Human Endometrial-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Suppress Inflammation in the Central Nervous System of EAE Mice J. P. S. Peron & T. Jazedje & W. N. Brandão & P. M. Perin & M. Maluf & L. P. Evangelista & S. Halpern & M. G. Nisenbaum & C. E. Czeresnia & M. Zatz & N. O. S. Câmara & L. V. Rizzo Published online: 17 December 2011 # Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011 Introduction Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are undifferentiated mul- tipotent cells endowed with the capacity for self-renewal and the potential to differentiate into several distinct cell lineages [1]. It is well established that adult MSCs constitute a reservoir found within connective tissues of most organs, and whose biological function is involved in the mainte- nance and repair of tissues throughout the postnatal life of an individual. Over the past years we and others have shown that menstrual blood, the endometrium and fallopian tubes are very rich sources of MSCs and able to differentiate into different cell lineages in vitro and/or in vivo [2, 3]. The unique regenerative capacity of the human endometrium following menstruation, postpartum, surgical procedures (uterine curettage, endometrial ablation) and in postmeno- pausal women undergoing hormonal replacement therapy suggests that MSCs niches present in this tissue are respon- sible, at least in part, for this process. This makes these cells a very interesting approach to studies in regenerative med- icine, especially in autoimmune disorders. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating and neurodegen- erative autoimmune disease with a significant social burden. It is mainly characterized by central nervous system (CNS) inflammation, gliosis, neuronal death and demyelination [4, 5]. Its murine model, experimental autoimmune encephalo- myelitis (EAE), has generated many important data concerning MS pathology and treatment [6–9]. In EAE, mice are subcutaneously immunized with myelin-derived antigens such as myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG 35-55 ), myelin basic protein (MBP) and also proteoli- poprotein (PLP) [6]. In the periphery T CD4 + cells differ- entiate into Th1 and Th17 cells and have been implicated in the pathogenesis of EAE [10–12]. Although IFN-γ and IL- Stem Cell Rev and Rep (2012) 8:940–952 DOI 10.1007/s12015-011-9338-3 J. P. S. Peron : W. N. Brandão : N. O. S. Câmara Transplantation Immunobiology Lab – the Department of Immunology - Institute of Biomedical Sciences IV, University of São Paulo, Rua Prof. Dr. Lineu Prestes 1730 Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brazil CEP 05508-900 J. P. S. Peron : W. N. Brandão : L. V. Rizzo (*) Instituto de Ensino e Pesquisa, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Av. Albert Einstein, 627/701 - Morumbi, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil CEP 05651-9 e-mail: lvrizzo@einstein.br T. Jazedje : M. Zatz Human Genome Research Center, Biosciences Institute, University of São Paulo, Rua do Matão - Travessa 13, nº 106, São Paulo, Brazil CEP 05508-000 P. M. Perin Department of Pathology, University of São Paulo School of Medicine - São Paulo - Brazil, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 455, 1º and., CEP: 01246-903, São Paulo, SP, Brazil P. M. Perin : M. Maluf Division of Reproductive Medicine, CEERH - Specialized Center for Human Reproduction, Rua Mato Grosso 306 19º andar Higienópolis, São Paulo, Brazil CEP 01239-040 L. P. Evangelista : S. Halpern : M. G. Nisenbaum : C. E. Czeresnia Division of Reproductive Medicine, Célula Mater, Al. Gabriel Monteiro da Silva, 802, São Paulo, SP, Brazil CEP 01442-000