Barry, Frank P. and Murphy, J. Mary and O'Brien, Timothy and Mahon, Bernard P.
(2005)
Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation
for Tissue Repair.
Seminars in Plastic Surgery, 19 (3).
pp. 229-239.
ISSN 1535-2188
Abstract
There are several characteristics of stem cells that make them unique in
comparison with other mammalian cells. First, they exist as unspecialized cells
lacking tissue-specific characteristics and they maintain this undifferentiated
phenotype until exposed to appropriate signals. Second, they have the capacity
for extensive self-renewal. Third, under the influence of local biological signals
they can differentiate into specialized cells with a phenotype fully distinct from
that of the precursor. Mesenchymal stem cells in the bone marrow apparently
conform to this definition. These cells, as their name implies, are the precursors of
cells of mesenchymal lineage, including cartilage, bone, fat, muscle, and tendon.
They are easily isolated from bone marrow and adipose tissue and from several
other sources. At this point we have an incomplete understanding of the regulation
of differentiation, commitment, and plasticity of the mesenchymal cell population
isolated from marrow. We can identify several of the signals that activate the cells
to differentiate along specific cell pathways and we can describe the phenotype of
the fully differentiated cells, but we understand little of the intermediate steps. In
addition, we know nothing about the reversibility of these pathways or the ability
of differentiated cells to revert to a stem cell phenotype. Nor do we understand
transdifferentiation or the ability of cells to differentiate horizontally from one
lineage to another. Furthermore, there is little clarity surrounding the niche, or
tissue-specific microenvironment, in which the cells reside. Despite the lack of
understanding of these cells and their natural history, it is clear that they have
therapeutic potential in a broad variety of clinical applications. There are many
disease targets for which mesenchymal stem cell therapy is being assessed in both
preclinical and clinical studies. This article assesses our current understanding of
the natural history of mesenchymal cell populations in marrow and other tissues, their control, proliferation, and differentiation, and attempts to assess accurately
the status of their therapeutic evaluation in different diseases.
| Item Type: |
Article
|
| Keywords: |
Mesenchymal stem cells; transplantation; cell therapy; tissue
engineering; wound repair; |
| Academic Unit: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering > Biology |
| Item ID: |
7151 |
| Identification Number: |
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2005-919718 |
| Depositing User: |
Bernard Mahon
|
| Date Deposited: |
01 Jul 2016 16:16 |
| Journal or Publication Title: |
Seminars in Plastic Surgery |
| Publisher: |
Georg Thieme Verlag |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| URI: |
|
| Use Licence: |
This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available
here |
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