Clinical applications of mesenchymal stem cells

• Published in: The Korean journal of internal medicine Vol. 28; no. 4; pp. 387 - 402
• Main Authors: Kim, Nayoun, Cho, Seok-Goo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Association of Internal Medicine 01.07.2013; 대한내과학회
• Subjects: Animals; Cell Differentiation; Cell Lineage; Cell Movement; Cell Proliferation; Gene Expression Regulation; Humans; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation - adverse effects; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - immunology; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - physiology; Regeneration; Regenerative Medicine - methods; Review; Treatment Outcome; 내과학; Mesenchymal stromal cells; Clinical trial; Graft vs host disease; Tissue therapy
• ISSN: 1226-3303; 2005-6648; 2005-6648
• DOI: 10.3904/kjim.2013.28.4.387

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are self-renewing, multipotent progenitor cells with multilineage potential to differentiate into cell types of mesodermal origin, such as adipocytes, osteocytes, and chondrocytes. In addition, MSCs can migrate to sites of inflammation and exert potent immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory effects through interactions between lymphocytes associated with both the innate and adaptive immune system. Along with these unique therapeutic properties, their ease of accessibility and expansion suggest that use of MSCs may be a useful therapeutic approach for various disorders. In the clinical setting, MSCs are being explored in trials of various conditions, including orthopedic injuries, graft versus host disease following bone marrow transplantation, cardiovascular diseases, autoimmune diseases, and liver diseases. Furthermore, genetic modification of MSCs to overexpress antitumor genes has provided prospects for clinical use as anticancer therapy. Here, we highlight the currently reported uses of MSCs in clinical trials and discuss their efficacy as well as their limitations.