Mesenchymal stem cells: biological properties and clinical applications

Abstract

Importance of the field: In the last decade, knowledge of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has evolved rapidly; their immunomodulatory properties and paracrine interactions with specific cell types in damaged tissues and promising results in some clinical applications have made these cells an attractive option for the treatment of certain diseases.

Areas covered in this review: We present some relevant methodological issues and biological properties of MSCs, as well as clinical applications of MSC therapies with particular emphasis in the treatment of graft versus host disease (GVHD), complex perianal fistula and refractory metastatic neuroblastoma. Other topical aspects relevant to the application of cellular therapies such as biosafety studies and cellular production of MSCs are also discussed in this review.

What the reader will gain: The growing optimism regarding MSCs research is based on the promising results obtained in in vitro and in vivo studies. The rapid translational research with MSCs necessitated standardization of methodology and terminology and greater focus on other aspects such as biosafety and cellular production, especially for clinical use of MSCs.

Take home message: Much has been learned about the biology and applications of MSCs and much remains to be learned.

Keywords::

• biosafety
• cell therapy
• graft versus host disease
• immunomodulation
• mesenchymal stem cells
• wound healing

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of: S Olmedillas and PD Agrela for the editing of Figure 1 and Figure 2. The authors on behalf of the Mesenchymal Stem Cell Consortium of the Community of Madrid, Spain (MESENCAM) thank all staff of MESENCAM who have contributed in some way to this review: JA García-Sanz and A Silva from Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CIB-CSIC, Madrid, Spain, M Vázquez from Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain, R Yañez and A Oviedo from the Hematopoiesis and Gene Therapy Division, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Technológicas (CIEMAT), Madrid, Spain, M del Mar Arriero from Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Cell Therapy Unit, Niño Jesus Children Hospital, Madrid, Spain, L Mariñas and I Mirones from the Development and Cell Biology Area, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain, Gemma Fernandez from Cellerix and G Morley for editorial support.

Notes

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