Study of Human Umbilical Cord-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Treatment of Refractory Immune Thrombocytopenia

Human umbilical cord (hUC)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been shown to have marked therapeutic effects in a number of inflammatory diseases and autoimmune diseases in humans based on their potential for immunosuppression and their low immunogenicity. Currently, no more data is available on the safety and effectiveness of hUC-MSCs to treat immune thrombocytopenia patients.

This is a single-arm study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of hUC-MSCs to treat refractory immune thrombocytopenia（ITP）. In addition, it is the objective of this study to observe the changes of immune function in refractory ITP patients after hUC-MSCs infusion, and to explore and reveal the mechanism of hUC-MSCs in treating ITP.

The investigator will assess the changes of the platelet counts after hUC-MSCs infusion from week 1 to week 28, and observe incidence of adverse events during and after hUC-MSCs infusion.The investigator will complete virus detection( including HBV, HCV, HIV, Syphilis, etc) at week 4 and week 16 after hUC-MSCs infusion.

The dose of hUC-MSCs will be successively divided into three increasing dose(group A: hUC-MSCs 0.5×10^6/kg, weekly for 4 weeks, 3 patients; group B: hUC-MSCs 1.0×10^6/kg, weekly for 4 weeks, 3 patients; hUC-MSCs 2.0×10^6/kg, weekly for 4 weeks, 3 patients) with 3 patients in each group according to the dose.

The principle of increasing dose will be carried out successively from low dose to high dose group. According to the results of the safety and efficacy data from these 9 patients, the investigator will determine one of the doses and expand the sample size to 6 cases.

The investigator will observe the concentration of hUC-MSCs in peripheral blood from female patients after the first hUC-MSCs infusion at 10 time points, including 30 minutes before hUC-MSCs infusion, 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 2 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours, 16 hours, 24 hours,48 hours and 96 hours after the first hUC-MSCs infusion.

The investigator will detect antibody production of hUC-MSCs in peripheral blood from the first 9 patients at 2 time points, including 30 minutes before the first hUC-MSCs infusion and 48 hours after the last hUC-MSCs infusion.

The investigator will observe the changes of immune function in refractory ITP patients after hUC-MSCs infusion at 7 time points, including one day before hUC-MSCs infusion, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16weeks and 28 weeks after hUC-MSCs infusion.

Inclusion criteria

• Aged 18 to 60 years old, male or female;
• Conform to the diagnostic criteria of immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP);
• Three months after splenectomy;
• The first-line treatment drugs such as human immunoglobulin, glucocorticoid, and the second-line treatment of thrombopoietin drugs and rituximab were invalid, or there was no response or recurrence after splenectomy;
• Diagnosis of ITP>6 months；
• More than 3 months after rituximab treatment；
• Platelet counts <30 ×10^9/L, and bleeding tendency;
• People who are willing to sign the informed consent voluntarily and follow the research program.
• Subject is practicing an acceptable method of contraception. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test in the whole study;

Exclusion criteria

• ECOG score standard >2；
• Secondary thrombocytopenic purpura;
• Patients with poor compliance;
• Positive serology for HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and/or hepatitis D virus (HDV), Syphilis; Positive for Epstein-Barr Virus DNA, Cytomegalovirus DNA;
• Pregnancy or lactation period;
• History of thrombosis;
• The serum chemistry results exceed the upper laboratory normal range by more than 20%, such as ALT, AST, TBIL, BUN, Cre etc;
• Pre-existing cardiac disease, including congestive heart failure of New York Heart Association [NYHA] Grade III/IV, arrhythmia requiring treatment or myocardial infarction within the last 6 months. No arrhythmia known to increase the risk of thrombotic events (e.g. atrial fibrillation), or patients with a QT >450msec or QTc > 480 for patients with a Bundle Branch Block;
• History of solid organ or bone marrow transplant;
• Researchers believe that patients should not participate in the test of any other condition.