Disclosed are methods of polarizing macrophages to exhibit M2
phenotype, including introducing an effective amount of gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cells to an environment comprising a
population of macrophages such that the macrophages are in fluid communication with the gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Also disclosed are methods of promoting
cutaneous wound healing including administering to a patient an effective amount of human gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cells, thereby resulting in at least one of accelerated
wound closure, rapid re-epithelialization, improved
angiogenesis and improved
tissue remodeling relative to untreated controls. Also disclosed are methods for attenuating contact hypersensitivity in a patient, the methods including administering to a patient an effective amount of human gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cells at a time at least timeframe selected from the group consisting of before
sensitization, after
sensitization and before challenge and after challenge, thereby attenuating contact hypersensitity.