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Therapeutic strategies based on cell therapy approaches have been explored in preclinical models and then in human trials. Tissue regeneration capabilities have been exploited in the context of post-ischemic heart repair. The combination of the capacity to regenerate skeletal muscle tissue, and to transfer non-pathological genes by cell fusion, has been exploited in indications of muscular dystrophies. These developments have been the subject of patent applications.

Currently, the group is assessing the immunomodulatory capacity of human mesenchymal stem cells in the indication of Myasthenia gravis, which is an autoimmune disease. These cells have indeed the ability to modify the nature and extent of inflammatory and immunological phenomena, by direct cell-to-cell contact or by the secretion of various factors. Pre-clinical and clinical developments require phenotypic and functional characterizations of cells in their activated state, validation of animal models and methods of measuring potential benefits. This immunomodulatory approach, by cell injection, could be extended to other autoimmune and / or inflammatory diseases, muscular or not.