Mesenchymal stem cells in tuberculosis therapy

Tuberculosis, caused by the obligate intracellular microorganism Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is one of the oldest known infectious diseases in humans. Modern therapy of tuberculosis, consisting of several antibacterial drugs, is long-term, toxic and requires high compliance from the patient, therefore, the development of new therapeutic strategies that would minimize the duration of treatment and prevent the formation of drug-resistant forms of mycobacteria is relevant and important. Cellular therapy now holds the promise of potential complementary therapeutic options for the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis. In recent years, the possibilities of using mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of tuberculosis of various localization have been widely studied. The use of such cells in conjunction with standard anti-tuberculosis therapy holds great promise for shortening the duration of treatment and reducing the formation of drug-resistant mycobacteria. This article describes the possibilities of using mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of tuberculosis in patients, including those with extensive and multidrug resistance, as well as the mechanisms of interaction of mesenchymal stem cells with M. tuberculosis.