years available in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. The literature search was performed using the key terms “mesenchymal stem cells,” “antimicrobial properties,” “antibacterial properties,” “antimicrobial peptides,” “antibiotic resistance,” “antifungal properties,” and “antiviral properties” in various combinations, using inclusion/exclusion criteria to select relevant works.
Results. The review of the literature indicates that MSCs of various origins produce antimicrobial peptides, including LL-37, β-defensins, and lipocalin-2, which are capable of directly inhibiting the growth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. MSCs extracellular vesicles, which contain microRNAs, proteins, and peptides that modulate bacterial virulence, disrupt biofilm structure, and enhance antibiotic activity, play a significant role. The immunomodulatory properties of MSCs are realized through the polarization of macrophages towards anti-inflammatory M2 cells, the suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, and the enhancement of phagocytosis. The antiviral effects of MSCs include the regulation of interferon production, the expression of antiviral genes, and the reduction of cytokine storm intensity, which is essential in virus-induced lesions, such as COVID-19. The antifungal properties of MSCs are manifested through activation of the cellular component of innate immunity.
Conclusion. The analyzed data from scientific sources indicate that MSCs possess a multicomponent antimicrobial potential and can be considered a basis for new therapeutic strategies in the treatment of antibiotic-resistant and virus-associated infections, as well as fungal diseases. Further research should focus on standardizing MSC cultivation methods, determining effective dosages, and refining therapeutic protocols.

Key words: mesenchymal stem cells; antimicrobial peptides; immunomodulation; antibiofilm activity; antiviral effect; regenerative medicine

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How to cite

Dovgalyuk A, Levkiv M, Dudkevych O, Pokryshko O. Antimicrobial properties of mesenchymal stem cells: prospects for application against antibiotic-resistant infections. Cell Organ Transpl. 2025; 13(2):e2025132185. doi: 10.22494/cot.v13-2.185 

 

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