Mesenchymal stem cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multi-potent cells with a strong capacity for self-renewal. They are capable of multilineage differentiation into mesoderm-type cells such as osteoblast, adipocyte, chondrocyte and possibly, but still controversial, other non-mesoderm type cells, for example, neuronal cells or hepatocytes. (Abdallah et al., 2008) (Figure 8)

They can be isolated from a variety of tissues, such as bone marrow, adipose tissue, umbilical cord, and umbilical cord blood. MSCs have the ability to differentiate into a variety of cell types, depending on cues from their microenvironment. MSCs are identified by the expression of many molecular markers, such as: CD105, CD73 and are negative for the hematopoietic markers CD34, CD45, CD14. (Daminici et al., 2006)

An important property of MSCs is their capacity for migration and homing in or around the zones damaged by ischaemia, inflammation, and trauma or tumour sites. Understandably, the efficacy and time course of cell invasion into the damaged tissues depends upon the route of transplantation. (Kholodenko et al., 2013)

MSCs have great potential as therapeutic agents, since they can be obtained fairly effortlessly and can be rapidly expanded ex vivo for autologous transplantation, according to Dharmasaroja et al, (2009).

Figure 8 Variety of tissue types MSCs have the potential to differentiate into, depending on signals produced by the local physiological environment. (Kishk et al., 2010)

Дата добавления: 2015-08-18