Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells in Regenerative Medicine: Past, Present, and Future

Abstract

The concept of Regenerative Medicine combined with Cell based Therapy and Tissue Engineering represents the fourth pillar of healthcare and provides a promising approach for the treatment of serious diseases. Recently, cell based therapies are focused on the use of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs). Human MSCs, that represent a mesoderm derived population of progenitors, are easily expanded in culture. They are capable to differentiate into osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and adipocytes and exhibit the potential to repair or regenerate damaged tissues. The best characterized source of human MSCs to date is the bone marrow; recently, fetal sources, such as amniotic fluid, umbilical cord, amniotic membranes, or placenta, have also attracted increased attention. Thus, MSCs may represent a valuable tool for tissue repair and cell therapeutic applications. To this end, the main focus of this review is to summarize and evaluate the key characteristics, the sources, and the potential use of MSCs in therapeutic approaches and modalities.

Isolation, cultivation, and characterization of human mesenchymal stem cells

“…A number of studies have indicated the potential of MSC‐derived EVs to counteract tissue damage and organ failure . MSC‐derived EVs have been shown to support kidney regeneration , and their potential to treat ischemic cardiovascular injuries has been reported .…”

Evaluation of bone marrow stem cell response to PLA scaffolds manufactured by 3D printing and coated with polydopamine and type I collagen

“…In these cases, TE may be an efficient approach to restore the damaged bone . TE commonly employs the use of solid and porous matrices (scaffolds), which can be loaded with specific growth factors and cells to produce a regenerative construct . Such scaffolds can guide the development of a new tissue by providing mechanical stability and enabling cells to adhere, proliferate, differentiate and secrete extracellular matrix (ECM), leading to tissue reconstruction …”

Extracellular Vesicles Secreted by Human Urine-Derived Stem Cells Promote Ischemia Repair in a Mouse Model of Hind-Limb Ischemia

“…Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been proposed as an attractive candidate for cellular therapy in regenerative medicine, particularly in the treatment of ischemic diseases [1][2][3][4]. During the past several decades, MSCs have been successfully harvested from various tissues, such as bone marrow (BM), umbilical cord blood (UCB), umbilical cord (UC) tissue and adipose tissue (AT) [5][6][7][8][9].…”