Editorial
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World J Stem Cells. Aug 26, 2010; 2(4): 67-80
Published online Aug 26, 2010. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v2.i4.67
Mesenchymal stem cells: Molecular characteristics and clinical applications
Farbod Rastegar, Deana Shenaq, Jiayi Huang, Wenli Zhang, Bing-Qiang Zhang, Bai-Cheng He, Liang Chen, Guo-Wei Zuo, Qing Luo, Qiong Shi, Eric R Wagner, Enyi Huang, Yanhong Gao, Jian-Li Gao, Stephanie H Kim, Jian-Zhong Zhou, Yang Bi, Yuxi Su, Gaohui Zhu, Jinyong Luo, Xiaoji Luo, Jiaqiang Qin, Russell R Reid, Hue H Luu, Rex C Haydon, Zhong-Liang Deng, Tong-Chuan He
Farbod Rastegar, Deana Shenaq, Jiayi Huang, Wenli Zhang, Bing-Qiang Zhang, Bai-Cheng He, Liang Chen, Guo-Wei Zuo, Qing Luo, Qiong Shi, Eric R Wagner, Enyi Huang, Yanhong Gao, Jian-Li Gao, Stephanie H Kim, Jian-Zhong Zhou, Yang Bi, Yuxi Su, Gaohui Zhu, Jinyong Luo, Xiaoji Luo, Jiaqiang Qin, Russell R Reid, Hue H Luu, Rex C Haydon, Zhong-Liang Deng, Tong-Chuan He, Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Surgery, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, United States
Jiayi Huang, Bing-Qiang Zhang, Bai-Cheng He, Liang Chen, Guo-Wei Zuo, Qing Luo, Qiong Shi, Jian-Zhong Zhou, Yang Bi, Yuxi Su, Gaohui Zhu, Jinyong Luo, Xiaoji Luo, Jiaqiang Qin, Russell R Reid, Zhong-Liang Deng, Tong-Chuan He, Key Laboratory of Diagnostic Medicine Designated by Chinese Ministry of Education and the Affiliated Hospitals of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
Wenli Zhang, Department of Orthopaedics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Qing Luo, Yang Bi, Yuxi Su, Gaohui Zhu, Jiaqiang Qin, Tong-Chuan He, Stem Cell Biology and Therapy Laboratory, The Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
Enyi Huang, School of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
Yanhong Gao, Department of Geriatrics, Xinhua Hospital of Shanghai Jiatong University, Shanghai 200025, China
Author contributions: Rastegar F, Shenaq D, Reid RR, Luu HH, Haydon RC, Deng ZL and He TC drafted the manuscript; He TC, Rastegar F, Shenaq D, Huang J, Zhang W, Zhang BQ, He BC, Chen L, Zuo GW, Luo Q, Shi Q, Wagner ER, Huang E, Gao Y, Gao JL and Kim SH searched and summarized relevant literature; Rastegar F, Shenaq D, Zhou JZ, Bi Y, Su Y, Zhu G, Luo J, Luo X, Qin J and Luu HH prepared the tables; Rastega F, Shenaq D, Haydon RC, Deng ZL and He TC prepared the figures; Rastegar F, Shenaq D, and He TC finalized the text, tables, and figures of the manuscript.
Supported by (in part) Research Grants from the Brinson Foundation (to He TC), the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (to Haydon RC and Luu HH), and the National Institutes of Health (to He TC, Haydon RC, Luu HH and Reid RR), The 863 Program of Ministry of Science and Technology of China, #2007AA2z400 (to He TC and Deng ZL), the Natural Science Foundation of China (#30901530 to Luo X, #30800658 to Luo J, and #30772211 to Deng ZL), and the Natural Science Foundation Project of Chongqing Science and Technology Commission #2008BB5396 (to Chen L) and #2009BB5060 (to Luo J).
Correspondence to: Tong-Chuan He, MD, PhD, Molecular Oncology Laboratory, The University of Chicago Medical Center, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, MC3079, Chicago, IL 60637, United States. tche@surgery.bsd.uchicago.edu
Telephone: +1-773-7026216 Fax: +1-773- 8344765
Received: March 29, 2010
Revised: June 26, 2010
Accepted: July 3, 2010
Published online: August 26, 2010
Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are non-hematopoietic stem cells with the capacity to differentiate into tissues of both mesenchymal and non-mesenchymal origin. MSCs can differentiate into osteoblastic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic lineages, although recent studies have demonstrated that MSCs are also able to differentiate into other lineages, including neuronal and cardiomyogenic lineages. Since their original isolation from the bone marrow, MSCs have been successfully harvested from many other tissues. Their ease of isolation and ex vivo expansion combined with their immunoprivileged nature has made these cells popular candidates for stem cell therapies. These cells have the potential to alter disease pathophysiology through many modalities including cytokine secretion, capacity to differentiate along various lineages, immune modulation and direct cell-cell interaction with diseased tissue. Here we first review basic features of MSC biology including MSC characteristics in culture, homing mechanisms, differentiation capabilities and immune modulation. We then highlight some in vivo and clinical evidence supporting the therapeutic roles of MSCs and their uses in orthopedic, autoimmune, and ischemic disorders.

Keywords: Mesenchymal stem cells; Bone marrow stem cell; Mesenchymal stromal cell; Autoimmune disease; Cell-based therapy; Autologous transplant; Therapeutic application