Evaluation of Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSC) as an Adjuvant Therapeutic for Chronic Lyme Disease

Background: Lyme disease, caused by the spirochetal bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, is the most prevalent vector-borne illness in the Northern Hemisphere. If undiagnosed or untreated, the disease progresses through multiple stages of increasing clinical severity. While antibiotics such as doxycycline and ceftriaxone are the current standard of care, patients with chronic or late-stage Lyme disease may require additional therapeutic interventions. Rationale: Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are of growing clinical interest due to their immunomodulatory properties, low immunogenicity, and potential to promote tissue repair. These characteristics position MSCs as promising adjuvant therapies for chronic Lyme disease, with the potential to reduce reliance on more invasive or symptomatic treatments. Conclusion: Although definitive clinical data is lacking, early evidence and mechanistic rationale suggest that MSC-based therapies may mitigate the physiological consequences of persistent Lyme disease. Further investigation, including well-designed, large-scale clinical studies, is essential to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and therapeutic viability of MSCs in this context.