Mechanisms of mesenchymal stem/stromal cell function

• Published in: Stem cell research & therapy Vol. 7; no. 1; p. 125
• Main Authors: Spees, Jeffrey L, Lee, Ryang Hwa, Gregory, Carl A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 31-08-2016; BioMed Central
• Subjects: Animals; Cell differentiation; Cell Differentiation - physiology; Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy - methods; Cellular signal transduction; Cellular therapy; Exosomes - physiology; Humans; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - cytology; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - physiology; Mitochondria - physiology; Review; Stem cells; Wound Healing - physiology; Mesenchymal stem cell; Tunneling nanotube; Exosome; Mitochondria transfer; Multipotent stromal cell; Paracrine; Microvesicle
• ISSN: 1757-6512; 1757-6512
• DOI: 10.1186/s13287-016-0363-7

The past decade has seen an explosion of research directed toward better understanding of the mechanisms of mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC) function during rescue and repair of injured organs and tissues. In addition to delineating cell-cell signaling and molecular controls for MSC differentiation, the field has made particular progress in defining several other mechanisms through which administered MSCs can promote tissue rescue/repair. These include: 1) paracrine activity that involves secretion of proteins/peptides and hormones; 2) transfer of mitochondria by way of tunneling nanotubes or microvesicles; and 3) transfer of exosomes or microvesicles containing RNA and other molecules. Improved understanding of MSC function holds great promise for the application of cell therapy and also for the development of powerful cell-derived therapeutics for regenerative medicine. Focusing on these three mechanisms, we discuss MSC-mediated effects on immune cell responses, cell survival, and fibrosis and review recent progress with MSC-based or MSC-derived therapeutics.