What can mesenchymal stem cells be used for?
What are Mesenchymal Stem Cells?
Mesenchymal stem cells are adult stem cells isolated from various sources that can differentiate into different types of cells. These sources include bone marrow, fat (adipose tissue), umbilical cord tissue (Wharton’s Jelly), and amniotic fluid in humans (the fluid surrounding a fetus).
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), also known as stromal stem cells, can differentiate into a variety of different types of cells within the body, including:
- Bone cells
- Cartilage
- Muscle cells
- Neural cells
- Skin cells
- Corneal cells
We all have Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSCs are found in everyone’s bone marrow and remain dormant until called upon to promote healing within the body. They age with us, and their number and effectiveness diminish over time.
MSCs have been known to the medical community since the late nineteenth century. However, it has only recently that physicians have been able to activate and supplement these cells to treat a variety of conditions.
What can mesenchymal stem cells be used for?
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Bone and cartilage diseases
The ability of MSCs to differentiate into osteoblasts, tenocytes, and chondrocytes has attracted interest in their use in orthopedic settings. They are beneficial in treating bone disorders, such as osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) and hypophosphatasia. Pediatric patients with OI underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The transplanted bone marrow cells engrafted and generated functional osteoblast cells, improving bone structure and function.
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Autoimmune diseases
Autoimmune diseases result from an inappropriate body immune response against normal cells and tissues. MSCs have also been proposed as a treatment for Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the clinical improvements in these patients could be clearer. MSCs have gained attention as a potential therapeutic approach for rheumatic diseases, but the immunomodulatory mechanisms must be clarified before they can be used in autoimmune diseases. Their anti-inflammatory properties and regenerative potential indicate that MSCs could offer a novel therapeutic approach to treating RA. The therapeutic potential of MSC is controversial in preclinical studies, which may have delayed their application in clinical trials.
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Cancer treatment
MSCs are emerging as vehicles for cancer gene therapy due to their inherent migratory abilities toward tumors. MSCs have been genetically modified to overexpress various anticancer genes, such as ILs, IFNs, prodrugs, oncolytic viruses, and growth factor antagonists. The safety of the MSC administration remains a concern even though MSC Administration has not yet shown any significant adverse events. Their potential to transform malignantly and weaken graft versus leukemia effects following HSCT are significant issues in guaranteeing their safety.
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Treatment of chronic diseases
MSCs have been studied for their potential use in treating chronic diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis.
Conclusion:
MSCs have many clinical implications due to their ability to differentiate into multiple lineages, secrete immune-regulating factors, and migrate to sites of inflammation. As a result, it is critical to standardize the generation protocols, including cell culture conditions, source, passage, and cell density, as these factors may influence MSC phenotype and functions. More randomized, controlled, multicenter clinical trials are needed to determine the best conditions for MSC therapy. Multiple clinical trials using MSCs have yielded promising results, but they also highlight critical challenges that must be addressed in the future.
Read Also: What type of stem cells can be used in regenerative medicine?
